The High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning
The Magician |
The High Priestess |
The Empress |
General Meaning
The High Priestess is the most mysterious Tarot card! It reflects your spiritual world and reminds you that the answers to all questions should be sought not outside, but within the treasure trove of your soul.
When the Priestess appears in a reading, it often signifies heightened intuition, a gift for clairvoyance, and other mystical abilities. At this time, you might find yourself listening to your inner voice, experiencing prophetic dreams, and better understanding your deepest desires.
Card Motto
Listen to your intuition and act according to your heart's command.
by Marta Winter
Core Card Meanings The High Priestess
Description and Symbols of the Card The High Priestess
On the 3rd Tarot card, The High Priestess sits at the entrance of a temple, as if guarding it. The entrance is veiled—one cannot peek inside, only speculate about the mysteries hidden behind it. In her hands, the Priestess holds a scroll of knowledge and laws, and at her feet lies a crescent moon, symbolizing mystery and the cyclical nature of life. The Priestess is draped in flowing robes, with a crown upon her head, signifying power and the union of the physical and spiritual realms.
The columns on the card beside the Priestess, resembling a portal to another dimension, symbolize the struggle and unity of opposites: life and death, day and night, male and female. Gaining entry through the temple doors requires understanding the secret essence of The High Priestess.
Meaning in Upright Position
The Tarot card 'The High Priestess' in the upright position suggests that there is a mystery in your life. To uncover it, you need to listen and trust your intuition, paying attention to signs and hints from above. It's essential to guide yourself not only with logic and common sense but also with the voice of your heart!
This Tarot arcana warns that there are hidden factors in your life or a specific situation that prevent you from objectively assessing what's happening. People around you might not be who they appear to be! There could be unknown players working behind the scenes in matters at hand. You only see part of the situation; the rest is shrouded in mystery, making it impossible to control blindly.
At the same time, drawing 'The High Priestess' card in a spread indicates that, despite numerous unknowns, you've chosen the right path. It's important to stay calm, listen to your subconscious, and consider advice from others—hidden within them might be the answer to a long-standing question.
Key Meanings of the Upright 'The High Priestess' Card
- Spiritual growth, insightfulness, understanding the essence of things.
- Strong intuition, foresight, vision for the future.
- Enlightenment, sound judgment, receptiveness to knowledge.
- Hidden signs, unspoken words, intimate space, future veiled.
- The presence of a woman showing interest in you.
Reversed Position
The meaning of the reversed card, The High Priestess, serves as a warning. Right now, it might be better to refrain from action rather than rush into things driven by strong emotions, potentially leading to mistakes. Negative emotions can be a destructive force and the root of issues in your life. At the same time, complete indifference and excessive inertia can be just as harmful as aimless activity. By delaying, you might miss out on a lucky opportunity granted by fate.
Wisdom, patience, and inner harmony can help neutralize the prediction of this reversed tarot card! The High Priestess encourages you to trust your intuition rather than deceptive feelings and desires. Observe the situation calmly until you hear your inner voice—it will guide you to the right place at the right time, suggesting the right words and actions in a challenging situation.
Key Meanings of the Reversed High Priestess Card
- Overconfidence, superficial knowledge, passivity, ignorance.
- Blocked intuition, unrealized potential.
- Impulsiveness, extremes, actions driven by emotions.
- Compliance, weakness, indecision, lack of understanding, false judgments.
Meaning in Love Readings
The upright High Priestess card in a love reading represents the unknown territory of relationships—something subtle, elusive, and hidden in shadows, existing on a level of intuition and guesswork. Attempts to unravel this mystery or fully understand it often do not yield results.
This might suggest insincerity from a partner or simply some news about a loved one that you will soon discover. Once the veil of secrecy is lifted, you'll gain insight into the next steps. However, it's essential to accept that some relationships are profoundly intimate and ultimately unknowable—but therein lies their unique charm and depth.
The High Priestess might also indicate a secret admirer—someone highly perceptive, reserved, wise, yet hesitant to reveal their affection.
In its reversed position, the card's meaning shifts—it points to suppressed emotions, fears, and insecurities that hinder the development of harmonious relationships.
In Readings About Admirers or Loved Ones
When drawing this card in a reading about an admirer or partner, the upright position suggests that your chosen one is not eager to openly display their feelings, preferring to keep much hidden. Pay attention not to what they say but to what they leave unspoken.
