Major Arcana
The High Priestess
The High Priestess is one of the 22 Major Arcana in tarot. Upright, it speaks of intuition, mystery and silence. Reversed, it points to ignored intuition, secrets and disconnection. In yes-or-no questions it stays open (maybe).
- Number
- 2
- Element
- Water
- Astrology
- Moon
- Yes or no
- Maybe
Symbolism
The High Priestess sits between two pillars, one black (B) and one white (J), recalling Solomon's Temple and the duality she guards. A partly hidden scroll rests in her lap, knowledge revealed only to those who can wait, and the crescent moon at her feet marks the cycle of intuition. Behind her, the veil embroidered with pomegranates conceals what lies beyond: the inner world. The number 2 is polarity and listening.
Affirmation
“I trust my inner voice and listen patiently to what it reveals.”
Upright meaning
- intuition
- mystery
- silence
- inner wisdom
- the unconscious
- General
- The High Priestess invites you to quiet the outside noise and listen to what you already know deep down. Not everything is ready to be said or solved: some layers only reveal themselves with patience and attention to subtle signs, dreams and hunches. It is a time to observe more than act. The answer you seek is within you.
- Love
- There is emotional depth and unspoken matter in the relationship: observe the silences and trust what your body senses. It can be a time of subtler intimacy, with no rush for definitions. If single, listen to your intuition before getting involved and keep some mystery.
- Work & money
- Not all the information is on the table: observe, research and wait before making an important decision. Work requiring study, research, listening or discretion is favored. Trust your reading of the environment.
- Advice
- Set aside time for silence and write down what arises. Do not force answers; let them ripen.
Reversed meaning
- ignored intuition
- secrets
- disconnection
- superficiality
- doubt
- General
- Reversed, the High Priestess indicates an inner voice drowned out by excess noise, rationalization or other people's opinions. It can also point to badly kept secrets, hidden information or a tendency to close yourself off too much. There is something you feel but prefer not to look at. Reconnecting calls for stillness and honesty with yourself.
- Love
- There may be secrets, emotional distance or difficulty in talking about what you feel. As a couple, beware of assumptions in place of conversation. If single, you may be ignoring an inner warning about someone.
- Work & money
- Decisions based only on appearances or rumors may fail; look for real data. Important information may be withheld. Pay attention to your instincts about people and proposals.
- Advice
- Switch off the screens and the opinions for a moment and ask yourself what you really feel. Accept the answer, even if it means work.
Guides about The High Priestess
- The High Priestess in tarot: what does she mean and how does she connect to intuition?Understand the meaning of The High Priestess (II) in tarot, her link to intuition, silence and inner knowing, and how to read the card reversed.
- Is The High Priestess a yes or no in tarot?The High Priestess does not give a clean yes or no: the reading leans toward maybe. See why the card asks for silence, how to read it reversed and when to wait.
- The Magician and The High Priestess together: action and intuition in one reading?Understand what The Magician and The High Priestess mean together in tarot: conscious action on one side, quiet intuition on the other, in balance.
- The Moon and The High Priestess Together: What Does This Combination Mean?Learn what The Moon and The High Priestess together mean: intuition on uncertain ground, and how to tell real perception from fear, with practical examples.
- What Does The High Priestess Mean as Someone's Feelings for You?See what The High Priestess says about what someone feels for you, upright or reversed, with a sample reading and questions that give things time.
- How Do You Read the Symbols on a Tarot Card?Learn a simple method for reading the symbols, colors, gestures and settings of a tarot card without memorizing lists of meanings.