The Hierophant

The Fifth Arcana governs the observance of prohibitions and obedience to commandments—akin to Olympic sports rules. Doping is not allowed, the judge must not be interested in a specific outcome, and so on—all so that the game is truly fair, and this is genuinely important, because otherwise it all simply loses its meaning! Hence the keywords of this card: rules and meaning. The Fifth Arcana is connected with faith in the meaningfulness and purpose of what is happening. The Hierophant teaches and educates, and the Devil later tests what we have learned, offering to play by circumventing the rules and revealing our weak points in understanding how one should and should not act. Justice in a reading raises questions of fairness, the Hierophant – questions of ethics proper. Justice calls a penalty to restore violated balance—that is, it kicks in when the Hierophant's 'how it should be' has been violated. All sorts of international quality standards, regulations, methodological guidelines, grading systems – these are undoubtedly the Hierophant. Commissions, inspections, juries – also. Other cards in the spread can indicate how we will feel when confronted with all this and how it will end.

In practical readings, the Hierophant mainly points to three things: ethical questions, the learning process, and participation in some rituals and ceremonies. This can also include formal marriage. It gives a positive answer to questions about the possibility or necessity of learning or teaching, as well as about the possibility or necessity of formalizing relationships. Deeper meanings of the card: true religiosity, following a shepherd, mentorship and deep knowledge, the search for meaning and its attainment. The Hierophant often appears when a person is trying to explain what is happening to them in terms of some doctrine, be it homeopathy, Orthodoxy, Viennese psychoanalysis, Indian astrology, or anything else (the spectrum is limitlessly wide, and the doctrine itself may have existed for two thousand years or just two months). In other words, the person begins to ponder, interpret, and evaluate their life experience, seeing some additional meaning in it. Often this is indeed a surge of interest in the church, an appeal to historically significant views and principles. The Hierophant usually smells of mothballs, but a sense of solidity is also felt.

In olden times, the Hierophant was considered one of the three guardian angels in Tarot, ensuring a favorable outcome for a good deed and carrying knowledge of how to act correctly. This makes sense, because trust in general and our trust in ourselves serve as the basis for faith in life, in the future. The Hierophant personifies the world of faith and trust based on the immutability of chosen values. If the Devil in a reading reminds us that we have temptations and weaknesses, then the Hierophant in a reading reminds us that we have conscience and an inner sense of purity and goodness in opposition to what we consider evil. Furthermore, this card indicates that the implementation of plans will proceed successfully if we prudently play by the rules, adapt to approved norms of behavior. This card speaks of a traditional approach to solving a troubling question, so to speak, 'the true way.' The Hierophant appeals to social values and traditions, and everything that fits under these concepts or is related to them. Under its purview are all sorts of foundations, a clear internal concept of 'what is good, what is bad.' A modern person usually lacks depth of thought and scrupulousness in these matters, so the Hierophant baffles them, and interpretations usually go no further than it being about a wedding or entering a university—in short, some traditional officialdom is approaching.

This is truly a card of 'joining a tradition' or a 'school,' where there is someone authoritative who knows 'how it should be.' This could equally be the Catholic Church and a Wiccan coven, a university faculty and a military unit, hairdressing courses and a religious sect. It is a place where some higher laws or principles, constituting the core of the teaching, are interpreted in terms of concrete behavior, what to do and what not to do. The card truly personifies learning, the pursuit of knowledge, and social conformity—imagine seminars of a fashionable guru, where ultimately there is no place for dissenters, and the consenting ones vie to please, adjusting their 'self' to the preached standards (sometimes not without benefit to themselves). Sometimes the appearance of the card speaks of an advisor, someone it makes sense to talk to about a troubling topic. More often—that on the querent's path, they will meet people who believe they know the truth (you either submit or face punishment). This is someone who teaches, is a master in their field, and evaluates your achievements.

The Hierophant is devoted to an idea and brings its results to people; he is an inspired servant of his 'religion' (which may be very far from religion), and from the perspective of followers and disciples, he possesses knowledge of some truth and the power to determine who is right and who is not. The most important phenomenon here is power over minds, and the most important question—what is truth? The Hierophant's domain truly encompasses the mysterium fidei. How do people come to believe that another person knows how things should be and that their knowledge is true? The mystery of faith! The Hierophant generally governs socially formalized sacraments. The word 'hierophant' itself means one who reveals sacred things in an accessible form. Baptism and confession, wedding and monastic tonsure, blessing and absolution are sacraments immersed in the everyday. They are truly performed only when there is faith. Without it, only the external ritual remains, its meaning lost.

