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The High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning
The High Priestess: Guardian of the Unconscious
Upright keywords
Intuition, subconscious, secrets, spirituality
Reversed keywords
Secrets revealed, ignoring intuition, hidden information
Symbolism
Seated between two pillars—Boaz (negation) and Jachin (beginning)—The High Priestess guards the veil to the subconscious mind, decorated with pomegranates representing fertility and divine femininity. The crescent moon at her feet signifies her connection to intuition and the cycles of nature. The scroll in her lap, marked TORA, contains hidden wisdom.
The High Priestess upright meaning
Card number 2, The High Priestess represents intuition, mystery, and knowledge that lies beyond the conscious mind. She is the keeper of secrets and the quiet wisdom within. This card advises you to look inward for answers, to trust your gut feelings and dreams. The truth you seek is not in the external world but in the silent depths of your own psyche. It is a time for listening, not for action.
Listen to your inner voice. The High Priestess points to intuition, mystery, and the subconscious mind. The answers you seek are not in the external world, but within.
The High Priestess reversed meaning
Reversed, The High Priestess indicates a disconnect from your intuition. You may be ignoring your inner voice or suppressing your true feelings. It can also point to secrets being revealed, gossip, or surface-level knowledge. There is a blockage to your subconscious wisdom, leading to confusion and a poor understanding of your situation.
You are ignoring your intuition. It can mean secrets are being kept from you, or you are repressing your own feelings. There is a disconnect from your inner self.
The High Priestess in a reading
How the card reads in each position of a past, present and future spread.
Past position
Upright: A past secret, a strong intuitive feeling, or a period of quiet contemplation has significantly influenced where you are today. Trust what you felt back then.
Reversed: You ignored your intuition in the past, leading to a poor outcome. A secret that should have been revealed was kept, causing current issues.
Present position
Upright: Pay close attention to your intuition and dreams right now. The answers you need are not obvious and lie beneath the surface. It is a time for listening, not acting.
Reversed: You are actively ignoring your gut feelings, which is causing confusion. There may be gossip or hidden information you are refusing to see.
Future position
Upright: A mystery will soon be revealed. Your intuition will be your best guide in navigating what is to come. Trust your inner voice over external advice.
Reversed: Avoid making decisions based on surface-level information in the future. You risk ignoring crucial intuitive warnings or having important facts hidden from you.