UNCONSCIOUS AWARENESS
POTENTIAL
MYSTERY
The High Priestess is the guardian of the unconscious. She sits in front of the thin veil of unawareness which is all that separates us from our inner landscape.
She contains within herself the secrets of these realms and offers us the silent invitation, “Be still and know that I am God.”
The High Priestess is the feminine principle that balances the masculine force of the Magician. The feminine archetype in the tarot is split between the High Priestess and the Empress.
The High Priestess is the mysterious unknown that women often represent, especially in cultures that focus on the tangible and known. The Empress represents a woman’s role as the crucible of life.
In readings, the High Priestess poses a challenge to you to go deeper – to look beyond the obvious, surface situation to what is hidden and obscure. She also asks you to recall the vastness of your potential and to remember the unlimited possibilities you hold within yourself. The High Priestess can represent a time of waiting and allowing. It is not always necessary to act to achieve your goals. Sometimes they can be realized through a stillness that gives desire a chance to flower within the fullness of time.
staying nonactive
- withdrawing from involvement
- allowing events to proceed without intervention
- being receptive to influence
- becoming calm
- being passive
- waiting patiently
accessing the unconscious
- using your intuition
- seeking guidance from within
- trusting your inner voice
- opening to dreams and the imagination
- being aware of a larger reality
seeing the potential
- understanding the possibilities
- opening to what could be
- seeing your hidden talents
- allowing development
- letting what is there flower
sensing the mystery
- looking beyond the obvious
- approaching a closed off area
- opening to the unknown
- remembering something important
- sensing the secret and hidden
- seeking what is concealed
- acknowledging the Shadow
Some possibilities
- Magician – acting consciously, thinking, the known and obvious
- Two of Wands – acting boldly
- Seven of Wands – being aggressive
- Eight of Wands – putting plans into action
Some possibilities
- Hermit – looking inward, withdrawing, seeking guidance
- Hanged Man – suspending activity, waiting
- Four of Swords – resting quietly, contemplating
There are no separate explanations for reversed cards. The meaning of a reversed card depends on what the card would mean if upright. A reversed card shows that a card’s energy is present but at a lower level. For some reason, the energy cannot be expressed freely, normally, or completely. It may be:
- still in its early stages
- losing force and power
- blocked or restricted
- incomplete
- inappropriate
- being denied
- only present in appearance
See Lesson 17 for more information on reversed cards.