Tarot Card Symbolism: The High Priestess of the Major Arcana

The High Priestess is the second card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. She represents the heightened powers of intuition, and the potential for a spiritual encounter.

The Symbolism of the High Priestess

The High Priestess is depicted wearing plain blue robes, and she has her hands folded into her lap; she is slender and ethereal. She is framed by two pillars, black on her right, white on her left. These represent the duality of the underworld, the creative and destructive as one. They also indicate the duality of male and female, and bring a reminder that all life exists in duality.

Behind her are pomegranates, which represent both death and love. The world of the High Priestess is fertile and full of love and the undeveloped potential of the Magician. The High Priestess bears the number “2,” and is the teacher of the Fool.

The General Interpretation of the High Priestess

When appearing in a spread, this card suggests heightening powers of intuition, the implication being that there will be an encounter of some kind with the hidden world. It can represent an inexplicable interest in the occult, or paganism, but can also be demonstrated by a sense that ‘something’ is coming, with no real indications that this is so.

The Fool, having learned that he possesses the abilities necessary for evolution from the Magician, turns to the High Priestess to begin the exploration of his inner powers. He enters the underworld, full of confusion, but knows that he must traverse this to find the secret of his real purpose and the patterns of his destiny.

The Inner Meaning of the High Priestess

The High Priestess is the connection to the underworld and the collective unconscious. She indicates that there is another, hidden world of which most people are unaware. This world is full of potential, and contains the most primitive parts you, the instinctual responses, and long suppressed powers. It is this realm that holds secrets until the time comes to reveal them.

The High Priestess can only be faintly sensed during waking hours, and she appears only fleetingly in dreams. However, she can be found through patience and meditation, but only appears to those worthy of her teachings.

Do not expect the High Priestess to speak of her secrets. Instead, she will expect you to divine them through patience and understanding, and no little work. Those who cannot do this are not ready to learn from her. She teaches wisdom, love, and intuition, but only to those who are ready to receive this knowledge.

Her knowledge, though vital, is easily missed by those who chose not to look beyond themselves. In the real world, she can be a spiritual person who offers to teach the worthy seeker about her realm, but only to those who are ready for the challenge. She is not the guide the Magician is, but rather the spiritual teacher. She guards the path to destiny. However, she does not press, and allows all to come to her, to request her aid when they feel they are ready.

The High Priestess is encountered by the Fool after he meets the Magician, it's said that this meeting occurs on the Fool's path to meeting the Empress.

Tarot Card Symbolism: The Magician of the Major Arcana

The Magician is the first card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. He represents hidden abilities that have yet to manifest, and the potential for success.

The Symbolism of the Magician Tarot Card

The young man portrayed in the Magician Tarot card is raising his right hand toward the heavens, clutching his wand as he does so. With his other hand, he points toward the earth. The infinity symbol above his head represents perfect balance and wisdom. It’s also said that he serves as a guide to the Fool.

He has before him the tools of the magus: the pentacle, the cup, and sword, the staff, and the wand clutched in his hand. These are regarded as the tools to enlightenment, and are offered to the Fool for his journey. It’s said that the cup represents luck, especially in love, while the sword will bring out the sharpness of the mind, the intellect. The pentacle is said to be representative of wisdom, and the staff is associated with passion. The wand raised to the heavens is indicative of the divine.

The Magician bears the number “1” — the first encounter of the Fool after he begins his journey.

The General Interpretation of the Magician Card

When appearing in a spread, this card points to potential skills and abilities not yet manifest. The Magician usually represents a surge of creative energy to embark upon new opportunities. He is insight, and the unexplored potential within everyone.

The Fool is focused on instinct, blind to the subtler meanings of life, but through his meeting with the Magician, he realizes that not only is his journey truly possible, but that he has the hidden abilities to succeed.