A reversed card indicates that your beloved is full of conflicting feelings and emotions, most of which stem from their thoughts. They may struggle to understand themselves.
Reading for Money, Career
In business readings, the High Priestess card promises success, especially in creative, scientific, and educational fields. It's an ideal time to seek additional training, enhance your skills, or even consider a change in your career path.
Don't expect significant financial gains right now, so try to avoid unnecessary spending. Be cautious when planning major changes — the High Priestess indicates a high likelihood of hidden factors and surprises. Trust your intuition — it's particularly sharp at this moment.
When reversed, this card warns of a complex situation filled with hidden motives and circumstances that are difficult to objectively assess.
Reading for a Person
When drawing the card upright in a reading, it represents a person with a clear mind and remarkable intuition, someone who can deeply sense everything happening around them.
In the reversed position, this card signifies an individual with a delicate emotional structure, highly sensitive, and sometimes prone to impulsive actions influenced by their emotions.
Reading for Advice
In an upright position, this card advises you to trust your intuition and learn to keep secrets—both your own and others'.
If it appears reversed in a spread, the card suggests that in important matters, you should rely on strict logic and facts, rather than emotions, intuition, or feelings. Be careful not to jump to conclusions!
Reading for Outcome
If the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is very favorable. Thanks to your insight and intuition, you will grasp the essence of events and achieve your desired outcome.
If the card is reversed, the forecast for your situation is ambiguous. Impulsive actions driven by emotions might get in your way. Be cautious about jumping to conclusions!
Meanings In Combination with All Tarot Cards
Major Arcana Combinations
With the 0 Fool card — To speak out, become confused, invent something that doesn't exist.
With the 1 Magician card — Not to publicize a romantic relationship, to know more than others, to rely on intuition.
In combination with the 3 Empress card — Rivaling girls, an excellent spouse, a successful marriage.
With the 4 Emperor card — A productive alliance, a lover, to meet one's better half.
With the 5 Hierophant card — Religious parents, meeting a spiritual mentor, a civil marriage.
With the 6 Lovers card — A secret affair, choosing a spiritual path, an intuitive decision.
With the 7 Chariot card — Hidden plan, change of job or residence, automatism.
With the 8 Strength card — A rival, a sense of betrayal, a beneficial encounter.
With the 9 Hermit card — A solitary girl, reclusion, renouncing amusements.
With the 10 Wheel of Fortune card — A cunning scheme, calculativeness, sacred knowledge.
With the 11 Justice card — Imperceptible manipulation, lulling vigilance, a complex plan.
With the 12 Hanged Man card — Female betrayal, a passive approach to life, monotonous relationships.
With the 13 Death card — Change of worldview, love divination, the end of a relationship.
With the 14 Temperance card — Adaptation, female friendship, improvement of health.
With the 15 Devil card — Deception, a deal with one's conscience, selfishness or dark thoughts.
With the 16 Tower card — To leave the comfort zone, impulsiveness, dangerous intentions.
With the 17 Star card — Foresight, occult sciences, heightened intuition.
With the 18 Moon card — Neuroses, complexes, painful jealousy.
With the 19 Sun card — Secrets coming to light, the ability to lead, wise advice.
With the 20 Judgment card — Experience from the past, reconciliation with relatives, reevaluation.
With the 21 World card — The next stage of development, a complete picture of what is happening, a discovery or birth.
Wands Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Wands - Wise decision, prudence, one's own path in life.
With the Two of Wands - Clear plan of action, hidden opportunity, pride in oneself.
In combination with the Three of Wands - Successful beginning, secrecy, self-interest.
With the Four of Wands - Dark family history, debt to relatives, caution.
With the Five of Wands - Intelligent conversationalists, healthy competition, acceptance of the new.
With the Six of Wands - Missing knowledge, a good teacher, applying innovation in practice.
With the Seven of Wands - Compromising evidence, behind-the-scenes struggle, slander or nasty gossip.
With the Eight of Wands - Cunning scheme, a team of ill-wishers, unfortunate circumstances.
With the Nine of Wands - Retreat into oneself, wait for the right time, focus on personal life.
With the Ten of Wands - Lose an argument, feel guilt, overestimate one's strength and reconsider.
