Hierophant Tarot Key Words#
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Hierophant card meaning, and its connection to love, work, and life, below a quick overview of the most important words connected to this Major Arcana card.
Upright | Spiritual wisdom, tradition, conformity, morality, ethics |
Reversed | Rebellion, subversiveness, freedom, personal beliefs |
Yes or No | Maybe |
Hierophant Tarot Card Description#
The Hierophant tarot card is also called the Teacher of Wisdom. The basic symbols of the Hierophant card are twin pillars, a staff, a throne, the triple crown of a pope, a hand raised in blessing, and two followers.
The Hierophant sits in the middle of two pillars. He shows sanctity that are characteristics of a holy temple or a church; however, this temple is different from the one where the High Priestess sits.
The Hierophant sits on a throne on an elevated podium demonstrating authority. It also designates being superior among others.
He wears three robes which are red, blue and white, and a three-tiered crown. They both signify the three realms which he dominates (the conscious, subconscious and super-conscious).
In his left hand, he carries a triple cross that shows his religious position. The horizontal bars in the cross represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. His right hand raised in a religious manner is a symbolism of blessing (it’s similar to the hand that the Magician has raised).
There are two followers that kneel before him. This represents the Hierophant’s duty to transfer his spiritual knowledge to others. Through these devotees, the card also comes to characterize resulting in the way to understanding and education.
The crossed keys at the Hierophant’s feet denote the stability between the conscious and subconscious minds and the revealing ambiguities which only he can demonstrate.
Upright Hierophant Tarot Meaning#
When the Hierophant tarot card is upright in a reading, it represents a necessity to follow existing conventions, rules, or a well-established procedure.
It advises you to maintain conventional boundaries that are considered a standard method. Rather than being inventive and breaking norms, you will be familiarized with certain traditions, beliefs, and systems which are existing already for quite a long time.
The Hierophant tarot card embodies a customary set of spiritual beliefs and is frequently associated with religion and other formal ideologies. Thus, this card suggests that you learn the necessary values from a trusted source such as a mentor or a spiritual counselor.
What you can do is ask for guidance and cooperate with a teacher, mentor, or leader to teach you about spiritual values and beliefs in a well-thought manner. They can give you wisdom and advice. These people can be experts that will help you awake and nurture your core values.
The Hierophant tarot card can also be a sign that you need to bring back family customs that are being neglected: instead of innovation and breaking the old ways.
Do you feel like lacking rituals and traditions? Getting lost with your structured beliefs?
Build a regular practice or habit such as everyday prayer or expressing gratitude before a meal. Consider discovering your spiritual or religious heritage. Surround yourself with people that help you to go back to what you have been taught.
The Hierophant Love & Relationships#
The Hierophant means full commitment, therefore the Hierophant in a love context is a very good sign. It is associated with traditional and solid relationships and can prompt discussion of shared values, convention, and commitment. It cannot establish compatibility or that a relationship is 'meant to be.'
If you’re single, the Hierophant in a tarot love reading can symbolize romance growing from shared values or an existing social circle, but it does not identify another person's feelings or predict a relationship.
If you’re building up relationships, the advice of the Hierophant is to inform others about your background and family traditions. What are your values and what is important for you?
By being vulnerable and honest, you’ll gain respect from others! Even if they are from a totally different background or disagree with your values.
The Hierophant Health & Spirituality#
Are you having health issues or feel any ailment coming on? As a symbol of existing conventions and well-established procedures, the Hierophant in a health context tells you to visit your doctor and to follow his advice. Don’t try to find a solution online, instead, just listen to the wisdom of a professional.
The Hierophant is a symbol of traditional values and stretches the deep importance of spirituality and religion in life.
Therefore if the Hierophant tarot card shows up in a spiritual context, this is a sign that you should include some traditional values or type of religion into your spiritual practices. See it as an invitation to sometimes visit a church, mosque, or temple.