The Hierophant can personify a person whom we trust greatly, whose opinion we respect, and who takes sincere interest in our fate, helping and guiding. The Hierophant brings contact with a mentor capable of opening access to a higher level of achievement, respect for past merits, obedient following of what is said, and also often—continuation of some traditions, reluctance to abandon them, with all their rituals. And the nth 'Star Factory' from the perspective of the participants is purely a Hierophant matter. This is a card of agreement (at least externally), where the rules of the game are acknowledged and efforts are made to follow them. It says that a person has subscribed to something ('taken a vow') and follows a certain path, quite possibly at times feeling unfree and coerced. Often this card shows that we either need the support and care of a more experienced and knowledgeable person, or we ourselves strive to pass on accumulated experience to others. In an everyday sense, the Hierophant also points to the presence of a very important union (perhaps marital) in life, or a striving for such.

The influence of the Hierophant, like many other cards, can be twofold and strongly depends on the querent's attitude towards external authorities and on the presence of authority in their own eyes (i.e., their ability to believe that their own knowledge can be correct—there are people who fundamentally do not allow this and chase after this knowledge in circles and communities, changing 'great teachers' like gloves). Depending on this trait, the Hierophant can describe both falling under the millstones of someone's dogmas and exceptional moral courage and the ability to go one's own way.

The Hierophant can indicate that we are to play the role of an official and a role model (classic example—teacher). It poses the question: how would we behave if no one was watching us? Would we act the same? This is a card of social approval, external decency and conventionality, social contract. Therefore, it is an ancient significator of a wedding. There is not a word here about feelings, whatever they may be—the emphasis is on the ritual of exchanging rings and vows in the presence of witnesses. The card can point to any union akin to marriage, the acceptance of bonds and obligations (happy or not).

This is a card of school, where grades are given and thus approval or disapproval of your successes is expressed. This card always raises the question of the level of what is happening. Is this truly good? Is this truly 'how it should be'? Sometimes this unexpected question is posed bluntly (and in a negative card environment—it backfires). Generally, the falling of the Hierophant can often be viewed as a blessing sign regarding the question. It is a significator of true Faith and the True Path for each specific person and can be an indicator of the correctness of the chosen direction. Often foretells a meeting with a good person who can help—at least with valuable advice.

Authoritative and instructive—'a prophet in his own land.' Ranges from dogmatism and severity to philosophical tolerance and indulgence, but conviction in one's rightness is present in any case. The Hierophant believes in the meaning of what is happening and acts in accordance with his moral principles.

Often emphasizes interest in religion (in one form or another, teachings can be very diverse) or indicates that the person is acting, as they say, 'by inspiration.'

Hierophants are conservative and do not like to adapt. This is explained very simply—they know how it should be. This knowledge lives within them, and it is difficult for them to veer off these tracks (moreover, they often get no pleasure from this veering, rather a clear sense that they have lost their way and need to urgently return). Hierophants are distinguished by the fact that they truly believe in the preached values and serve them, as they coincide with their inner sense of goodness. There is another peculiarity—Hierophants intuitively feel history well as a connection of times; the heritage of the past animates the present for them. They may unexpectedly be well-versed in the history of something (this could be an entire era, or the history of some activity, organization, art genre, etc.), and somewhere deep down, they feel well that there is special significance in this. A natural occupation for the Hierophant is to observe whether everything is being done correctly. He is a mentor, seeker, and zealot of truth. His natural trait is the special courage all this requires. At best, he carries the ability to see deep spiritual meaning in the simple and material, to correctly understand the essence of some life lesson. The peculiarity of the Hierophant is that his faith and his notions almost always become public, brought out for everyone to see. This is not a case where one manages to hide 'a fire flickering in a vessel.' For example, if he managed to extract some wisdom while overcoming his own sufferings, difficulties, or illnesses, he will most likely, inspired and enlightened, write a whole book about it all, which will go on sale...and then traveling seminars are just around the corner. This is how schools, circles, and groups are formed.

It happens that, tired of proving, preaching, and reconciling his conscience with social standards, and realizing that 'there is no prophet in his own land,' the Hierophant casts off his vestments and continues the path in the cloak of the Hermit, no longer relating to anyone and proving nothing to anyone (so to speak, taking the great schema and retiring to the desert). But generally, the Hierophant is a natural teacher, lawgiver, and guru. He needs an audience, disciples, followers, and successors.

One can generally rely on the Hierophant—he behaves conscientiously and consistently, at least within his own notions of what is good and what is bad.

A true Hierophant is very wise from life experience and therefore capable of giving priceless advice in the most incomprehensible situations. Looking into his imperturbable eyes, it is hard to imagine that he has gone through any turmoil and searching, yet one has to admit that his astounding wisdom was bought at no small price, known fully only to him. The Hierophant is the role of the Master in relation to Ivan Bezdomny. At best, this is an empathetic and wise mentor, spiritual guide, teacher, capable of helping and guiding...and admiration for him, heartfelt respect. Through him one can touch a powerful tradition.

The Hierophant often serves as a significator of a married person in readings.

The Hierophant – The Awakened and Enlightened One.

This is the great wisdom of the male being. For modern man, 'male wisdom' is personified by the Emperor – here he is, the super-man, what more is needed?