With the Page of Wands - Engage in a promising business or partner, take a closer look at a potential husband.
With the Knight of Wands - Gift of keeping calm, concealing emotions, clever maneuver.
With the Queen of Wands - Resourcefulness, quick thinking, advantageous position.
With the King of Wands - Success in endeavors, knowing when to leave, energy and foresight.
Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Swords - Outsmarting competitors, quietly making deals, eavesdropping.
With the Two of Swords - Passivity, theory without practice, delays.
In combination with the Three of Swords - Uncomfortable truth, blow to one's pride, unpleasant criticism from loved ones.
With the Four of Swords - Deep contemplation, psychological trauma, reclusiveness.
With the Five of Swords - Hopeless endeavor, self-sacrifice, responsibility.
With the Six of Swords - Valuable secret, investment for the future, willingness to wait.
With the Seven of Swords - Cunning plan, ingenious scheme, anticipation of substantial profit.
With the Eight of Swords - Inaction, fear, inability to move forward.
With the Nine of Swords - Guarding an old secret, insomnia, nightmares and haunting thoughts.
With the Ten of Swords - Finding a way out of depression, realization of mistakes, acceptance of defeat.
With the Page of Swords - Strategic maneuver, cunning bait, the art of flirtation.
With the Knight of Swords - Leap to success, bold statement, sharp criticism.
With the Queen of Swords - Assertive rival, unbeatable competitor, family discord.
With the King of Swords - Investigation, wiretapping and surveillance, justifiable claims.
The High Priestess and Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Cups - Concealing emotions, shy infatuation, outward coldness.
With the Two of Cups - Secret engagement, ideological union, perfect compatibility of personalities.
In combination with the Three of Cups - Support group, underground activities, illegal parties.
With the Four of Cups - Denying the obvious, playing both sides, being swayed by someone.
With the Five of Cups - Unpleasant news, realization of a problem, self-reflection.
With the Six of Cups - Thoughts of the past, platonic relationships, genuine generosity.
With the Seven of Cups - Indecisiveness, delay in finding a solution, the perils of overthinking.
With the Eight of Cups - Tactical retreat, returning to one's roots, humility.
With the Nine of Cups - Wholeness of character, recipe for happiness, unwavering optimist.
With the Ten of Cups - Family unity, successful marriage, prosperity.
With the Page of Cups - Good news, joyful celebration, soulful companionship.
With the Knight of Cups - Secret game or mission, cunning, covert activities or romance.
With the Queen of Cups - Wearing a mask, selectivity in relationships, a practiced smile.
With the King of Cups - Hypnosis, therapy sessions, subconscious issues.
Pentacles Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Pentacles - Additional income, hidden finances, the ability to earn.
With the Two of Pentacles - Underground spending and manipulations, petty swindler, playboy.
In combination with the Three of Pentacles - Secret enterprise, corruption, a gang.
With the Four of Pentacles - Stash, attempt to preserve wealth, financial investment.
With the Five of Pentacles - Showmanship, hiding poverty, stalling by making promises.
With the Six of Pentacles - Secret gift, covert acquisition of property, lending money.
With the Seven of Pentacles - Investing resources, informant, securities transactions.
With the Eight of Pentacles - Key to success, additional profession, side job.
With the Nine of Pentacles - Excellent specialist, ability to manage property, meticulous planning.
With the Ten of Pentacles - Public announcement of inheritance, family quarrels over money, division of inheritance.
With the Page of Pentacles - Financial proposition, luck in gambling, calculated marriage.
With the Knight of Pentacles - Fade into the shadows, conceive a new venture, semi-legal position.
With the Queen of Pentacles - Undisclosed resource, unexpected opportunity, aligning with someone knowledgeable.
With the King of Pentacles - Prosperity through resourcefulness, affluence, social influence.
Example Interpretation In a Daily Spread
A Card Has Fallen for You The High Priestess? This Signifies:
Today, your intuition will be on point, while logic takes a backseat. As a result, some of your actions and decisions may seem peculiar to those around you, but don't worry, you're on the right track. The card of the day suggests that your Subconscious is guiding you at the moment. Thanks to it, you'll be able to navigate the right path in the most complex and convoluted matters. Trust your intuition, don't overanalyze every step you take, and the outcome will pleasantly surprise you.