Tarot Card Symbolism: The Hierophant of the Major Arcana

The Hierophant is the fifth card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. He is the embodiment of spirituality, of the search for the divine.

The Symbolism of the Hierophant Tarot Card

The Hierophant is represented with his right hand raised, two fingers pointing skyward, two pointing downward. This forms a bridge between heaven and earth, making the Hierophant the builder of the bridge between humans and the divine. He is seated between two pillars, representing law and liberty, symbolizing a need to balance the two. He wears a triple crown, and the keys to heaven lie at his feet.

The Hierophant bears the number “5,” and is the spiritual teacher of the Fool after his encounter with the Emperor.

The General Interpretation of the Hierophant Card

When appearing in a spread, this card suggests that you will begin to seek answers of a philosophical nature. This could emerge in a variety of ways — perhaps the study of a particular philosophy or belief system, or even as a decision to undertake a quest for the meaning of life.

The Hierophant may be representative of an analyst, psychotherapist, priest, or other spiritual mentor to whom you can turn to for comfort and help. This is where the Fool arrives as he begins to seek answers to the mystery of himself and the meaning of his life. The Fool learns from the Hierophant that he can express a personal philosophy, that he can have an individual vision of the spirit.

The Inner Meaning of the Hierophant in Tarot

The Hierophant is the image of the part of you that reaches upward, toward the spirit, in order to understand what is required of you by the divine. He is the spiritual teacher, the one who establishes a connection between humanity and the divine. His is the power of the mind, rather than of the body.

This character is far more concerned with divine law; the laws of man are beneath him. This does not necessarily mean that he is concerned with orthodox religion. Instead, he encourages an individual relationship with the divine, one which can only be forged with the priest within. He teaches that you must find the divine for yourself, find your own way to connect to it.

On another level, the Hierophant represents the wounded part of you. It is this aspect of him that allows problems or limitations to create a deeper sense of compassion. He teaches the understanding of pain, and an appreciation for the pain of others. It is though him that the Fool learns true empathy.

The Hierophant is who the Fool must encounter after he meets the Emperor, on his path to meeting the Lovers.