Question on the Hierophant

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Espy	23 Nov 2002
I'm still new to the tarot so I bought a couple of books on the subject... I came across an unusual meaning for the Hierophant. I always interpreted it as: -education -teaching -religion -beliefs In this book it is: -marriage/union -relationships -celebrant -consent -blessing -approval Does anyone read this card in this way? I'd liked to know. I'm still an amateur but this makes no sense to me. Thanks for your responses. Espy

allibee	23 Nov 2002
Hi Espy In answer to your question, the overall 'feel' of the Hierophant can be seen as traditional ideas and institutions. Therefore you could say that marriage is a conventional/ traditional institution - not just the church that may host the wedding. Orthodoxy. Conventional thinking. Conformity to traditional ideals, morals - therefore to do what is morally right ..... Doing the 'right' thing. There is also the physical aspect of the Hierophant, embodied in a spiritual advisor or teacher. On another part of this site is Thirteen's basics of tarot, which is a great free resource for newcomers, and oldcomers, alike: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/basics/index.html allibee

Thirteen	23 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Espy In this book it is: -marriage/union -relationships -celebrant -consent -blessing -approval Hm. Those are a little bit unusual. Consent, blessing and approval, I can see, as the Hierophant usually indicates a respected advisor or priest (or teacher) who you would likely visit to ask for things like blessing or approval on certain life decisions. This, in turn, could relate to marriage, as the Hierophant is emblematic of those figures you usually pick to officiate at weddings. And, certainly, respected or beloved priests have been known to show their approval or disapproval for a marriage by agreeing/disagreeing to officiate. In addition, coming after the Empress and Emperor, there might be the idea of the two being married by the Hierophant (but I've always assumed they were already wedded). Celebrant and relationships, however, seem to be carrying the connection a bit too far. Unless you're REALLY old fashioned and likely to ask this guy to play match-maker and find you a spouse. Only in certain, very traditional cultures and religions do young folk still ask respected elders/priests to hook them up with a husband/wife--and only in those religions/cultures does the opinion of such a person have so much power over relationships from first meeting to final wedding day celebration. So I would read these definitions as being out-of-date unless I was reading them for someone from a particular culture or strict, religious tradition where marriages are still arranged and/or reliant on the approval of an elder/priest. Mind you, this could easily relate to any person who's very religious and uneasy about marrying anyone who isn't approved of by his priest/minister/rabbi. But it puts a rather uneasy spin on the reading (i.e., that the querent's relationships are reliant on this elder's approval, etc.).

JC	23 Nov 2002
Well, consent, blessing and approval would make alot of sense to many people here, although I don't completely agree with it. I think "approval" is more appropriate to the H reversed, and since approval implies seeking consent, that might be too. "Consent" seems a bit grayish to me. However, since a "celebrant" is a priest as he performs a ceremony, and the H is knida "popey", sure, I can see that. And if the overall spread was about romantic relationships - please, no jokes about the lawsuits - then a marriage would be once removed from that, and relationships once removed from the concept of marriage. BTW, my favorite interpretation of the H is "physical manifestation of divine intent". But that's just me.

Umbrae	23 Nov 2002
Keeper of knowledge. Bestowed or benefactor. Faith. Education. Group identity/belonging, fitting in with the group. The team builds strong individuals, which in turn build a strong team.

Thirteen	24 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by JC However, since a "celebrant" is a priest as he performs a ceremony, and the H is knida "popey", sure, I can see that. Ah, didn't know that. That's what I get for not pulling out my dictionary on that one.

firemaiden	24 Nov 2002
Hi, I feel I have sort of a "special" relationship to the Hierophant, I seem to draw him in one way or another almost every day. I like the interpretation of him as a healer, teacher and guide. Certainly the card in my (favorite) Spiral deck, shows him looking like a natural healer type. I seem to always draw the hierophant when I ask who is my ideal lover, and yesterday I tried the November spread of the month--bright shadow spread (with my spiral deck), and after all that complicated shuffling and cutting, the answer to the question: "what aids your development?" -- came again -- the hierophant. I guess that means the hierophant "holds the key" to a lot of things. He reminds me a lot of those wonderful sort of wild touchy feely guys from Berkeley who always have a beard and glasses, a deep voice, and appear to have been raised by wolves...

