The Hierophant tarot card serves as the masculine counterpart of the High Priestess and is the number five of the Major Arcana cards in the tarot deck.
This card is also known as the High Priest or the Pope and is governed by Taurus.
The Hierophant is a symbol of traditional values and stretches the deep importance of spirituality and religion in life.
Hierophant Tarot Key Words
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Hierophant card meaning, and its connection to love, work, and life, below a quick overview of the most important words connected to this Major Arcana card.
| Upright | Spiritual wisdom, tradition, conformity, morality, ethics |
| Reversed | Rebellion, subversiveness, freedom, personal beliefs |
| Yes or No | Neutral |
Hierophant Tarot Card Description
The Hierophant tarot card is also called the Teacher of Wisdom. The basic symbols of the Hierophant card are twin pillars, a staff, a throne, the triple crown of a pope, a hand raised in blessing, and two followers.
The Hierophant sits in the middle of two pillars. He shows sanctity that are characteristics of a holy temple or a church; however, this temple is different from the one where the High Priestess sits.
The Hierophant sits on a throne on an elevated podium demonstrating authority. It also designates being superior among others.
He wears three robes which are red, blue and white – and a three-tiered crown. They both signify the three realms which he dominates (the conscious, subconscious and super-conscious).
In his left hand, he carries a triple cross that shows his religious position. The horizontal bars in the cross represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. His right hand raised in a religious manner is a symbolism of blessing (it’s similar to the hand that the Magician has raised).
There are two followers that kneel before him. This represents the Hierophant’s duty to transfer his spiritual knowledge to others. Through these devotees, the card also comes to characterize resulting in the way to understanding and education.
The crossed keys at the Hierophant’s feet denote the stability between the conscious and subconscious minds and the revealing ambiguities which only he can demonstrate.
Upright Hierophant Tarot Meaning
When the Hierophant tarot card is upright in a reading, it represents a necessity to follow existing conventions, rules, or a well-established procedure.
It advises you to maintain conventional boundaries that are considered a standard method. Rather than being inventive and breaking norms, you will be familiarized with certain traditions, beliefs, and systems which are existing already for quite a long time.
The Hierophant tarot card embodies a customary set of spiritual beliefs and is frequently associated with religion and other formal ideologies. Thus, this card suggests that you learn the necessary values from a trusted source such as a mentor or a spiritual counselor.
What you can do is ask for guidance and cooperate with a teacher, mentor, or leader to teach you about spiritual values and beliefs in a well-thought manner. They can give you wisdom and advice. These people can be experts that will help you awake and nurture your core values.
The Hierophant tarot card can also be a sign that you need to bring back family customs that are being neglected – instead of innovation and breaking the old ways.
Do you feel like lacking rituals and traditions? Getting lost with your structured beliefs?
Build a regular practice or habit such as everyday prayer or expressing gratitude before a meal. Consider discovering your spiritual or religious heritage. Surround yourself with people that help you to go back to what you have been taught.
The Hierophant Love & Relationships
The Hierophant means full commitment, therefore the Hierophant in a love context is a very good sign. It is associated with traditional and solid relationships and indicates that you and your partner are on the same page about pretty much everything. This is not just a normal relationship, but one that feels like “meant to be” and almost sacred.
If you’re single, the Hierophant in a tarot love reading indicates that someone in your inner circle has an eye on you! This might be a friend, you’ve been interested in for a while but seemed way out of reach. Get ready for one of your friendships to turn into a romance full of romance and fidelity!
If you’re building up relationships, the advice of the Hierophant is to inform others about your background and family traditions. What are your values and what is important for you?
By being vulnerable and honest, you’ll gain respect from others! Even if they are from a totally different background or disagree with your values.
The Hierophant Health & Spirituality
Are you having health issues or feel any ailment coming on? As a symbol of existing conventions and well-established procedures, the Hierophant in a health context tells you to visit your doctor and to follow his advice. Don’t try to find a solution online, instead, just listen to the wisdom of a professional.
The Hierophant is a symbol of traditional values and stretches the deep importance of spirituality and religion in life.
Therefore if the Hierophant tarot card shows up in a spiritual context, this is a sign that you should include some traditional values or type of religion into your spiritual practices. See it as an invitation to sometimes visit a church, mosque, or temple.
The Hierophant Money & Career
In a career context, the Hierophant indicates that new things are coming your way. This can be in the form of a promotion, moving to another department, or changing companies. While working with a lot of new colleagues, one of them will act as a mentor.
This person will guide you through the values and traditions of the company and provide you with inside information.
Moneywise the Hierophant advises you to be very conservative. Do you really need that new pair of shoes? Is your old television still working and if so, why should you buy a new one?
This card tells you to think twice when it comes to spending your money. Try to put some money aside for days when you really need it. You definitely won’t regret that!
The Hierophant Reversed Meaning
When the Hierophant reversed shows up in a reading, it symbolizes nonconformity as well as openness and freedom.
It can also indicate that you are feeling the desire to bend existing rules. Or that you’re experiencing limitations from too many structures and established beliefs.
As a result, you feel like you lost your own control and flexibility in a lot of aspects of your life. You want to explore past beyond what you already know and what has been taught to you for many years.
