Majesty, grace, dominion over traditions and sacred knowledge. This is the energy of the hierophant card. As someone who hates rules and conformity, this card leads me to give advice to my clients that I would never normally give! There’s wisdom in knowing when group thinking serves you and when it doesn’t. Which is exactly what the hierophant is here to teach.
Read on to have the Hierophant tarot card explained. Upright, reverse, and in different contexts, such as career, love, health, and more.
Hierophant Upright Card Keywords: Tradition, Institutions, Religion, Group Identity, Conformity
Hierophant Reversed Card Keywords: Freedom, Going Your Own Way, Difficulty with Authority
Symbolism of The Hierophant Card
In the center of the hierophant tarot card sits a pope. Representing a spiritual authority who has completed studies and passed certain initiation rights to reach his position.
He wears a 3 tiered crown, and 3 robes coloured red, blue and white. This symbolizes his dominion over three worlds, the conscious, subconscious and super conscious. It connects to the holy trinity, an idea that shows up in different forms across many cultures.
His left hand holds a papal cross, which is a triple sceptre showing his religious status. His right hand is in a religious blessing. 2 fingers towards heaven and 2 fingers towards the earth.
Two followers kneel before him. He’s initiating them into the church to pass down his spiritual wisdom. This symbolizes group identity, shared beliefs and the process of sharing knowledge.
The crossed keys at his feet represent unlocking the mysteries which only he can teach. Knowledge that requires a rite of passage to obtain.
They are in a sacred temple with 2 pillars. The 2 pillars signify duality, this is a reoccurring theme throughout the major arcana tarot cards.
He is the masculine counterpart to the High Priestess.
The hierophant is the zodiac sign of Taurus. Find a guide to astrology in tarot here.
What Does the Hierophant Mean? : Upright Position
When the hierophant appears upright in your tarot reading, you’re dealing with the realm of traditional thinking. What beliefs and values were you raised with? What is the consensus in your culture about what to do in your situation? What do those experts say?
You need to open the rule book. Look to the long-established values and traditions around you.
Seek out a teacher, mentor, or expert opinion to guide you.
Originally the hierophant was deeply entangled in the idea of religion. Let’s be real though, your question today probably has nothing to do with religion or spirituality.
The hierophant is the high priest. Who, through years of dedicated study, has gained the expertise to teach the knowledge of the spiritual world. Maybe he talks to God. Maybe he’s full of shit. Right now you need him.
What is the most traditional way of approaching the situation in front of you? What would your parents say?
Look to groups, organizations, and institutions for knowledge. Consider getting involved in one.
If your question is spiritual in nature, you’re at the point in your journey where you require a teacher. Someone to initiate you into the world of sacred knowledge and look over you on your path.
This is a time when structured support is needed in your life. Lean into it.
Hierophant Reversed Tarot Card Meaning
Drawing the hierophant reversed is a completely different story. It’s time to free yourself from whatever traditions are holding you down.
You’re walking your own path, in a powerful way. When everyone around you is telling you that you’re making the wrong decision. This card tells you to laugh in their face. The only right decision is the one that works for you.
It can be tricky to go outside the expected social norms. You might be feeling the pain of rejection, of not feeling accepted by those around you. Especially your family.
A lot of the time the upside down hierophant signifies questioning the religion, beliefs and morals you were raised with.
At this time you may be struggling with authority or authoritative figures in your life. Be careful veering too far into rebellion. Whether you’re conforming, or fighting against conformity, you’re still consumed by the same beast. True power is not rebelling, it’s finding your own way.
Does The Hierophant Tarot Card Mean Yes or No?
In a yes or no tarot reading the hierophant is ambiguous. It sits between a yes and no, and tells you that more guidance is needed.
For a complete guide on yes or no tarot card meanings, visit this page.
Drawing The Hierophant In The Future Position
When the upright hierophant appears in the future or outcome position, it shows becoming part of an institution. You could find yourself joining a group of people who have the same interest, purpose or values.
You might find yourself in the position to teach or mentor others. Sharing the knowledge and wisdom you’ve gained on your path.
Career & Money Meaning of The Hierophant
Upright Position
The upright hierophant shows an opportunity for you to further your knowledge to advance in your career. This can come in the form of continuing education courses, paid for apprenticeships, mentorship or certifications.
Seize any opportunity to learn. It’s currently your best path to more money, and a better position.
Make sure you know what your company is willing to support and/or pay for. A lot of people don’t take advantage of these types of opportunities because they have no idea they exist.
Alternatively it might benefit you to step into a role of teacher or mentor. If there’s knowledge you can share, now’s the time to figure out how.