firemaiden	24 Nov 2002
Bye the way, the person in my life whom I feel the hierophant actually points to is my official mentor. Made curious by these readings, I asked him, was he always a giver? What made him want always to give, help and heal. He answered -- at the age of 3 and 1/2 he chose to forgive his grandfather for something terrible he had done to him, and from then on chose to dedicate himself to healing and helping and having a mission. I was stunned to realize, the source of my mentor's desire to heal and help, was a sort of primal wound. He didn't tell me what the wound was, but in my heart I know -- I won't say it here, but I know that it was something that caused deep and permanent psychic damage. Then I looked up the Chiron myth on the internet, since Chiron is the myth depicted on the Spiral Deck's hierophant card. I was flabberghasted to discover, that Chiron is known as the "wounded healer" . Here are several websites exploring the mythology of Chiron the centaur and his identity as the "wounded healer" http://www.ericfrancis.com/sagittarius/sagittarius04.html http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1975/16826 http://www.jonathanclarkdunn.com/astro/jmwhychiron.shtml http://www.lotuseaters.net/woundedhealer.shtml There are obvious reasons for a deep psychic wound to be the origin of a person's healing power. I think it is like being touched with a kind of sacred fire at an early age that burns, and gives the gift of sight, or the taste of dragon's blood that allows Siegfried to understand the speech of birds, and to distinguish the lie from the truth. With his permanently unhealing psychic wound, Chiron, the healer seeks continually to heal himself by projection, by healing others.

lupo138	25 Nov 2002
well, the hierophant is also sometimes a state of conservativism, little development, sometimes stagnation. Pleasant but boring.

Seed Crystal	08 Oct 2004
Thank you all, interesting thread. I have never liked this card, but it can touch some profound topics. A thread you may enjoy: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29182

Lionheart	09 Oct 2004
I really don't want to confuse the situation at all, but while reading through this post I wanted to tell you about my past year with the Hierophant. My father past away very recently with a very long time of illness, unfortunately I live quite some way from him. For the last year my dad was in and out of hospital - I knew before I was contacted by my mum, the Hierophant appeared EVERYTIME in my readings for myself when my dad went into hospital. I have never had this experience with the Hierophant before and I just found it quite extraordinary that this happened. As I never before associated him with hospitals. Although I don't know why. So I guess that is another thought when thinking about the Hierophant and surrounding cards.

Belladonna	09 Oct 2004
Lionheart, it doesn't surprise me that you connected the heirophant with hospitals at all. Hospitals have long been associated with western religious institutions as well as places of teaching/learning. My deepest sympathy goes out to you for your loss.

Sillanza	11 Oct 2004
Like every card, it means different things to different people at different times in their lives. I've found it to represent groups of all kinds (corporate environments, social groups), but it often also represents those rules some of us might need to or have to follow from time to time. Is it a diet or workout schedule? Taking steps toward a certain goal? Sort of an "eye on the ball" card. Lots of these meanings can be extrapolated from "approval," "blessing," "consent," or "relationship." Even "marriage" or "union." I don't think so many of your new book meanings are that odd, just a little cryptic.

dawns_eve	11 Oct 2004
I have a couple decks but primarily use the Robin Wood. At first sight, the Hierophant reminds me of a priest from the Chrisitan religions. There are 2 children kneeling and praying before the priest-like figure. He has an elaborate robe on and is very pious looking. When I look at this card, I get the feeling of faith, trust, authority, hope, worship, prayer, tradition, guidance, etc. This is what I get without using the LWB.