It makes you want to question things to ensure the truth and morality of your actions and beliefs. While there might be people who will not understand your will to do some changes, it might be needed.
The card suggests that you no longer need the approval of external sources and that you are your own teacher. Now is the time to trust your inner strength and see things from a different perspective.
Maybe you’re going to have conflicts with authorities, experts, or existing sources as you start to seek your own answers. That feels scary at first, but do not worry! You will feel comfortable as it is natural to feel scared to deviate from the norm and established ideas.
Do you feel like questioning old ideas and traditions that have been taught to you? Are certain beliefs, structures, and systems go against what you want to do and believe?
Probably now is the time to listen to yourself. Learn to trust your instincts and break free from old ways.
The Hierophant Yes or No
The Hierophant is a symbol of spiritual wisdom and existing conventions. In a Yes or No reading, the Hierophant tarot card is neutral and tells you to seek advice from a mentor, a spiritual counselor, or someone else you trust.
The Hierophant Important Card Combinations
Spiritual practices, a wedding, and a psychological breakthrough. Also combined with other cards, the Hierophant represents traditions, conformity, and ethics. Below you can find the most important Hierophant tarot card combinations.
The Hierophant and Justice
Justice often represents legal matters, and when linked with the Hierophant tarot card, this meaning is intensified. Aren’t you in a legal battle at the moment? One could be looming.
Therefore this combination tells you to proceed with caution when it comes to matters of the law or regulation. Do you want to settle a dispute? This combination indicates that there will be a solution that is fair for all parties.
The Hierophant and the Lovers
Do you hear the wedding bells ringing? The Hierophant with the Lovers card just indicates one surefire thing: a wedding is coming up! Are you ready to fully commit yourself? If so, this wedding might even be yours.
The Hierophant and the Moon
The Hierophant together with the Moon card symbolizes a psychological breakthrough and analysis. Are you undergoing therapy at the moment?
This combination tells you that the treatment will change your life! You will get a deeper understanding of your inner self and old emotions. This newly gained wisdom will help you to solve an ongoing issue.
The Hierophant and the Eight of Pentacles
The Suit of Pentacles is considered career and money-based. The Eight of Pentacles is usually a work focused card, but not when paired with the Hierophant tarot card. Instead of focusing on the end goal, this combination advocates making education and spiritual practice a priority.
The Hierophant Tarot Card Inspiration
Although I write all the descriptions based on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, it doesn’t mean that I use other decks too. And there are so many beautiful decks out there! I can lose myself browsing and searching the web for beautiful tarot cards.
Below you can find a small selection of beautiful Hierophant tarot cards. If you drew a Hierophant tarot card yourself and want to share this, I would love to hear from you!
The Hierophant Questions Answered
The response and questions I received from my readers (you!) are overwhelming. I am extremely grateful to have this interaction and while I am responding to every message I get, I’m answering the most frequently asked tarot questions about the Hierophant tarot meaning and general tarot card questions here.
What does The Hierophant tarot card mean?
The Hierophant tarot card is a symbol of traditional values and stretches the deep importance of spirituality and religion in life. He serves as the masculine counterpart of the High Priestess and is the number five of the Major Arcana cards in the tarot deck. This card is also known as the High Priest or the Pope and is governed by Taurus.
What does the Hierophant tarot card mean in a love context?
The Hierophant in a love reading symbolizes traditional relationships, full of commitment. If the Hierophant shows up while you’re still single, it’s a sign that somebody in your inner circle has an eye on you. A friendship will maybe turn into a romantic relationship!
What is the meaning of the Hierophant reversed?
The reversed Hierophant is a symbol of nonconformity, openness, and freedom. The card tells you that it’s time to explore beyond what you already know. You no longer need the approval of external sources anymore, you are your own teacher now. Trust your inner strength and see things from a different perspective.
Does the Hierophant in a Yes or No reading indicate a yes or no?
In a Yes or No tarot spread, the Hierophant isn’t explicitly a yes or no. Instead, it’s neutral and gives advice to seek guidance from a mentor, a spiritual counselor, or someone else you trust.
The Hierophant in a Reading
That’s all for the Hierophant tarot card meaning! Can’t get enough? Learn how to read the tarot in this Tarot Beginners Guide or read more about the other major arcana cards here.
If you have pulled the Hierophant tarot card in your spread, did the meaning make sense to your situation in life?
Our community loves to hear about spot-on readings so please take a minute to let us know in the comments below what you think of the Hierophant.
jaid says
hi Jen,
I asked cards how long will I stay in this job and drew the hierophant. in my mind I told myself 1 and half years – am I correct?
thank you jaid
Wille says
Hi Jaid, thanks for your question. Living our lives, we can change our future by taking certain decisions. So it doesn’t have to be necessarily 1,5 years. It will depend on the circumstances and decisions you make. But more generally, in a career context, the Hierophant tarot card indicates that new things are coming your way. This can be in the form of a promotion, moving to another department, or changing companies. So change will come:)
Hope this makes sense ????
Love,
Wille ✨
Francisco says
Good nigth Wille!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I love the way you write about arcana! I speak from Brazil! I really appreciate your site!
Wille says
Thank you????
Jen says
Perfectly explained! I got the same description but yours added a tad more detail and basically confirmed my interpretations. Thanks 🙂
Willemijn says
Thanks Jen!