What the Hierophant Taches Us About Learning the Card Meanings

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	29 Mar 2003
This is a little something I wrote in my Tarot journal on March 15th, which I thought I'd like to share with you all, since I'm very pleased with my new-found understanding of the Hierophant card... I've had problems understanding it for a long time, and this entry in my journal really seems to indicate a step forward for me. What the Hierophant Teaches Us About Learning the Card Meanings When people first start learning the Tarot, they assume they've either got to be psychic to read the cards, or they have to memorise every single card meaning from a book. Recently I have started using and teaching a different way: Intuitive Tarot reading, where the reader simply says what they see in the picture of the card. The Hierophant card is all about tradition, and learning wisdom from others. This refers to the book-learning method of Tarot reading. The card however, also tells us that whilst knowing, accepting, and understanding these traditionally accepted meanings, is useful and good, we need to branch out a little and let our heart be the guide for the rest of the time. The opinions of others can be our platform from which we can dive into our own, more personal exploration and interpretation of the Tarot. When we do this, the Tarot speaks to our hearts, and we also give ourselves the opportunity to add our own voice to the books of tradition! We must at some point transcend from learner to teacher, from student to Hierophant, and then encourage our own accolytes to do the same, in the hope that they will be better Hierophants that us, and thus furthur the study and shared wisdom of the Tarot. :D Kiama

Rhiannon	29 Mar 2003
For a minute there I thought Umbrae had started teaching classes! LOL A very nice observation, Kiama. Thanks for posting that! R :)

Alissa	30 Mar 2003
That *was* an extremely Umbraesque thing to say, I agree! Kiama, I love how you applied the Hierophant this way. What occured to me most while reading was how you emphasize the process of learning, rather than the end result of attained knowledge. In this, it reminds me how early the Hierophant comes in the Fool's Journey, and how far he has to go. The process, or journey, is the emphasis, as well as the means to attaining the goal of greater wisdom and knowledge. My own favorite Hierophant card is the Shapeshifter's which shows a half woman-half elephant poised over a book of knowledge. Ganesha, elephant headed Hindu God of karmic knowledge, has always been one of my own most personal deities. Often, when meditating, I go and sit in his lap and feel his trunk wrap around me and hug me. To see a woman fusing her energy with His speaks to me very very deeply. Anyhow, yes great thoughts! Thanks for posting!

The What the Hierophant Taches Us About Learning the Card Meanings thread was originally posted on 29 Mar 2003 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.