Seed Crystal	11 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by dawns_eve ...When I look at this card, I get the feeling of faith, trust, authority, hope, worship, prayer, tradition, guidance, etc. This is what I get without using the LWB. Hmmm. Thank you for sharing that... I, on the other hand, have rarely experienced religious authority as comfortable, helpful, or as centrally relevant to authentic spiritual connections. So of course this card, representing spiritual institutions, sanctions and blessings, catechismic teaching, orthodoxy, intermediaries between Deity and human, hierarchy and authority, does not especially agree with me. Even before the RC scandals of the last few years (or decades), seeing a pious priest with two young children (or two young acolytes, depending on the deck) would not be a happy picture, for me. Rather than helpful or harmless, I perceive the Hierophants of this world such as more often harmful, or maybe at best sometimes harmless... I do think most religious institutions are not INTENTIONALLY malevolent; but "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Just a matter of the personal experience and paths which are mine. I am grateful for you to expressing an alternative, even though I cannot have similar feelings.

Proserpina	11 Oct 2004
Hi Espy, Some of the meanings you found in the book surprised me as well, although I often do interpret this card as a blessing. But I usually think of this card as having to do with traditional institutions such as schools, religion, etc. The "relationships" interpretation is new to me, but maybe it could represent a relationship being given a blessing? That's some interesting stuff there-- thanks for sharing it. ~Proserpina

Proserpina	11 Oct 2004
Hi Seed Crystal, That's a really interesting perspective you have, and I've never thought of it that way before but I think I can understand where you're coming from. I suppose this is the reason why some decks use "The High Priest" or another term in place of The Hierophant... which deck(s) do you use, out of curiosity? ~P Quote: Originally posted by Seed Crystal Hmmm. Thank you for sharing that... I, on the other hand, have rarely experienced religious authority as comfortable, helpful, or as centrally relevant to authentic spiritual connections. So of course this card, representing spiritual institutions, sanctions and blessings, catechismic teaching, orthodoxy, intermediaries between Deity and human, hierarchy and authority, does not especially agree with me. Even before the RC scandals of the last few years (or decades), seeing a pious priest with two young children (or two young acolytes, depending on the deck) would not be a happy picture, for me. Rather than helpful or harmless, I perceive the Hierophants of this world such as more often harmful, or maybe at best sometimes harmless... I do think most religious institutions are not INTENTIONALLY malevolent; but "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Just a matter of the personal experience and paths which are mine. I am grateful for you to expressing an alternative, even though I cannot have similar feelings.

SFGMaster	11 Oct 2004
I guess I missed this thread before... The Hierophant is my personality & soul card, so I tend to identify with him a lot. He is the figure that shows us how to apply the spiritual or the "idea" into our lives. He's the teacher who brings complicated ideas down into terms that are easy to understand; the minister/priest who first shows us how spiritual things or scriptures actually apply to our own lives; the authority figure who not only enforces the rules but helps us understand why those rules are important and necessary. He's the patient counsellor who keeps telling you *over and over* those things you need to hear until you finally "get it". He's also the feeling of comfort and familiarity you feel from following familiar rituals, traditions, or "habits." In short, he's the "mentor" or "teacher" of the Tarot. And usually, the solutions that he points out are so obvious as to make you slap your forehead when it finally dawns on you how easy it is to solve the problem. If I receive The Hierophant as an "advice/solution" card, it usually means "You're making this harder than it really is. Think more simply." Or, "You already know the answer to this." In your context, he'd be the "matchmaker", either as a person or as a concept, that shows you your soulmate, usually right where you didn't expect to find him/her. More literally, he could be the preacher/priest who performs the wedding ceremony. Quote: Originally posted by Thirteen In addition, coming after the Empress and Emperor, there might be the idea of the two being married by the Hierophant (but I've always assumed they were already wedded). Thirteen, continuing that line of thought, do note that he also immediately precedes The Lovers. ;) A consummation, perhaps? --:THIER

