| Unsure of what road to take, the Fool turns to the | | | | well as religious interests. Inverted, it can indicate that |
| Hierophant, a holy man and teacher. The Hierophant | | | | the subject has received bad advice, or is being |
| advises that the Fool let go of fear and consider just | | | | plagued by lies and persecution. Others, however, |
| how bad the consequences of make the wrong | | | | believe that it represents the opening of your |
| choice could be. He tells the subject to not be | | | | figurative eyes, the dawning of understanding. It tells |
| stubborn, and to trust that the Universe will guide him | | | | the subject that they need to look closely at their |
| or her in the right direction, if only they will allow | | | | understanding of the things around them and to be |
| themselves to have faith. | | | | careful of hypocrisy and deception. |
| In many Tarot variations he has been called the | | | | In many Tarot designs, the Hierophant is often |
| Pope, and even as the Hierophant he is often drawn | | | | shown with his eyes closed, his face raised to the |
| with many papal inferences. In some decks, | | | | light from the sun. This indicates that he is looking |
| however, he is simply a wise man, or an oracle. He | | | | within, while basking in celestial light. He holds a staff |
| represents the qualities of religion, both good and | | | | with three interlocking circles at the top. 3 is a |
| bad. He can be comforting and wise, but he can also | | | | number of power, here representing past, present |
| be an unyielding traditionalist. | | | | and future, or the element air, water and fire, or |
| When the Hierophant appears in a spread as a | | | | perhaps the Goddess passage of maiden, mother and |
| person, he usually represents a teacher or counselor | | | | crone. It could also represent the Holy Trinity, or the |
| that was beneficial and influential. In a negative sense, | | | | ideals of knowledge, science and wisdom. |
| he could be a teacher who is unyielding and bound by | | | | I have also read that it can represent the three |
| tradition, or a religious leader who clings to outdated | | | | dynamic elements of air, water and fire. The three |
| ideas. | | | | forces pivot around the centre of the image, which is |
| If the Hierophant represents the subject, it is often a | | | | also its spiritual centre, their movement given origin |
| warning against becoming too mired by old, outdated | | | | to Earth (matter). The symbol can also represent the |
| values, and to be a good teacher to others. | | | | principle of Trinity - spirit, soul and body) and can also |
| When things are chaotic and troubles, the Hierophant | | | | represent Knowledge, Science and Wisdom. |
| is the one who sorts everything out and dispenses | | | | The Hebrew letter representing the Hierophant is |
| advice. He is the connection to the greater | | | | Vau, which means nail, something that holds things |
| consciousness, which communicates to us through | | | | together. He connects the subject to a higher power |
| human means. | | | | or purpose, serving as the connective device |
| If you have a problem, the Hierophant says that you | | | | between the holy and the mundane. |
| know how to fix it, you just have to take action. | | | | Ultimately, the Hierophant symbolizes the world of |
| The problem is not insurmountable. | | | | faith, and the trust that is central to true faith. In |
| The word Hierophant literally means the one who | | | | earlier times, the Hierophant was considered one of |
| teaches the holy things, and the person this card | | | | the three protective cards of the Tarot, which would |
| represents is one who helps to prepare the subject | | | | shine a positive light on the spread, not matter what |
| for their life journey. It can also symbolize the point | | | | the reading. |
| at which a child begins to become an individual | | | | It is an interesting interpretation, because it says that |
| separate from their family and social surroundings, or, | | | | the benefits of deep trust extend to our trust in |
| as an adult, the point at which the subject begins to | | | | ourselves, in our personal relationships, and in our |
| construct their own identity. | | | | ability to guide our own future. The card also |
| Some Tarot experts say that the Hierophant | | | | illustrates the happy result of making ethical choices |
| represents assistance, friendship and good advice, as | | | | and basing our decisions on moral values. |