Card of the week: Oct 1-8
Deck: RWS
Card: The Hierophant
Ok, here is my card for the week. Pulled it out from the deck and wrote it down in a book prior to typing it all out here....
Well, the moment I saw this card, the first thing that came to my mind were the two pillars and more surprisingly the color of the two pillars – light brown. Both have identical colors, something which is not the case for The High Priestess - the female counterpart of the Hierophant (one pillar for the High Priestess is White and the other is black). This made me check up one more card and the card that first came up was Justice. It too had two pillars of the same color (I didn’t look into any more cards coz I didn’t want to stray from the Hierophant). But, looking back at just these two cards – The Hierophant and Justice v/s The High Priestess….. well, the High Priestess is a bit about mystery – the other person not knowing what exactly is in her mind, while the Hierophant and Justice are not those type of cards. What I mean is that there is no mystery for these two – the facts are out in the open! Is that the reason for the similar color of the pillars???
The very next thought, that came to me was that this card had appeared in a reading I had once done for my sister and that in that reading this card was indicating my sister’s then boss. To elaborate, this card had come at a place in a spread for a location marked – obstacles in your path. The Hierophant is no doubt a good card, so when this card came as an obstacle I was definitely surprised. (this was the first time, The Hierophant had appeared in any readings I had done. Hence the memory!!) Anyways coming back, when I enquired with my sis, she said that though her boss was the least controlling, gave her all sorts of liberty and no doubt was a "good" boss, but she just didn’t like it with him (the reason for this even she didn’t know) So is the Hierophant inhibitive/controlling?? I mean in the card picture you see him as addressing some people (2 guys) who are definitely junior to him (lack of headgear). What is the address about? Is it admonishment or rather, is he guiding them??
The next thing I observed was the overflowing gown and I somehow felt the color “red” is dominating the Heirophant card! Does color have any significance in Tarot readings?? Personally for me, red has always been something to fear. So is it admonishment that the Hierophant is giving?? Why is he pointing his fingers upwards?? Is he showing them the way towards enlightenment? Why has he used two fingers instead of the usual one when pointing upwards? Does it have any special significance? Why is his face expressionless?
Close observation also makes me see that of his entire body, only the face and his two wrists are visible. Not even is his neck seen, neither his feet. Only his shoes are seen which indicates that he is sitting at ease on his throne without a need to leave it very soon (he has removed his shoes).
At his feet there are two keys placed in a cross. Why the cross? Is he admonishing them and has he taken away their keys or is he pointing upwards and telling them – Dudes, these are your symbolic keys to reach the Lord.
The two people before him are possibly standing (just a feel). Why are their backs towards me? Is it pointing to some facet of mystery? Is the card hiding something (just on the lines of the High Priestess card, I compare it here because as mentioned previously, the Hierophant is the male counterpart, as well of the higher order). The two guys before the Hierophant have yellow on their clothes , whereas yellow has graduated to the head gear and the very same yellow is not even a bit on the clothes of the Hierophant. Yellow color can be considered symbolic of gold. Is it hinting at decoration of head gear with this color to indicate the highest position (which he definitely is at) or is it a respect for the level of knowledge he possesses?
What is the yellow wand in the Hierophant’s left hand? Why does it have 3 horizontal sticks with each increasing in length as you go downwards? There are also three crosses in the central white pattern of the red robe. What do they indicate? Is the wand in the Hierophant’s hand symbolic of the power he wields??
Well..that's it..my overall take for The Hierophant..!