Financially speaking, the most traditional path to wealth will benefit you right now. Pick up a book from an expert and follow a straightforward savings and investment plan. If you have any debt, make paying it off a routine, set up automatic payments if you can.
In Reverse
In the reverse position in a career reading, the hierophant card shows you’re struggling with authority. Whether your problem is with your current boss, or bosses in general, it’s stressing you out. Affecting your work.
If it’s not specifically your boss, it could be a problem with the way the company you work for is organized. The systems in place simply don’t make sense. It feels limiting, frustrating, or ineffective for you.
This tarot card indicates the need to be in charge of yourself. That could be starting your own business, proprietorship, or doing contract work. Where you have more flexibility, and the ability to answer to yourself first.
If you don’t want to change careers, can you change your boss? By getting a new job, transferring departments or branches? Can you put your energy into climbing higher, so you are the boss?
If none of that feels right, you need to find a way to let the struggle go. Put your head down, focus on work, and at the end of the day clock out. Leave your work challenges at work. Complaining, lamenting, or fighting against this person (Or your workplace’s “office culture”) is working against you.
There’s a workaround you’re not seeing.
Higher Education & The Hierophant Card
The hierophant is a tarot card that is deeply linked to higher education. Are you considering going back to school, or taking a class? Drawing this card in the upright position is your sign. A degree, or designation would be highly beneficial to you. Your teachers will serve as powerful influences in your life.
However, in the reversed position the hierophant leans away from going to school. Or taking another course. You actually have to pave your own way right now. For you, more studying is a distraction from doing. Get to the doing.
Be cautious of people overselling what their courses can do for you. The information they have might already be readily available. Without shelling out your money and time.
The Hierophant Tarot Card in Love and Relationships
Upright Meaning
In the upright position, the Hierophant is a message about structure, and tradition.
For singles this can relate to meeting someone through your community. At school, at church, through friends or family members.
Modern approaches to dating aren’t working for you. Somewhere in your heart you’re feeling it. Maybe you’ve swiped too many losers. Or found yourself in one too many situationships.
Your love life will improve by taking a more traditional approach. It’s a good time to lean on an expert, like a matchmaker, if you’re feeling lost.
The hierophant can indicate committed stable love, and even marriage, coming your way soon.
In a relationship the hierophant is clearly linked to marriage and commitment. It shows you’re both ready to take the next step and make your relationship solid. Whether you’re tying the knot or not, you’re building a life together.
What vows can you make to yourself, to protect the sanctity of your relationship?
You and your partner are developing your own traditions. As well as your identity as a couple. Simply put, think in terms of “we” instead of “me”.
Reversed Meaning
Drawing the Hierophant reversed shows a need to find your own way in love and relationships. For some this can mean the dissolution of a commitment.
If you’re single and looking for love, stop taking other people’s advice about what to do. You need to take your own approach. What feels right to you?
Break away from the crowd and from traditional methods. They’ll never satisfy you!
There are no limits on what your love life can look like. No right way to be in a relationship or find a partner. If you can accept that as true, then what?
What do you want in your love life, no limits? How do you want to find a partner? What’s the unconventional approach that your heart is longing for?
In a relationship, the reversed hierophant can show a breaking of commitment. Look to the other tarot cards in your love reading for clarity.
On its own, it indicates that the current structure of your relationship is confining. Limiting. Are you trying to play out traditional roles with your partner, when the truth of you is not traditional at all? Are you fitting your relationship (and each other) into a box that’s bursting at the seams?
Your relationship needs its own rules. It needs flexibility, change in the structure.
For some this can be opening up the relationship. Realizing that you and your partner don’t fit societal norms. Embracing that.
For others, it can be as simple as changing up your day to day. How you relate to each other. What your roles are, and what you expect.
You and your partner need to find your own way, together. Maybe you want to have kids without getting married. Or you want to elope! Not have kids at all.
Whatever it is, the box you’re in is restricting. You will find freedom, joy and deep love in embracing your unique needs. Take the unconventional approach.
The Hierophant Tarot Card As Feelings
As feelings, the hierophant shows a desire for commitment. This person is traditional at heart. They will want something official, and stable with you.
They feel you are someone they can learn from. If they’re older than you, they want to take you under their wing and teach you what they know.
Friendship Meaning of The Hierophant
In a friendship reading, the hierophant shows that you’re both learning something important from each other. It’s possible that one of you naturally takes on a mentor role, sharing wisdom and knowledge. While the other seeks out advice. This is a mutually beneficial relationship.
