The High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning

The High Priestess Keywords

Psychic, intuition, mystery, secrets, hidden, spiritual wisdom/knowledge/insight, sacred/divine feminine, isolation, psyche

The High Priestess Numerology

2

The High Priestess Astrology Zodiac

Cancer

The High Priestess Tarot Suit

Major Arcana

Journal Prompts for the High Priestess Card

– What is my intuition trying to tell me?

– How can I honor and learn to trust my psychic gifts/abilities?

High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning

Appearing as a feminine figure, shrouded in blue robes, The High Priestess sits affirmatively at her throne with a crescent moon at her feet. She carries a presence of Sacred Feminine mystery, wisdom and knowledge. She holds a sacred scroll, indicating that she is well-armed with spiritual information and insight that will not be revealed or shared with just anyone.

The black and white pillars to either side of The High Priestess serve as reminders of her authority, power and responsibility. She is charged with maintaining and sustaining the balance—her poise and self-control—until precisely the right moment.

Pomegranates adorn the tapestry behind her, symbolizing her innate connection to the unknown, the void; and the Underworld (or ‘other side’).

* Based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck.

The High Priestess Upright Meaning

The High Priestess, in so many ways, presents as a ‘question mark’, in and of herself. As a whole, this figure is a sacred symbol of the mystery, the void, and/or the unknown.

If you had a question in your tarot reading, her answer would be: “keep seeking”, “maybe” or “not right now”. The situation under review could also need time to develop and/or the circumstances (at least for now) may not be all that it appears to be.

On one hand, this card suggests your best bet may very well be to focus your attention and energies on other pursuits while the steps toward what you’re holding space for, reveal themselves. On the other hand, this could also be a time when you are being called to engage your higher senses and inner wisdom; and to be more discerning with whom and/or what you allow into your space/life/pursuits.

Do not be quick to accept just anything and/or anyone into your life/journey/project(s)/etc. Honor your sacredness and be willing to keep certain things to yourself, for the sake of protecting what is most precious.

She may be here to signify that you have done the work and are ready to step into your own core Sacred Feminine energy – your psychic, intuitive powers and spiritual abilities. Her appearance in your journey indicates that you may find yourself in a moment where trusting your instincts/intuition and self-discipline are called for.

If you are wondering whether or not to take action in a situation, this energy encourages you to go within and find your inner voice. She is inviting you to connect with your Divine Feminine abilities of sensitivity, intuition and detachment in effort to gain clarity and guidance. Be willing to remove yourself from distractions, even if it means taking a bit of time to isolate. Use this sacred space to gain clarity and alignment with your inner voice/self.

Realize that the answers you seek may indeed be revealing themselves as you live and breathe; but it also calls for you to take action as the answers are revealed. Trust that you have reached a point in your life, where you can rely upon your instincts and intuition to guide your way through any “unknown” circumstances or challenges ahead.

You may also be in a position where Spirit is calling you to observe and witness in order to receive the answers. If you have already received an answer but are waiting on results, this being is here to remind you to stay true to what you know. Do not allow anything or anyone to shake you or to cause you to doubt yourself/your intuition.

The High Priestess also serves as a reminder that you have more than earned your place in regard to the situation at hand. That being said, you are not obligated to give the answers away and in fact, if anything, you are charged with protecting and maintaining it. Only those individuals who have done the work, who are ready, willing and able to approach this powerful being (because they have earned their way, just as you have) may proceed. 

The High Priestess Reversed Meaning

When The High Priestess shows up in reverse, your intuition may very well be calling for you to tune in and listen. In this opposing position, this figure may be calling you to recognize if and/or where you may not be following your own advice. Are you giving advice that you, yourself are not taking? Have you been ignoring your own instincts and/or vibes? Have you allowed others to influence, take credit/ownership of your power in some way?

This is a call for you to step back and ask yourself where you may be suppressing or repressing your Sacred Feminine abilities of intuition, sensitivity (in approach/how you handle things) and/or psychic senses.

Sometimes, when we are not familiar with how to balance our inner and outer worlds, we end up sacrificing one for the other. More often than not, our inner worlds suffer most. You may be giving away your power/truth in some way that is imbalanced and/or unnecessary. Either way, this is a moment to recognize if/when you are giving away your power, especially when it is at your own expense.

If you have been experiencing nervousness, anxiousness, etc; and have been keeping to yourself a bit too much as a result; The High Priestess (reversed) reminds you to breathe and relax. Even though there maybe a number of unknowns along the way, your time will come, as will the answers and the steps. There is no need for tension or anxiety, you can trust yourself and your ability to see your own way through and to the other side of things.

Additionally, if you have not been isolating at all, let this be a strong suggestion that you take the time and space necessary to clear out any/all distractions. You could very well benefit from some much needed time away to and for yourself. You may be seeking too much or too far outside of yourself for answers and/or guidance. If so, you are being called to realign and return to your center and core voice.

The meaning of the High Priestess, in this position, can also be a reminder to keep certain pieces of information (secrets, etc) to yourself. Are you oversharing? Have you been gossiping and sharing privileged information that is not yours to share? Even if the information is yours to share, are you certain that you should be sharing it so freely?

Stand in your power and your integrity, this may indicate that there is a need to self-correct any areas where you have potentially been abusing/misusing/mishandling your power(s).