"He wears the triple crown and is seated between two pillars, but the are not those of the Temple, which is guarded by the High Priestess. In his left hand he holds a sceptre terminating in the triple cross and with his right hand he gives the well-known ecclesiastical sign which is called that of
esotericism, distinguishing betweent he manifest and concealed part of doctrine. It is noticeable in this connexion that the High Priestess makes no sign. At his feet are the crossed keys, and two priestly ministers in albs kneel before him. He has been usually called the Pope, which is a particular applicaton of the more general office that he symbolizes. He is the ruling power of external religion, as the High Priestess is the
prevailing genius of the esoteric, with drawn power.
The proper meanings of this card have suffered woeful admixture from nearly all hands. Grand Orient
says truly that the Hierophant is the power of the keys, exoteric orthodox doctrine, and the outer side of the life which leads to the doctrine; but he
is certainly not the prince of occult doctrine, as another commentator has suggested.
He is rather the summa totius theologiae, when it has passed into the utmost rigidity of expression; but he symoblizes also all things that are righteous and sacred on the manifest side. As such, he is the channel of grace belonging to the world of institution as distinct from that of Nature, and he is the leader of salvation for the human race at large. He is
the order and the head of recognized hierarchy, which is the reflection of another and greater hierarchic order; but it may so happen that the pontiff
forgets the significance of this his symbolic state and acts as if he contained within his proper measures all that his sign signifies or his symbol seeks to shew forth. He is not, as it has been thought,
philosophy---except on the theological side; he is not inspiration; and he is not religion, athough he is a mode of its expression."
Any comments or questions? I'd like you to take out the HP card again and do some comparisons with the Hierophant- both on symbolism and your 'take' on
the cards...
Ah class, as I reviewed my notes for this lecture, to put into print here, it
was easy to relate some of the Hierophant to the rituals and ceremonies that
covered the media channels yesterday. When there is something potent, be it
good or bad, somehow the masses look to a religious ritual for closure. No
matter what faith one has, and granted there are many without any, mankind in
general since the early times has looked for answers to the mysteries that
make a human's life exciting, different, emotional, and so egocentric. It is
this concern that we see in the early burial rites- elaborate stages for the
afterlives that were believed to be a most welcome change.
So why does the Hierophant mean to us as we reach the millenium? Older decks,
made in the days of Catholic rule many, refer to this card as the Pope. We
see a figure that is reminiscent of the High Priestess, although far more
'rigid' in posture, colours...yet this is a public figure, one accepted and
often worshipped by many.
A spiritual guide is perhaps the essence of this figure. If we first
disregard the exterior trappings, then we see that more easily. Does this
mean that the robes and religious items are insignificant? No, in fact that
they are there connotes a connotation of taking the spiritual beliefs, the
teachings and going public with them...making them part of the masses. The
beliefs become traditions, and in excess become binding and imprisoning rules
that can squash spiritual growth.
When this card is found in a reading, think about a teacher, a wise one who
has spent time alone, finding their god- it can be an image of a pope, or a
buddha priest, or a shaman... This can also symbolise someone in your life
that is able to give advice, provide insight, maybe not in a religious matter
at all, but in something completely different. As part of the initiattes
progress, this card signified much to the secret cult adept who was going
through initiation into the myseteries- most probably a real position within
the organization who trained, taught.
This card also brings to mind structure, much more organization of thought
than just the individual in question- thus it could perhaps mean that the
answer to the query is found in schooling, or in a body of learning rather
than by simply delving within- one must seek an answer or guidance without..
And perhaps this has to do with rituals, long forgotten in much of our
culture, rituals such as the funeral of Princess Diana serve many purpose(s),
for those who truly knew and loved her, a chance to grieve and realize the
finality of the situation, for her country, a chance to become involved with
the monarchy that has ruled their country, right or wrong, for many centuries
and express their inidividual opinions and feelings, and for others a chance
to say goodbye to the myth that was the fairytale for many baby boomers.
Rituals are important for us, the allow the mind to focus on an issue and
truly acknowledge all of its sides, the good and the bad, our part in making
the success, our part in contributing to the failure. With this card, one
might find the suggestion to take a moment to see what is happening in ones
life that might warrant that sort of focus.
Symbolism:
Grey Pillars: wisdom, mundane part of life that moves on, but does become
part of the spiritual side, male and female symbol of union on top
Red overgarment: creative and active energy coming from the Hierophant
Blue in Clothes: spiritual side
WHite in clothes: purity, divine will, the three crosses on yoke may have
many of the usual meanings of the no. three, spiritual-emotional-physical,
the three sides of the god/goddess, the three sides of the Christian God,
etc.
White ear flaps and tabs: one writer states that these are close to the
throat and are indicative of Taurus which is ruled by Venus, and the throat
represents stimulation of those related glands- also one might think of that
chakra, speaking forth or perhaps not.
Gold Tiara, triple- three layers in the crown, the conscious, subconscious
and unconscious minds; again the three fold nature of life, of the mind...in
the crown the top part has thre trefoils for the three layers of the mind,
the second has seven trefoils- 7 chakras or 7 planets; the last row has five
trefoils which stand for the four elements and teh spirit element above
Shoes are white-spiritual grounding
Crossed golden keys+knowledge known only to those of the spiritual world,
these can unlock the gates of 'heaven'- using that to mean whatever heaven
you might like
Red carpet with black stripes- black foundation, red for the physical
activity of the earth plane-this is a card very attune with what is going on
in the real world, as dictated by the spiritual!
The figure has its right hand with two fingers held up- the right side is
considered the masculine side, and is the enrgy of the thought being sent
out. The two fingers together are bound in the decision that has been made.
Triple cross scepter- carried in the left, subconcious?, hand..represents
dominoin over the four planes of existing consciousness, mineral, plant,
animal and spatial.
The two monks can represent the dualities again from the columns- the male
and female, one monk has red roses (desire) while the other white lilies
(purity)
The hierophant is sometimes referred to as the 'bridge' between the mundane
and the physical...and yet in this card our senses are somewhat slapped with
the earthy, mundane, structured 'sense' of it all. In many ways one can feel
'controlled' by the hierophant rather than coming to the figure on one's own
will. This might be the feeling when the card is reversed- or perhaps
reversal indicates that the path chosen is not wise, the advice being
proffered without merit.
I used to not like this card very much a long time ago. It reminded me of the
catholic upbringing and all the judgmental views that I found far too
restricting. Now I see that this card represents opportunity to learn and
grow- and that it was my own mind that did not see past the religious
connotations. It was maturity and spiritual work that has helped me see the
Hierophant as friend, rather than a distant, and usually avoidable, foe.
Indeed, the Hierophant first comes to mind now as the wise teacher, the one
who says, come, sit a while, let me tell you what is going on, let me help
complete the scattered thoughts that make no sense. The Hierophant is wiser,
brigher than the North star, and sometimes patient, sometimes sharp, but
always with the single goal of helping ones mind mature and learn.