You’ve likely been friends for a long time (or have the potential to be). So there are certain traditions, expectations and beliefs you have about each other.
The Hierophant Health Meaning
In the health context, the hierophant shows you need to rely on the institution of the medical system. Right now doctors, pharmacists and specialists know what’s best for you. If you’re worried about any symptoms get a check-up. If you’re not worried, get a check-up. It won’t hurt.
The hierophant can also show you need to learn more about your health and your body. If you want to increase your wellness, look for an expert source to study from. Go the mainstream route right now. Avoid new age, alternative medicine when the hierophant is upright.
Hierophant Tarot Card Advice
The hierophant tells you to turn to established values and longstanding traditions. If there’s a wise leader you trust, they should be your go to. Especially if you’re on a spiritual journey. This is the time to study a trusted framework of ideas, values and morals.
Whatever you’re dealing with, seek out the mainstream experts. Trust the surrounding institutions. What does group think tell you?
For example, I did a tarot reading for a woman who has a toddler that was struggling like hell to sleep. Up every 2 hours breastfeeding. Draining her of all her energy.
She’s a crunchy mom, didn’t do sleep training, had built a big floor bed to safely cosleep. For what her baby needed to sleep, we pulled the hierophant.
This strongly meant routine, looking to expert advice, and the most mainstream approach. She hired a sleep expert, who told her to put the baby in her own room, and stop breastfeeding at night. It worked! And fast! She’s now blissfully enjoying 9 hours of sleep.
This isn’t the way for everyone. The crunchy, bed sharing method works for me. Still, when the hierophant is involved (upright), you gotta ditch the crunchy, ditch the alternative. Go with the most widely accepted approach to your situation.
The Hierophant As A Daily Tarot Card
As a daily tarot card the hierophant shows this is a day of routines. Stick to your daily rituals without wavering. Structure will be incredibly supportive to your day.
You may have the opportunity to learn or meet a mentor that will benefit you. Keep your ears open. As Ram Das says “everyone is the guru if you know how to listen”.
If you’re religious, go to church! Pray, listen to, or better yet chat with your spiritual teacher.
Tarot Card Combinations
The Hierophant and The High Priestess
The hierophant and the high priestess are a stunning combination of cards to draw together. Perfectly marrying tradition with your internal knowing. You have both knowledge and wisdom.
If you’re reading this, and you’re thinking, “uh I don’t know shit? ” This is where you’re heading. You’re developing the skills to be a powerful force in this world.
You’ll be in the perfect position to be teaching and mentoring others. Lean into that. It doesn’t have to be formal education, to be valuable.
Dive into the High Priestess tarot card meaning.
The Hierophant and The Star
The healing energy of the star, combined with the hierophant makes for a highly spiritual combination. You’re healing your relationship to god, and possibly, the religion you grew up with.
On a spiritual journey many people turn away from God, or start to see the negatives of certain religious beliefs. You’ve matured past that. You’re at a place now where you can take the beauty and the goodness out of these teachings. While leaving what doesn’t serve you behind.
This is a beautiful place to be. You might find you enjoy the structure of going to church, prayer circles, kirtan groups or other spiritual communities. Or you’re finding your own traditions and daily rituals that make you feel aligned.
Learn more about The Star card here.
The Hierophant and The World
This tarot card combination perfectly connects to completing education. It can quite literally mean finishing a degree, certification, or spiritual studies.
If formal education isn’t something you’re focused on, then you’ve more metaphorically completed a cycle. You’ve learned an important lesson in your life and are able to move forward. The things that you’ve gone through have given you a deep level of wisdom. You’re now a guiding light for others on their path.
It can also mean reaching a milestone that will be celebrated by your family and close friends.
Read about the meaning of The World tarot card here.
The Tower and The Hierophant
Together the hierophant and the tower are equal parts empowering and frightening. They show an upheaval of tradition, perhaps everything you thought you knew or believed. This process often comes from learning something that challenges what you were taught before.
It’s unsettling, eye opening, life changing.
False systems are falling apart. Anyone who might have incorrectly been elevated to the role of teacher, guru, or leader is being shown for what they are. While people who truly deserve that authority are rising.
It’s giving “leaving a cult vibes.”
Get A Reading
Get an insightful tarot reading from me, because it will give you crystal clear clarity! Contact me here to book.
Or view this page to read reviews
Have Tarot at Your Next Event
Give your guests a great experience! Book tarot reading for your next party, birthday, bachelorette or corporate event. Because it’s fun and different. Find out more on this page. Or contact me directly to book.
The Empress Tarot 