So, I sat down to do this post, with my books and things, and damn did I underestimate The High Priestess and the amount of info I would get. Do you all use 78 Degrees of Wisdom? I recently purchased it, and it's chock full of tons of great info on each card. I also use Tarot Plain and Simple for just straight up meanings, but 78 Degrees really gives some more in depth background, so they are great together.
Anyway!!! I really love this High Priestess. As noted, the diversity is fantastic. I like that it looks pretty similar to the original Rider-Waite card, but has some distinct differences, like the background scenery.
78 Degrees talks about how women have always seemed mysterious, dark, and a little crazy to men, but when seen as mothers they are loving and merciful. The High Priestess is NOT the mother archetype here, that is left for the Empress. The High Priestess is deep, dark, subtle, hidden, the virgin. She encourages passivity, that is, stopping and not taking action, taking the time for introspection. (However, when reversed or depending on other cards in the spread, the High Priestess can warn of being TOO passive.) Passivity gives the mind a chance to work, to delve in to the unconscious; the High Priestess represent wisdom at the deepest level.
Beyond the pillars and the veil (I can't really tell if there is a veil on this card), lies the wisdom we seek, the partially hidden landscape that we are not privy to at this time. It is important to note, that true wisdom may not actually be earned until reaching the Star and Moon later in the Majors.
This High Priestess is wild, mysterious, dark, as she should be - she holds a crystal orb, has different representations of moon phases all around her, and has a white tiger that is lounging with her, who is playing with orbs. Like the Magician, she is also a gatekeeper, a protector of secrets/wisdom. However, she is protecting the INNER wisdom, where the Magician encourages interaction with the OUTER world. There are no obvious religious symbols, like the Tora from the original, which I like, however it does seem that there is some allusion to Isis, with the wings on top of the chair. In the original card, there is some duality on the pillars, which seems to have been removed here, I would have liked for that to be included.
Ultimately, the High Priestess represent the possibility that exists, that we have not yet realized, and with a period of passivity we will gain the deep wisdom we need to move forward in action.