Sophie-David
Yes, isn't true that one of the variants of the RWS didn't have the letters?wandking said:This is next post describes the RWS High Priestess, while offering overall meanings that might apply to the card and clarifying some of the symbolism. One modification in the Connolly card is no "B" or "J" on the pillars. I have seen information that suggests Smith didn't place letters on the columns either and letters were added later at the print shop.
Yes, "she exerts greater impact on personal existence", don't I know it! Interesting point about the colours too. I was just reading the book by Tracy Hoover which comes with my newly arrived Ancestral Path Tarot, and she was suggesting the Empress and Emperor were the progressed forms of the High Priestess and Magician. I'm not sure I quite agree because I think the first two cards really can't be superceded, for example the Empress is NOT all that the High Priestess is, but its an interesting point of view.wandking said:2 – THE HIGH PRIESTESS
The High Priestess is perhaps the most difficult card in Tarot to fathom. Embracing a power veiled in mystery, the card bears a broad scope of interpretations in readings. She communicates directly from the subconscious plane through intuition. As expression of the intrinsically mysterious nature of human existence, she balances power brandished by The Magician. Her powers are as divine and mystical as those the juggler of external influence wields but the nucleus of energy is different. While The Magician directs power outward, The Priestess suggests using internal force to achieve a meaningful effect on the psyche. With transformations less dramatic than The Magician, she exerts greater impact on personal existence. The Magician introduces red and white, the main colors of Tarot; however, this card symbolically predicts most other hues in the deck. Offering unlimited potential of Yin, she provides symmetry necessary for The Magician to serve as Yang of creation. This essential balance of Yin and Yang controls the entire universe.
Oh, and for the first time she explained reductive numerology in a way that made sense to me, e.g. Card #21, World = 2+1 = 3 = Empress. What I mean is that I could understand the addition before of course, but for the first time the actual result made sense: Empress does relate to the World, that has been my personal experience. Anyway I digress, which is all too easy to do.
Yes, I've come to the conclusion that dream reality is just as real and as important as waking reality. And that both overlap much more than is immediately apparent...wandking said:The High Priestess shows that dreams may now become very significant.
Hmm, I don't care for the word "negative" there at all. I prefer the word "darkness" to suggest the positive feminine. And if one is going to say "Negative does not necessarily imply evil" then one needs to also say "Positive does not necessarily imply evil" if you catch my drift. If we keep using up these polar words then all were left with are cumbersome circumlutions like "less desireable", "less beneficial", etc.wandking said:If The High Priestess appears in a spread, it suggests an unseen negative side of your personality emerging. Negative does not necessarily imply evil; it simply represents the opposite of positive. Many remain unaware of this less expressive more feminine side of the psyche. If you can accept this shadow within, subconscious powers will emerge. Since this is a passive side of your make-up, the card may indicate a need to be passive in a situation. Inaction is often as effective as action in achieving goals.
Perhaps not "an ideal woman" but "a feminine ideal" - an ideal woman, like an ideal man, is a person who successfully balances all the archetypes, not just this one. If it were possible for the pure archetype to be expressed in a person, it would be a pretty dysfunctional one. A High Priestess would not be very effective as a human being - I'm not sure she could cross the street successfully, let alone get to where she needed to go, and forget about schedules! Linear time? What's that? Trust me, I wouldn't let Sophie out unescorted!wandking said:As mistress of the inner voice, The High Priestess epitomizes an ideal woman. Like the Lady of the Lake in the legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, she surfaces with a mystical gift and may signal intuition is sending you a message. The subconscious offers messages veiled in symbolism and to hear the inner whispers we must remain alert. If an important decision is at hand when this card appears, it is likely signaling that your subconscious may reveal a path in upcoming days. By patiently waiting and remaining receptive to messages from within, you soon hear subtle whispers of the mind. Open your heart, as the awesome power of this card enriches and transforms you on an internal level. She teaches that all knowledge exists beyond your conscious veil, at a deeper level of the psyche. Her message emerges from two words by Linnaeus, a scientist and philosopher, who said, “Know thyself.”
Apart from these two nigglies, I really enjoyed this quotation. Its very well balanced, clear and concise, and of course I find myself in agreement with all the main points. I noticed you didn't mention the source - is it yours?