#tarottraditionalqabalahelitarot2strikingly.com

The Gold Foil Hierophant" is depicted as the Pope, this is understandable since originally, when the cards appeared, metaphysics was merely a way of looking at the ruling faith. Once Religious Theogony stopped ruling, metaphysics became more science and less faithful. However, to the 15th century meta-physician, the Pope spoke from the throne, infallibly, and thus had to be listened to as he spoke "The Word".

The Gold Foil Tarot is a gilded Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Waite took his meaning from the Sepher Yetzirah (THE BOOK OF FORMATION by Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph) and applies the meaning of hearing to the letter Vau (Vav), and to The Hierophant, by illustrating two priests kneeling and listening to their Pontiff. These two priests/scholars represent the cooperation of the 2 opposites within the human condition, intuition, and reason, conscious and subconscious, united, being an integral and inseparable process of enlightenment.

The Hierophant, with hand raised, blesses both from his position enthroned between the two columns of the Mysteries. The golden key at the feet of the RWS Hierophant , represents the Key to Heaven (Gold is the Sun) and though both keys are gold, one is supposed to be the silver key to Hell (Silver is the Moon, this is not a aspersion, as the Moon Goddess, Hel, rules the underworld.) and is the "window to the No-Thing". In the Pope's hand is the "Triple cross of the Western Peoples", often called the Papal Cross.

Kim Tracey.

Taurus, Earth.

In the Old Path Key 5-The High Priest, we have Hence, the colors of red, gold, and purple Papal robe colors. The 3-tiered tiara of the Pope and triple cross staff is the papal cross is a Christian cross, which serves as an emblem for the office of the Pope in ecclesiastical heraldry is missing on The Old Path card. Instead, standing in the foreground is an eagle, which is a Nordic symbol for spiritual-principle and a symbol for the Sun (Odin often appeared as an eagle).

Key 5 , in the Trumps of both decks, represent a Patriarchal figure, although the Old Path-Key 5-High Priest is an interpretation of a High Priest.

The High Priest is associated with Taurus and Earth, (The Hierophant is Taurus influencing Jupiter) he is the possessor of occult (hidden) knowledge, holding the key to the Mysteries, while guarding the spiritual threshold.

The translucent screen behind the High Priest, shows onlookers what lies beyond. The Taurian bull and the Elephant form the arm rests of his throne. The former a symbol of Earth power, and the latter, is associated with wisdom, strength, moderation, pity, eternity and is also a Ganesha (Hindu) God image with those characteristics as well as fertility.

The High Priest is accompanied in the foreground with the image of an eagle, a symbol of the Sun-spirit and the symbol for the Cherub (kerub) of the Air. Both the High Priest and the Hierophant have one hand raised or lowered, in the sign of benediction.

In the Left hand of the High Priest, in the language of Herbs, is a sprig of vervain which to Wicca is a protective herb. In that same language, Pine trees that form the background of this card, symbolize immortality while the mist they are arising from symbolizes arcane magics and rituals, the supreme knowledge of which belongs to the High Priest.

. This card represents an authority, -- employer, teacher, mentor, or some other person in control.

As previously stated, in Traditional Tarot- the key 4-The Emperor, represented the father as "Law Maker". The Hierophant/High Priest is the father as Lawgiver, a distinction that is important. The Hierophant/High Priest is an administrator. Therefore, the Emperor works for himself as a creative free agent, while the Hierophant or High Priest works for a large organization, whose rules he upholds, although he is paradoxically unaware this is the case.

The personality of the Hierophant can be encountered as an earthly person, who may be variously benevolent and just, thoughtful and kind, or it may be high-handed, egocentric, and even sadistic. One must deal with the Hierophant in whatever garb of temperament he may appear. By doing so we work out our own relationship with authority. Here we examine how we feel about control in our lives. Do we resent those who attempt to impose structure on us, feeling that it restricts our creative freedom? Or do we need the psychological support of external regulation? The idea behind "enlightenment" is self-mastery and/or "Inner Authority", whereby, the Greater Self and Lesser Self have become "As above, so below" and thereby, listen to the Greater Authority of Self. In such a one, the Hierophant is not an outside authority as one realizes that "everyone I see is another way to be me" and stands by the Golden rule of do unto another as you would have done unto yourself, as their inner authority's primary voice.

Therefore, all is not "sweetness and light" in the HIEROPHANT/HIGH PRIEST, and most authorities on tarot agree that there are some unpleasant aspects to this Key 5. I would recommend that the serious student read the book by Richard Cavendish: THE TAROT, where the implications of this State of Energy Consciousness are very cleverly related to Gnosticism (Those who know). He points out that the Demiurge, the Lesser Creator which rules over manifestation, was also known by the Gnostics as the "Great Deceiver", and that initiates of the Valentinian Gnostics were taught to ignore the authority of this one who is a type of "Librarian of measurement" and only has authority over its library and as one knows, not all books are truth. The Truth is that there is only one authority over us, and that is our own "Will to be" and/or Freedom to Choose and we get to experience freely, the consequences thereof; some call this fate.

Besides, only slaves need masters and saviors. If we listen intently to our "Holy Guardian Angel" and/or Greater Self, whose voice resides in our "heart". We will find that we are indeed on the Hero's journey towards Self-Truth.

When the HIEROPHANT or HIGH PRIEST card is thrown during a reading, the querent is:

• Experiencing the Principle of learning and teaching which is a desire for making things tangible.
• The querent may be seeking guidance from a counselor who has knowledge and authority or wishes to.
• There is a choice here, of aligning oneself to a philosophy, religion and/or set of beliefs to which one feels a sense of loyalty.
• Being free to disentangle oneself from any belief system, the querent still chooses to be involved.
• Life is the teacher here, as the querent experiences growth through a meditative process like philosophy that views every experience as a lesson-learning opportunity.
• Teaching.
• Enlightenment.
• Spiritual wisdom. 
• Revelation.

When reversed, it implies:

•  There is an espousing of moral, ethical, and spiritual values which may attribute to oppressing others, especially when espousing orthodoxy.
• There can be an inner sense of obedience to authority, imagined or otherwise, contributing to gullibility.
• Non-conformity.
• Restriction. 
• Over-generous.
• Carelessness. 
• Indecision. 

Thank you for your interest, comments, and supportive donations. May you live long and prosper!

Traditional Tarot Card Comparisons blog.

Home page, Tarot Card Reading Store page, Master Tarot Classes, and nontraditional Tarot Card Comparisons.