HIEROPHANT, Pope, High Priest, Jupiter

BASIC DESCRIPTION: An ornately-dressed priest sits on a stone throne between two stone pillars. Why is a priest on a throne? Two monks give obeisance, and have roses and lilies for material / spiritual desires. Two keys are crossed between his feet. He is draped in a red robe, with a blue robe underneath, white sleeves, three crosses on the white strip down the front, and a diamond on the end. Crosses on his shoes. He wears a crown with 3-7-5 points and holds a stick which reminds me of the Egyptian thing (not the ankh, but the other thing, the one with the cross bars). His right hand makes a sign, which resembles a blessing. Perhaps he is one of the anointed.

To me, he also symbolizes accumulated knowledge--that we can learn from the past of society, and each person doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. Yet also, people who rely on that accumulated, and sometimes not accurate, knowledge, instead of questioning. QUESTION AUTHORITY.

I see this as being a totally conformist card. The monks remind me of what we used to call "spaghetti people"--like identical, straight and narrow pieces of spaghetti, all together in their box. Also reminds me of the political power and wealth of the church. Why a priest on a throne?

FIRST THING THAT STRUCK ME WHEN I LOOKED AT CARD: The color red, which I have always associated with the number 5.
TIME: Candlemas/Imbolg; also any special "church" days, such as weddings, etc.

TRADITIONAL MEANINGS OF CARD UPRIGHT: Marriage, alliance, captivity, servitude; by another account, mercy and goodness; inspiration; the man to whom the querent has recourse/
TRADITIONAL MEANINGS OF CARD REVERSED: Society, good understanding, concord, overkindness, weakness.

According to Mary Summer Rain on Dreams, "Hierophant characterizes an enlightened individual; one who has the advanced development of knowledge coupled with wisdom."

BIBLICAL: ...This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men--Mark 7:6-8
ASTROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: (1) Saturn--discipline, tradition; (2) Mercury--messenger of the gods; (GD) Taurus

ANIMAL/INSECT: bull, elephant; praying mantis
PLANT: Pfingstrose (special Swiss flower that blooms at Pentecost)
MUSIC: choir
FILM/BOOK: Frank Herbert's DUNE, which addresses the hope, hype and fanaticism of Messianic religion.
PUBLIC PEOPLE OR EVENTS: Napoleon--the Louvre is a wonderful and educational place, but is also a collection of spoils of war. Napoleon was famous as a conqueror.
OCCUPATIONS: priest, teacher, sportscaster; counselor, school administrator, sociologist

QUOTES FROM OTHER SOURCES ON THIS CARD: These same questions that disturb and puzzle and confound us have in their turn occurred to all wise men: not one has been omitted: and each has answered them according to his ability, by his words and his life.--H. D. Thoreau

A true philosopher never seeks to subvert the order of things. He accepts it. He asks only to be allowed to cultivate the thoughts that comfort a strong spirit. For the others, luckily there are both popes and bishops to restrain the crowd from revolt and crime. The order of the state demands a uniformity of conduct, religion is necessary for the people, and the wise man must sacrifice a part of his independence so that society will remain stable. --Umberto Eco

OTHER: vs. HP--he is revealer of mysteries, while she is keeper of mysteries. However, true, meaningful, useful, spiritual knowledge can't be revealed, it can only be realized. KNOWING something doesn't make you change your will or behavior one bit. But FEELING it does. Otherwise, we'd (okay, I'd) be smart enough not to smoke (among other things).

I guess what it comes down to is the positive and negative of religion, society and human knowledge. Religion used to hold societies together, but also brought those societies to war, etc. Knowledge from external sources is necessary, but useless until it is internalized.

The Voice

Revealer of Mysteries

The Vision

Back to Tarot

http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/major/Hiero/05IMHO.html