Dark Grimoire Tarot - The Hierophant

[teomat]

A ghoulish-looking priest stands in what appears to be a cave or an undergound cavern. He holds a large book tightly and is surrounded by cowled followers. Mushrooms or toadstools appear in one corner.

The Hierophant appears to impart wisdom and knowledge to his followers, however the way he guards his book suggests that only he (through tradition or his own choosing) is permitted to directly read from their 'bible'. Perhaps he twists the words to suit his own puposes?

Or the book (if it is a grimoire) is too dangerous to read without full understanding, so perhaps he is protecting his followers and guiding them wisely?

[Onyx]

This is one of my favorite cards in the deck. I always see the Hierophant as theleader and initiator into secret orders adn the priest who welcomes converts inot fellowship and into the service of an object of worship.

This scene to me is an image of the point of view of someone about to be initiated into their order. The priest stands with his magical book. His followers behind him and his finger raised. He is speaking an incantation of some ritual that will bring someone into their congregation. Then the group will descend deeper into the cave to engage in some magical, spiritual act.

The Hierophant is the archtype of masculine spirituality (to me). He is the teacher, mentor, the leader of the moral side of society. As the High Priestess is the feminine spiritual archetype that is more profoundly personal this card represents spirituality and the search for morality in groups. He may be the voice of the religion or of the predominate social moral code.

Is he the court magician of the Emperor? As the Emperor is the govenmental control is the Heirophant his voice in the arena of all things spiritual? Do these two work together to bring harmony, prosperity and control?

Onyx.

[Myrrha]

The priest's face is intent. He is sincere, but the terrible secrets that he knows have affected him so that he can only speak in a croaking whisper. Although he is covered in voluminous robes you can see that there is something subtly wrong about his shape. The hooded townspeople turn around and you can see that some of their faces are even stranger than you thought at first. If you go through with the initiation rite will you become less human? Will your face and body change? Your mind and inner being? What will be the price of this knowledge?

The priest asks one last time if you wish to be told the lore and secret knowledge. He warns that it will divide you forever from those who do not know the terrible truth. But this is what you have come for, now is the time you will be led out of ignorance into wisdom, out of light into darkness.

Initiation, curiosity, knowledge that changes you, the price of knowledge, choosing a harder path, tradition, a spiritual home.

[Masa]

This priest has the Innsmouth Look--he is presumably among the hybrid offspring of humans and Deep Ones.