Il Papa: The Hierophant
Verse
“On the other side
of the twin pillars
the guardian of
the divine masculine
reaches out from the light
to offer a hand to the lost.
They hold the key
to the collective
wisdom of humanity
and share it freely.”
Keywords
Upright: Embrace tradition. Established values and beliefs. Community. Collective Wisdom. Spiritual leader. Divine masculine energy.
Reversed: Question the establishment.Be your own teacher. Personal values.Seek wisdom from within.
Correspondences
Sign: Taurus
Aroma: Myrrh, Frankensence and Valerian
Description
The Hierophant is often represented as a spiritual leader or authority figure. In the Hermetic Tarot they are known as the ‘Magus of the Eternal Gods.’ Like the High Priestess, they are a keeper of wisdom and knowledge, however, they openly share that knowledge. The also possess the masculine principles of law, order, and stability established by the Emperor. The themes of the number 5 are present here, but this card embodies the balance in order to overcome, strife, conflict, and instability. 5 is a number that also represents humanity.
The Hierophant stands between the same two pillars of duality as the High Priestess. Here the pillars represent law/freedom and severity/mercy. They serve as the central pillar of mildness and equilibrium and create balance with a message of harmony and community. The key they hold unlocks the collective wisdom of humanity passed down since the beginning of time. They are open, where the High Priestess was locked away. The theme of three, or triplicity, is repeated in the trefoils on the key and the crown they wear. It represents mind, body, and soul.
In a reading, this card often points to an authority figure in your life or someone who is a pillar in your community. It invites you to embrace tradition, convention, and established values and beliefs. Now is not a time to bend the rules. Stick to what you know instead of trying something new. Seek out others who share your beliefs and find comfort in community.
The reversed could mean that maybe it’s time to question authority. Does your belief system support your personal values? Seek wisdom from within instead of from others. You are your own teacher.
Design
The hierophant exudes a sort of rigid openness that I tried to convey with their pose. They have their hand out as if encouraging the reader to grasp it. Their other hand holds tightly to their weapon/key as if ready to use it, or unwilling to share it. They may not be quite as open as they seem. They are slowly stepping forward, but they keep their back and their key staff straight. Their head is slightly inclined in another gesture of welcome, or perhaps challenge. I wanted it to be a question of, whether you should trust this person and what they are saying. Is the confidence they exude warranted? With this combination of subtle movement vs stillness and gentleness vs rigidity, I tried to emphasize how the hierophant is a very complex figure in my mind. They freely share knowledge but you must choose whether to buy what they are selling. They provide guidance and stability, but at what cost? I’ve always been one to question authority, so this may be a more distrusting view than other depictions. Despite the pose, I still wanted the card to feel gentle and welcoming through the color palette. The key staff was inspired by the one Sailor Pluto wields. It unlocks knowledge, but that knowledge can be used as a weapon.
Key Symbols
Three halos/crowns: Represent the realms of mind, body, and soul.
Trefoil: Represents the concept of triplicity in the grander sense
Key: unlocked wisdom and knowledge
Horns: a symbol of Taurus and stubbornness.
The Twin Pillars: Jachin and Boaz are the Gateway to Solomon’s Temple. They represent duality in its many forms; male/female, dark/light, seen/unseen, conscious/unconscious, etc, and together create the middle path. This balance of opposites is one of the cornerstones of magic.
Color Theory
Green: Earth, love, compassion, emotion
Blue: Truth, clarity, communication
Yellow: Instinct, Confidence, Wisdom
