The High Priestess: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
The High Priestess Upright Meanings
Keywords:
Intuition, Higher Self (incarnating soul), Secrets, Mysteries, Hidden Knowledge, Fluctuation
Generally
Hidden information, a need for patience, trusting intuition. Waiting for medical test results, an intuitive prompting not to get on a bus, sensing a shift in a friendship but not knowing the secret cause. Almost a more positive version of The Moon, but perhaps mildly disappointing in the sense that these two Major Arcana cards tend not to give straight or definitve answers.
In a Love Context
A platonic relationship with unspoken feelings, a profound and fated new romance, intuitively knowing a partner's surprise, a secret admirer. Like The Lovers as hidden energy.
In a Money/Career Context
A need for due diligence or patience. An intuition that a job offer is 'off', possessing confidential work information, waiting for a promotion decision, a period of study before a career change.
In a Spiritual Context
The archetype of the mystic. A profound insight during meditation, quiet guidance from the Divine Soul, keeping your spiritual practice private, a period of silent retreat. Similar to The Hermit.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Trust your intuition. Accept the uncertainty. Be still and wait for more information to be revealed from the higher planes.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
The outcome is a secret. The final result is not yet meant to be known and will be revealed in its own time.
As Obstacles
Progress is blocked by secrets. You are being hindered by withheld information or facts that are not yet available.
As Hidden Energy
The intuitive, secretive energy of the High Priestess is an untapped resource. There is a powerful insight available from the higher self if you look for it. Like The Hierophant.
As Resources/Alliances
Your intuition is your greatest resource. Help will come in the form of secret knowledge or a discreet, intuitive person.
The High Priestess Reversed
Reversed Keywords
Ignored Guidance, Secrets Revealed, Gossip, Lack of Clarity, Superficiality
Generally
Ignoring the soul's guidance, secrets revealed against your will, acting on superficial information, a disconnect from your higher mind. Like The Fool reversed.
In a Love Context
A partner's affair exposed, realising you ignored your intuition about a relationship, a friendship ruined by gossip, a lack of emotional honesty.
In a Money/Career Context
A career move backfiring due to office gossip, a deal failing due to undisclosed information, buying a faulty car due to a sales pitch, making a bad investment despite an intuitive warning. Like The Magician reversed.
In an Intellectual Context
Stating an opinion after only reading a headline, spreading rumours online, preferring gossip magazines to study, intellectual arrogance.
In a Spiritual Context
A block in your spiritual practice, being too distracted to hear the quiet guidance of the soul, joining a superficial spiritual group, mistaking psychic noise for genuine intuition.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Do not trust surface appearances. It is time to reveal a secret. Stop ignoring the promptings of your higher self.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
The outcome will be a secret revealed. In another reading, a decision will be made based on a complete lack of insight.
As Obstacles
Progress is blocked by malicious gossip. You are being hindered by misinformation and active deception.
As Hidden Energy
The secretive energy of the High Priestess is a hidden threat. An enemy is playing dumb, or self-sabotage from the lower self is at work.
As Resources/Alliances
A secret brought to light can be used to your advantage. Wisdom gained from a painful experience is now your resource, like The Emperor.
The High Priestess Combinations
The High Priestess card meanings are often clarified by the cards that appear with it in a spread. Her knowledge can be subjective when paired with the Hermit or illusive when paired with the 7 of Cups.
Additional Notes
A.E Waite’s original divinatory meanings of the High Priestess.
"Secrets, mystery, the future as yet unrevealed; the woman who interests the Querent, if male; the Querent herself, if female; silence, tenacity; mystery, wisdom, science. Reversed: Passion, moral or physical ardour, conceit, surface knowledge." (Pictoral Key To The Tarot, 1911).
The Rider Waite Smith High Priestess card symbolism.
A serene, seated figure, flanked by a black and white pillar (Jachim and Boaz). Behind her is a veil decorated with pomegranates which are arranged in the shape of the Kabbalistic tree of life (so as to represent sephiroth or spheres of creation from Jewish Kabbalah). These pomegranates also conceal a body of Water. The female figure wears white and pale blue robes, the crown of Isis atop her head and a partially concealed Torah scroll in her hand. An equal-armed cross adorns her chest and a crescent moon is at her feet.
Meditations On The High Priestess
What is the guidance from my higher self about my current situation that I might be ignoring? Are there any secrets (my own or others') that are affecting my path forward? Where in my life do I need to be more still and listen, rather than act and speak?
Is The High Priestess a religious figure?
Not in a conventional sense. In the RWS system, she does not represent a specific religious figure, but rather the archetypal principle of divine feminine wisdom, intuition, and the keeper of sacred mysteries that exists within many spiritual traditions.
