The High Priestess tarot card explained
The meaning of The High Priestess tarot card
The High Priestess is the third card in the Major Arcana, numbered II (2). Its central themes are all about intuition, inner wisdom, and trusting your gut feeling.
You know that feeling when something doesn't seem quite right, but you can't really explain why? Maybe you've just met someone, and something feels off. Or you're about to make a big decision at work, and despite everything looking good on paper, you're still hesitant...
That's what The High Priestess is all about. Sometimes, we already know how we feel about something, but we're too busy looking for external validation to actually listen to ourselves. The High Priestess encourages you to slow down and pay attention to those feelings. Not everything needs to be explained with facts and figures. Sometimes, it's all about those gut feelings.
Start a free tarot readingThe hidden symbolism of The High Priestess
Scan by Saskia Jansen · Wikimedia Commons
Traditionally, The High Priestess is illustrated as a woman sitting between two pillars, one black and one white. They represent opposing forces, such as light and darkness.
Behind her is a veil decorated with pomegranates, which symbolizes hidden knowledge and things that aren't immediately obvious to us.
She often holds a scroll marked with the letters TORA, representing wisdom and knowledge. There's also a crescent moon at her feet, associated with intuition and the subconscious mind.
Unlike The Magician, who's all about taking action with the tools you already have, The High Priestess is more about looking inward.
She's not telling you to rush into something. Quite the opposite, actually—she wants you to sit with your thoughts for a while before making a decision.
What The High Priestess tells you about love
The High Priestess is an interesting card to draw in a love reading because relationships aren't always as straightforward as we'd like them to be.
Maybe you've started dating someone who seems perfect on paper. They're attractive, have a good job, and seem to want the same things as you. But something may feel a bit off. Or maybe you've been in a relationship for years, and you've noticed that something has changed. You can't put your finger on it, but you know things aren't quite the same anymore.
The High Priestess urges you to listen to those feelings rather than dismissing them. Of course, your intuition isn't always correct, but it's worth understanding where those feelings are coming from.
Card pairing with the High Priestess is interesting. Now, imagine drawing The High Priestess as where you are now and The Lovers as what to focus on. The High Priestess might suggest that you're feeling uncertain about a relationship, while The Lovers encourages you to think about your values with your significant other. Or the person you're looking for.
Maybe you already know what you want from a relationship, but you haven't been completely honest with yourself about it. And if The High Priestess appears, what should you avoid? Then stop sitting on those feelings and open up a bit more!!
Start a free tarot readingThe High Priestess and your career decisions
When it comes to work, we're often encouraged to make decisions based on logic. Salary, job title, and career progression, after all, are all very important things.
But what about how you actually feel? Maybe you've received an offer for a new job. The salary is higher, the company is well known, and everyone around you thinks you should take it. But for some reason, you're not excited.
The High Priestess might encourage you to understand why. Maybe there's something about the company culture that doesn't appeal to you. Or maybe you've realized that climbing the corporate ladder isn't as important to you as it used to be. Are there any red flags? 🚩
Now, imagine drawing The High Priestess as what to focus on and The Chariot as what to avoid. The Chariot represents determination and pushing forward. Combined with The High Priestess, perhaps the message is that you don't need to rush into your next career move just because everyone else seems to be moving ahead.
Maybe it's time to take a step back and think about what you actually want before committing to another five years of doing something you're not particularly passionate about.
And sometimes, trusting your intuition simply means recognizing that you're unhappy with your current situation, even if you can't explain exactly why. You don't need to make a dramatic decision tomorrow, but let the thoughts lead you to where you need to go.
Try a free tarot reading
Turbo Tarot offers unlimited free online tarot readings. Click "Start a free tarot reading" at the top. Pick love or work, and reveal your three cards.
You might draw The High Priestess, or you might get something completely different. Either way, take your time to read the meanings and think about how they relate to your life.
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