Tradition.. marriage.

A wordly figure, that is both graceful and wise, one who many come to for advice, a benefactor, may suggest that the person needs to seek the advice of more wise person, or that if they don't heed the advice of the more wise they may mis an opportunity, suggest that the person needs to take heed of all that is going on around them and choose thier confidants carefully.  Overall a good card because it indicates that the right advice is available if the person is truly litening

In the ancient Greek Eleusian mysteries, the Hierophant was the chief priest.  Today, someone who is an advocate or who makes a case for somebody else is called a Hierophant.  This card represents your inner self, in particular your intuition.  The Hierophant represents the process that your unconscious mind goes through when it evaluates the information sent down from your conscious mind.

I also see someone who is very set in there ways and beliefs.

This will probably be the last card I write about on this site, so it seems fitting that it is the Hierophant.

Lets look as I always like to do at the symbolism of this card.

A man sits between two gray pillars (Waite says they are not the same pillars as the High Priestess') - he wears a triple crown and has three nails that project from the top of the crown - Robert M. Place in Tarot History, Symbolism and Divination tells us that these nails represent "Christ's Passion and that like the Magician, he is one with the Christ consciousness" - in other words the Magicians arms representing 'as above so below' translate in both these cards to mean manifesting spirituality within the earth plane, or put another way bringing spirit down to earth.

At his feet with see the Keys of St. Peter symbolizing here heaven and hell. His hand is held in the sign of the benediction. Two tonsured priests kneel before him one wearing robes with roses and the other with lilies - symbolizing desire and knowledge the Heirophant is marrying these two aspects together.

Robert M. Place tells us that "He wears a pallium, a white band around his shoulders and down his front, with three crosses in a vertical row down the center. At the base is a diamond, a symbol of the fourfold physical world. This is like the central column of the Tree of Life, a theme repeated by the Hierophant's placement between two equal pillars."

What the Hierophant represents here is the exoteric aspects of religion (doctrine or mode of speech likely to be understood by the many) as opposed to the High Priestess who represents the esoteric (likely to be understood by a small number). He carries a three cross scepter which may just represent the creative power of the three worlds of the divine, spiritual and material.

The Hierophant is one of the 'Teacher' cards in the deck the Hermit is the other and what is his message to us - I think he tells us that freedom may be acquired through knowledge.

From a psychological point of view the Hierophant reflects our need to understand life better, and relates to that inner desire to raise those conflicting needs we have to a higher level.  It is a card that urges us to turn out attention within ourselves in our quest to give purpose to our lives.
The Hierophant nudges us to re-evaluate those values that have been ingrained in us since birth and by society and asks us to look at these and work it out for ourselves .

This card can represent for us the readiness to look at life in a different way in order to give meaning to things. He is the desire to experience an extra dimension of life, the feeling that there is more than just the mundane -turning attention towards spiritual matters.   It can also indicate to us that one is acknowledging and coming to terms with their shadow side and feel the need to do something with or about it.

On a more material level he could represent a mentor somebody you look up to and who can impart knowledge for your progress, or he may even represent higher education certainly he represents organized structure, like the church or some governing body.

The Hierophant could be said to represent moral judgement and a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong.

and so like the Hierophant suggests I look within and find my own truth

~ Bella ~