NMR ISSUE 32

Astrological Forecast 32
Boredom's Natural Cure
Calling the Winds of Change
Editorial 32
Electromagnetic Energy and Crop Circles
Esoteric Symbology of the Tarot
Letters 32
Midsummer Hunt
Pilgrimage to the Parthenon
Swan, Wallaby, Bull
The Magical Flute
The Old Devil
Vernal Equinox - A Druid Tradition
Worlds Collide!

Articles
Authors
Rituals
Book Reviews
NMR Issues
NMR Covers

Esoteric Symbology of the Tarot:

The Hierophant

By Gary Shook

The Hierophant and the High Priestess are natural consorts, although they are very much polar opposites in many aspects. The High Priestess represents the esoteric path to spirituality while the Hierophant represents the exoteric. The cards depict the highest ideals of spirituality accessible to humanity in the mundane, or mortal, plane. In the High Priestess this spirituality is the inner mysteries, the inner spirituality of the soul. She holds the belief that finding the divine spirit is an act that each individual can accomplish on their own by looking in the mirror of the self. She is the finding of the God and the Goddess within, and the concept that deity is a spirit that resides within us all. In the Hierophant this same spirituality is presented as external, and can only be found through the structured, conventional church. The Hierophant (in some decks called the Pope) represents an intercessor between God and man. His spirituality is that of the masses rather than that of the individual.

The Hierophant and the Emperor also have a close association. While the Emperor represents the pinnacle of the earthly power of man, the Hierophant is the highest development of his spiritual power. The Emperor and the Hierophant stand together as cards 4 and 5 in the Tarot in a balance between earthly and spiritual control of the material world.

The duality that has stood at the forefront of the preceding cards is still present in the Hierophant. Although its message is occluded by the outward teachings of the Hierophant and the earthly authority (Church) he represents. The two pillars are still present but are now both gray in contrast to the black and white of the High Priestess's pillars. The High Priestess's message of God and Goddess is now replaced with a monotheist doctrine of one God. The duality of the two pillars are still represented here because the inner (hidden) teachings of the church still recognize its underlying truth. The two figures at the feet of the Hierophant also carry the theme of duality. The red roses being feminine and the white lilies being masculine. The flowers themselves also carry a symbology of passion (roses) and purity (lilies) which represent paths to wisdom and understanding.

He wears the trireme (or triple tiered tiara) on his head and holds the triple cross in his hand. They represent the power (cross) and authority (trireme) of the church. Their triple theme represents the churches doctrine of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. In less monotheistic terms they can be viewed as Maiden, Mother and Crone, or even body, mind and spirit.

Another subtle but important difference between the High Priestess and the Hierophant lies in where they sit. The High Priestess sits between the pillars; she is the portal that leads to the divine. Her message is that you too can be your own pathway to the God and Goddess. While the Hierophant sits in front of the pillars; and all who seek the divine must first seek through him. His message is that all who seek, must find God through his teachings. The Papal Keys lie at his feet and state that he is the only true path (in their viewpoint) by which grace is given to man.