The High Priestess card in the Rider Waite Smith deck of Tarot Cards is rich in colour and symbolism. These are important because they can add extra depth and meaning to your readings.
Colours of the High Priestess Card
The card is mostly blue, indicating deep emotions. Like a deep pool of water, these are well hidden and the surface appears calm and unruffled.
Blue is the colour of the throat chakra, which represents communication. To speak your truth in the external world requires you to first access and acknowledge that truth within you.
The pillars are a contrasting black and white, with the letters B and J contrasting with the pillar they are placed on.
This is the contrast and the duality between the male and female, in and yang, positive and negative, material and spiritual. One cannot exist without the other, and when in harmony, complement each other.
The white of her robes and of her crown indicate spirituality and a connection both with yourself and your Divine Source.
Symbols of the High Priestess
It must be remembered that the Rider Waite Smith deck of Tarot Cards were designed in 1905 by Arthur Waite as a tool for instruction and learning for the members of the Order of the Golden Dawn. This was an esoteric offshoot of Freemasonry.
The High Priestess is a card that contains symbolism from some the world's major religions, as well as symbols that pre-date our current civilization and symbols from the teachings of Freemasonry.
The pillars are said to be from the entrance to King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. The letters B and J stand for the words Boaz and Jachin.
Although it is not clear from biblical texts, exactly what these words mean, it is thought that Boaz is "to establish" and Jachin is "strength."
Pillars represent a gateway between one world and another. In this case it is between the external world of our conscious mind and the internal world of our unconscious mind.
The veil between the pillars is that thin veil between the conscious and the unconscious, between sleeping and waking, between our inner and outer selves. Both aspects need to be integrated.
The Book of Torah that she holds in her lap is said to be the 5 books of Moses, or the book of knowledge. It is only partially hidden, which suggests that the inner knowledge that we seek is much closer and more accessible than we think it is.
The Moon Crown represents the Egyptian goddess Isis, who was the mother of the sun god Horus.
The moons on either side and the sun in the middle are symbolic of Horus waiting to be born.
The crown shows the 3 phases of the Moon- waxing, waning and full (or new, which is also a full circle).
In Christian tradition the moon at her feet is a symbol of the Virgin Mary, otherwise called Stella Maris or Star of the Sea.
The Pomegranates on the veil are an interesting symbol and have been woven into the cloaks and robes of royalty and high ranking Church officials for centuries..
It is said that King Solomon designed his coronet based on the pomegranate's "crown" (calyx).
Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah.
In Christianity, the fruit, broken or bursting open, is a symbol of the fullness of suffering and resurrection of Jesus.
The equal armed cross on her chest is a symbol of the crossing and meeting of four elements, such as the seasons, directions or elements.
The High Priestess card has many small details and each of them has an important purpose. Nothing is there by accident.
This is especially important if your eye suddenly falls on a detail in the card that you maybe have not noticed before or jumps out at you. That detail may have an important message for you.
Amanda Goldston
Tarot Author and Coach
© 2009 Amanda Goldston
Amanda Goldston is the author of Develop Your Intuition Through Tarot Book, a speaker and Tarot Coach. She has been reading Tarot cards for over 16 years and has helped 1000s of people to make the best choices for themselves.
She now teaches others to read the cards for themselves for fun, profit and personal growth. For details of Tarot books and courses from Amanda Goldston, please visit her website at:
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