The Hierophant Money & Career#
In a career context, the Hierophant can symbolize institutions, learning, and mentorship. It does not predict a promotion, transfer, role, or mentor.
The Hierophant can symbolize mentorship or institutional knowledge, but it does not predict that a particular person will guide you or provide inside information.
Moneywise the Hierophant advises you to be very conservative. Do you really need that new pair of shoes? Is your old television still working and if so, why should you buy a new one?
The Hierophant can prompt a conservative review of spending, but the card should not decide a purchase or savings plan. Base money decisions on your needs and circumstances.
The Hierophant Reversed Meaning#
When the Hierophant reversed shows up in a reading, it symbolizes nonconformity as well as openness and freedom.
It can also indicate that you are feeling the desire to bend existing rules. Or that you’re experiencing limitations from too many structures and established beliefs.
As a result, you feel like you lost your own control and flexibility in a lot of aspects of your life. You want to explore past beyond what you already know and what has been taught to you for many years.
It makes you want to question things to ensure the truth and morality of your actions and beliefs. While there might be people who will not understand your will to do some changes, it might be needed.
The card suggests that you no longer need the approval of external sources and that you are your own teacher. Now is the time to trust your inner strength and see things from a different perspective.
Questioning established ideas can create tension with authorities, experts, or existing sources. Notice any discomfort without assuming that conflict will occur or that the process will become comfortable.
Do you feel like questioning old ideas and traditions that have been taught to you? Are certain beliefs, structures, and systems go against what you want to do and believe?
Probably now is the time to listen to yourself. Learn to trust your instincts and break free from old ways.
The Hierophant Yes or No#
The Hierophant is a symbol of spiritual wisdom and existing conventions. In a Yes or No reading, the Hierophant tarot card is neutral and tells you to seek advice from a mentor, a spiritual counselor, or someone else you trust.
The Hierophant Important Card Combinations#
Spiritual practices, a wedding, and a psychological breakthrough. Also combined with other cards, the Hierophant represents traditions, conformity, and ethics. Below you can find the most important Hierophant tarot card combinations.
The Hierophant and Justice#
Justice and the Hierophant can symbolize law, rules, or institutional authority, but they do not predict a legal dispute.
The Hierophant and Justice can symbolize attention to law, rules, and fairness. They do not predict that a dispute will be resolved or that the result will be fair.
The Hierophant and the Lovers#
Do you hear the wedding bells ringing? The Hierophant with the Lovers card can symbolize formal commitment or shared values, but it does not predict a wedding.
The Hierophant and the Moon#
The Hierophant together with the Moon card symbolizes a psychological breakthrough and analysis. Are you undergoing therapy at the moment?
The Hierophant and Moon can symbolize examining beliefs, emotions, or uncertainty. They cannot predict the effect of treatment or resolve an ongoing issue.
The Hierophant and the Eight of Pentacles#
The Suit of Pentacles is considered career and money-based. The Eight of Pentacles is usually a work focused card, but not when paired with the Hierophant tarot card. Instead of focusing on the end goal, this combination advocates making education and spiritual practice a priority.
The Hierophant Tarot Card Inspiration#
Although I write all the descriptions based on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, it doesn’t mean that I use other decks too. And there are so many beautiful decks out there! I can lose myself browsing and searching the web for beautiful tarot cards.
Below you can find a small selection of beautiful Hierophant tarot cards. If you drew a Hierophant tarot card yourself and want to share this, I would love to hear from you!
A Little Spark of Joy 
Jai Bott via Behance.net 
Gob Guerra via Behance.net 
Ziyi Hu via Behance.net 
The Modern Way Tarot
The Hierophant in a Reading#
That’s all for the Hierophant tarot card meaning! Can’t get enough? Learn how to read the tarot in this Tarot Beginners Guide or read more about the other major arcana cards here.
If you have pulled the Hierophant tarot card in your spread, did the meaning make sense to your situation in life?
Our community loves to hear about spot-on readings so please take a minute to let us know in the comments below what you think of the Hierophant.