The Inner Meaning of the Magician in Tarot

The Magician is the guide. This card is a reminder of the belief that no matter how lost and confused you may be, you have the capacity within to reach clarity, that you have the hidden ability to properly divine which direction to take and what choices to make. However, the Magician does not necessarily come when called, for his idea of what is important is not always in line with your perceptions of importance.

In real life, this card can represent a person to whom most will pay little heed. A parent, teacher, or other mentor who may offer their advice, then sit back and watch what happens when this advice is ignored, for the Magician does not press, but rather allows everyone to make their own mistakes. Alternatively, the Magician can be a sudden hunch, or a discovery.

Those little ‘turns of fate’ that are taken for granted or written off as coincidence are often the work of the Magician. The surprise visit from a friend that turns out to be significant, or the newspaper article that seems to so impact a life should not be lightly dismissed. In a very real sense, the Magician is the spiritual protector of the Fool, the one who appears at the most critical and difficult moments in life, offering aid and advice.

The Magician cannot be relied upon for everyday decisions, for he will lead his followers down dark and frustrating paths. This card guarantees no results, but it does promise that you will gain in wisdom and experience in all aspects of life: the mind, the heart, the imagination, and the body. He is the source of inner resources, and the Fool meets him only after having chosen to step off the cliff. The Fool learns that he must develop his inner skills to survive.

The Magician is who the Fool must encounter before he can continue on his journey, on his path to meeting the High Priestess.

Tarot Card Symbolism: The Fool of the Major Arcana

The Fool is a card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. Unlike the rest of the Major Arcana, he has no number. He is the traveler of the Tarot, the one who journeys through life.

The Symbolism of the Fool Tarot Card

The Fool represents that part of everyone in search of experience, the part of that is free of reason and responsibility, the part of that is still childlike in nature. The bright sun behind him represents the truly divine nature of the Fool’s youth and exuberance. On his back, he carries all that he will need on his journey, a reminder that one never needs as much as one thinks.

In his hand is a flower, showing his appreciation of beauty in all its forms, great and small. He is accompanied by a dog, an animal which represents both his inner desires, and the real world, constantly nipping at his heels. He is unconcerned that he is about to step off the cliff, falling into the unknown.

The number “0,” the number of the Fool, is perfect in all aspects. “0” can become anything upon reaching its destination. “0” is nothing, the lack of real substance, a blank slate to write upon.

The General Interpretation of the Fool Card

When appearing in a spread, this card generally signifies the beginning of a new chapter of life. Risk will be required, a leap into the unknown, a leap of faith.

The Fool is ambiguous in nature, for he does not know whether he will succeed, or merely end up looking a fool. This adds an element of excitement and fear. This is the beginning of the great journey of life, the very beginnings of the Major Arcana.

The Inner Meaning of the Fool in Tarot

The Fool reveals an inner impulse to leap into the unknown. The conservative and cautious side watches in both horror and terror as desire takes the Fool, with no concern for the possible consequences, and no hesitation. While this may seem like madness, it is not, for it is an unwavering path towards change, and change cannot be halted.

There is no pre-planned action associated with this card; there is simply a desire to begin a voyage. The Fool stands at the beginning of his journey, and when appearing in a spread, brings a reminder that all must stand at this place at least once, and will face the same hardships, and the same triumphs.

The leap from the cliff can sometimes lead to pain and fear, but could also lead to a new beginning, to joy and to love; the outcome is uncertain, but the need to take the leap cannot be denied. This card is also a reminder of the craving everyone has inside them, the craving to seek out something new. This craving should be minded, for if it is not, it is easy for one to find oneself at the end of the journey, the end of life, wondering at the emptiness inside.

This card does not promise a certain conclusion, but merely makes it clear that the challenges life presents must be accepted, regardless of the outcome. No matter the ending, the journey this card represents will be full of lessons, both learned and ignored.

The Fool is considered by some to be the most important card in the Tarot. He represents the beginning, the unknown, and the desire to take risks. He must step off the cliff before he can encounter the Magician.