Seed Crystal	13 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Proserpina Hi Seed Crystal, That's a really interesting perspective you have, and I've never thought of it that way before but I think I can understand where you're coming from. I suppose this is the reason why some decks use "The High Priest" or another term in place of The Hierophant... which deck(s) do you use, out of curiosity? ~P Ocassionally R-W-S, most often these days World Spirit. The Hierophant in that deck is an Aztec priest before a veiled temple holding a flaming staff, with a couple crouched/kneeling before him. Image works for spiritual teacher and orthodoxy, marriage, really all the possible readings I or others have mentioned here... :)

Phoenix Rising	13 Oct 2004
I'm with Seed Crystal. Everytime I see the Heirophant(Robin Wood) I just cringe. I can't stand that card. Although it is my soul card too. I just see it as a restriction from freedom. One who always follows the rules, and places his rules, beliefs and restrictions on others. So I see it also as someone who has control issues. Funny enough, this is what i've been subjected to most of my life and what I am working most hard to do. To be free and not worry about what society thinks. But too i think I had major issues with religion in a past life, probably in the inquisition ages! So he is a devout upholder of his beliefs.

RedMaple	13 Oct 2004
Yes, in terms of conformity, I see the idea of marriage being connected to the Hierophant, as opposed to other arrangements, for example. Those rites and institutions that are socially sanctioned often come up for the Hierophant in readings I've done. I understand dreading the card, it is so often heavy-handed and confining. I have never had the Hierophant show up in a reading as a spiritual guide.

ferrous	13 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Seed Crystal I, on the other hand, have rarely experienced religious authority as comfortable, helpful, or as centrally relevant to authentic spiritual connections. So of course this card, representing spiritual institutions, sanctions and blessings, catechismic teaching, orthodoxy, intermediaries between Deity and human, hierarchy and authority, does not especially agree with me. Although I've never had 'bad' experiences, per se, with religious institutions, I don't feel as though they've done me any good, so I've also not been able to connect with the Hierophant .. however .. Quote: Originally posted by JC BTW, my favorite interpretation of the H is "physical manifestation of divine intent". .. that interpretation makes me feel much better toward that card. I suppose relativly recent events in the history of 'the church' as well as past events where the church has had much control of the masses, has always made me think of the Hierophant as a bad thing, not through any fault of its own. That interpretation of "physical manifestation of divine intent" really makes me see it in a new light. Perhaps this is as religious institutions really should have been, their real intent back before they were mired in politics & control. Thanks, JC. I'm glad I read this thread & your interpretation. :)

Seed Crystal	17 Oct 2004
Today I looked at etymology of Hierophant: Greek: Hieros powerful, sacred, supernatural. Phainein to reveal, show, make known. Late Latin: hierophanta, hierophantes; a priest, especially of the Eleusinian mysteries. Related words: hierarch (high or controlling religious leader); hierarchy (authoritarian form of goverance or organization; goverance by priesthood; the arangement of objects, elements or values into a graduated series); hieroglyphs; hierography (treates on sacred writings); hierourgos (GK; sacrificing priest; e.g. sacrificer, not the sacrifice). :)

SeraphSarah	27 Oct 2004
-in addition to all the meanings that have been said I have one that sometimes comes up. In the rider wait , you see pupils or students at the bottom, which sometimes I see as twins. When I see twins sometimes to me it means that the quarent has been doing WAY to much-two places at once, especially if they get the two of pentacles with that. I've also had to tell someone their husband was like 2 diff ppl-or had a split personality- which she informed me was true ..very true.. I dont get that often..it's actually rare..but when my intuition tells me it means that I go with it. That's what i love about tarot..1000 meanings for 1 pic. But I rely on psychic intuition to tell me what to say.

northsea	02 Nov 2004
a key aspect of the hierophant is his charisma which attracts people to his calling, like a cult-hero.

The Question on the Hierophant thread was originally posted on 23 Nov 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.