The High Priestess

Major Arcana
Written By Quinn

Traditional Meaning

The High Priestess represents feminine energy in its higher form as mystic and seer. Wisdom. Intuition. Sensitivity. 

Going Deeper

Because of the strong associations with the moon, you must be honest about feelings when The High Priestess is present in a reading. Clairsentience is strong, but the best way to use this gift is to learn more about emotions and how they influence and shape our decisions. If we don't know how to swim in the ocean of deep feelings, we will not be able to correctly identify problems. If we misdiagnose a problematic emotion, we won't find the best solutions. Instead of being able to accurately pick up what is present, we will misread others as well as ourselves. We risk getting paranoid and suspicious. The High Priestess is the card which says the time has come for us to learn the difference between our own feelings and when we are simply absorbing the feelings of others. There is no short road to success with this one; it requires patience and unconditional acceptance of inner states. This card will appear when life provides adequate circumstances with which we can learn about the so-called hidden mysteries. We need to understand the natural tides of life, which means understanding the moon's cycles. It may be helpful to know when the Moon is changing signs to see if there's a pattern. If you're a woman, pay closer attention to your menstrual cycle. If you're a man, it may be worth inquiring about the cycles of those women closest to you. This card can sometimes indicate the arrival of wisdom in an external form. This teacher will not make grand gestures as the High Priestess is more of a quiet, introspective character. You'll need to listen carefully and work out for yourself which bits are relevant to you, though it might be best if you can trust your feelings even if they seem to fly in the face of reason. This is no time for logic; the inner life is calling. You can either fumble around in the dark or let the full moon's light guide you. At a time when little may make sense, you might as well rely on something other than cold hard facts, and my guess is there aren't any hard facts at all. 

Astro Insight

Look to the moon. Moods shift quickly. The natal moon will give more clues as to what is going on. 

Examples With Other Cards

Five of Cups: The disappointment or loss experienced has opened the door to higher knowledge; use it wisely, and you won't end up at the same destination again. You could choose to ignore the inner voice and ultimately make yourself look stupid. With the Seven of Cups especially, The High Priestess indicates deception, maybe not a deliberate one but someone is not being entirely honest. Is it you or them? You may try to entice a crush, but they are unlikely to commit further unless everyone involved starts being real. Chariot: Take control of your inner life and make it work. Hanged Man: You have to surrender yourself to a higher calling on this one; there is nothing you can do except wait and ride out the wave. Dreams may be intense and prophetic. The nighttime and how you feel about the dark, in general, will be valuable. Death: There is a very profound transition that involves sacrificing an old way of seeing things; a tremendous amount of healing energy is trying to come through. 

To help yourself or give advice to clients

There's a tendency with this card to assume that no one can know better than the self (which can be true). Ironically, the people this card shows up for most often are those who crave the most wisdom. If you're reading for a client or friend, they might not be in the mood for advice from anyone. It may be helpful to suggest relevant books. 

Moonstone

Common Associations

The element water. The colour silver. The ability to use clairsentience. Gemstones such as pearls and moonstones. 

 

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