The High Priestess Card: Trusting the Wisdom of the Unseen
- Jan 22
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
The Evolution of the Archetype
From Papesse to Priestess
The imagery of the High Priestess card has not always been depicted as it is today. The earliest documented Tarocchi deck originated in the mid 15th century. Tarot decks that trace their lineage through Marseille family trees date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Europe was largely Catholic during these centuries. Both decks portrayed the second Trump as a woman pope sitting on her throne. The image used on the Marseille deck was pulled directly from the story of Pope Joan. Pope Joan was a woman who disguised herself as a man and assumed the papal title in medieval Europe. It would have been scandalous in the Middle Ages for a woman to have ascended to such a high position of religious authority. Because of this, you can interpret the Papess as a symbol of female power/strength in relation to societal standards.
In 1781, Antoine Court de Gébelin changed the name of the card from “Female Pope” (La Papesse) to “The High Priestess.” Court de Gébelin wrote Le Monde Primitif, in which he was among the first to suggest that the Tarot didn’t originate in medieval Europe but rather in the Egyptian priesthoods of antiquity. As her ties to church power lessened, the mysterious aura surrounding the High Priestess grew.
It wasn’t until the disciples of the Hermetic order of the Golden Dawn expanded around 1888 that we know of as the High Priestess card. S.L. MacGregor Mathers was the principal teacher of the Golden Dawn. Many of you are familiar with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck created in 1910 by A.E. Waite. The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck revolutionized the western Tarot’s. portrayal of the High Priestess card from the character Joan, to a mysterious moon goddess, to the Egyptian goddess Hathor. Today, we know her as “Keeper of esoteric knowledge,” or as we simply know her, the High Priestess.
The Symbolism of the Veiled Goddess
Unlike the Hierophant or Pope card which depicts the character preaching or blessing a group of people, or sitting outside with room to move about, the Papesse (High Priestess) is secluded from the outside world. She sits within herself, at the doorway between consciousness and subconsciousness veiled by layers of secrecy.
In her lap she cradles a book or scroll of wisdom. This book is normally obscured by her robes at least partially. This symbolizes her knowledge of the occult and that she harbors holy wisdom. Knowledge that cannot be attained by those who have not been initiated.
Her secrets cannot be purchased, forced, or taken from her. They can only be revealed through her when they are ready. She is the Goddess of Mystery and creator of the womb. She is beyond microscopic analysis and must be understood through our spirits. She understands that which is secret, is sacred. She is the guardian of sacred knowledge.
Nature’s Hidden Rhythms
The mystery of the High Priestess is not illusion; it is the Law of nature. It is easy to forget that many of life's most necessary functions take place behind the veil of darkness, unseen, in perfect secrecy.
The Temple of the Body
Think about all the processes that go on inside your body to keep you alive that you never see. Your spleen cleans your blood by filtering out old red blood cells and assisting in infection. Your heart continuously beats to push blood through your veins and arteries to distribute oxygen and nutrients to your body cells. Your lungs inflate and exhale to pull oxygen into your body and release carbon dioxide. These are just a few of the things your body does without you knowing everyday. There is a reason your organs and internal environment exist inside of you. Your body shields them from the outside world so they can do their function. If your body didn't shelter your insides, they wouldn't be able to do their function.
The Mother and the Seed
You don’t gestate into this world under the glaring lights of a store room. You incubate in the darkness of your mother’s womb, nourished and protected, until you’re ready to be thrown into life outside of that cozy warm little water infused crib.
You don’t plant a seed in your garden and just watch it sprout right there above the ground. It breaks through the dirt, underground. Out of sight. We trust that the seed we planted will grow because we don’t dig up every seed every morning to make sure it’s growing. If we did that, we’d kill all of our plants.
This card teaches us that lots of things need to stay unseen. They need secrecy and the veil of darkness to protect them while they work.
Interpreting the High Priestess Card in a Reading
The High Priestess encourages you to be patient and to have trust. She reminds you
that you don't need to know everything right now—it's actually beneficial that you don't. In our society, there is often pressure to have all the answers, but the High Priestess advises against this approach. Instead of trying to figure everything out, allow things to unfold naturally. Trust that the Goddess of Mystery understands, and that her understanding is all we need
Learning To Trust Quietly
The message from this card is that just because you do not see a solution, does not mean something is not moving behind the scenes. Think of nature, she has her ways that we can not always understand. She balances and waters her children, sending them through cycles of death and life. Your cells die and are reborn everyday and you don't even know it or have to do anything to make it happen. Just because you do not see anything happening for you right now, does not mean something is not being arranged just right for you unseen.
Learn to accept the unknown in your life from The High Priestess. All the miracles from the Goddess are coming, they are just NOT here yet. Everything comes at the right time, never early, never late.
Stop Digging
If you find yourself feeling anxious about a situation, frantically searching for answers, or trying to rush an outcome, the High Priestess counsels you to pause. Have faith that developments you don’t know about are occurring beneath the surface. Know that the perfect outcome is taking place behind the scenes. The clarity you seek will come when the moment is right.
Conclusion
The High Priestess card symbolizes the connection between our world and the unseen realm. She teaches us to respect the mysteries of life. She assures us that there is nothing to fear in the darkness, as it is the birthplace of all things. Embrace the unknown and trust the flow of the Universe. Allow her mystery to be sufficient. The High Priestess teaches you in the Silence.
Deepen Your Practice
Do you want to learn more? Download your free copy of my eBook, "How to Read the Marseille Tarot," and unlock the secrets of the ancient symbolism behind it.
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