However, the Emperor personifies only a purely masculine style of thinking and mode of action (just as the Empress – a purely feminine one) – he must act, steer, sort things out, he has no way out, he has a bunch of obligations, like the master of an estate, a father of many children, or the president of a country. Here is a completely different figure. He sorts things out not here. This is the original Priest of the ancient world. He is not troubled by worldly cares. Earthly power is ankle-deep to him. Emperors bow before him so that he performs the sacrament of anointing for the reign and advises what to do. He is not the Magician, playing with the forces of nature and walking on the edge. He is the one who tells the Magician that he has played too much and communicates the conditions for balancing the disturbed equilibrium on subtle planes. He knows the stakes in that casino where we bet our immortal soul (in this sense, the Hierophant and the Devil are the most closely connected pair in Tarot). The Hierophant corresponds to elder-seers endowed with the gift of insight, who do not need a sinner's confession to tell him what he must do for his own good (while they will not turn into a 'shoulder to cry on' one iota). The Hierophant relates to the Emperor approximately as Diogenes to Alexander the Great ('Do not stand between me and the sun'). To the latter's credit, it must be noted – the young man appreciated the answer and realized that at the notorious barrel passes the boundary of all kingdoms ('If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes').

The Fifth Arcana symbolizes the high priests of pagan or Christian schools of Mysteries. This card symbolizes the initiator (master of the mystery of life), or spiritual doctor. The illusory Universe, in this case, is symbolized by two figures (polarities) – kneeling before the throne on which sits the initiated one, who has raised his consciousness to the level of spiritual understanding and reality. The Hierophant embodies human righteousness in the highest sense of the word. Unlike the mission of the High Priestess, passively conducting rhythms, the Hierophant symbolizes the principle of activity, being a creator of a new path. On the card, there are other people (kneeling monks…or monarchs…or a royal couple) – the wisdom of the Hierophant is intended for someone; it has no meaning if it is sealed. This is one of the 'triadic' cards (these also include The Lovers, The Devil, and The Chariot).

Unlike the High Priestess, he symbolizes religious authority, an expert in mysteries and an interpreter of truth. He has traveled a long path in this system and can now guide others (but also limit them in some ways). This is not a card of an individual, solitary path but a card of joining an existing tradition, some mainstream, its rituals, and an established system of views. He points the way to a spiritual goal – it is on this path that he is given the authority to decide what exactly must be done for successful progress; he carries the interpretation of the law in terms of behavior. This is the charter of a monastery or spiritual order, not personal gnosticism – liturgical rules, rituals of piety, common to all and created before you.

This is the need and possibility to follow a tradition that grants both initiation, and training, and practices leading to one's own Grail. People, books, spiritual systems helping a novice. To travel a great path, one needs desire, intuition, but also the wisdom of predecessors. It is precisely the discipline of practices that helps maintain the connection between spiritual and everyday life. The card can also symbolize the organization itself (religious, educational, philosophical) that has a structure and influences the minds of followers. In all such organizations, there is a person or group of persons whose views are considered practically infallible truth. They have the power to promote or crush. Others either submit to their word, accepting it precisely in this way, or are declared heretics and expelled. This is a system with its own values, its own hierarchy and formalities, and submission and obedience to them, conformism, are assumed.

The Hierophant, like the High Priestess, is essentially Knowledge, but unlike the High Priestess with her prophetic dreams and mind-reading, his knowledge is clearly ethically colored; it contains such concepts as responsibility, duty, atonement, justice. To him alone, mysteriously, the stakes in that casino where we all try to lose our soul are known. This is knowledge of 'what costs what' in this best of worlds. In other words – a system of values. Unlike the High Priestess, the Priest does not need to tune in and meditate – he simply knows the answer, at any moment of his life, these answers are laid out on shelves. Only one problem remains – to bring oneself into accordance with this knowledge, for no knowledge is genuine until it has become a guiding principle in life and a basis for decision-making.

The Fifth Arcana describes a stage of spiritual development at which one is granted knowledge of God's will towards oneself and interprets it in terms of personal behavior. Making a decision for oneself—to live within the law, to inscribe one's further existence into the law of world order, or to take upon oneself all responsibility for disobedience and an individual path...to decide for oneself what one's road will be or to allow authority to decide it...the search for truth and the moral courage to go one's own way if one believes it necessary...the choice—to follow the needs of one's soul or to adjust one's self to the demands of others, to tradition...these are the questions posed to us by the Fifth Arcana, and it is assumed that conscience will provide the answer. In essence, it is a choice between voluntary obedience and obedience through coercion ('fate leads the obedient, but drags the disobedient'). One should not think that it is so easy for the Hierophant to neatly sort everything out and act according to conscience. He feels most acutely the conflict between the ideal truth known to the heart ('how things should be') and what is the truth of life. This conflict represents an incurable 'fifth wound' (from the perspective of Christian esotericism—the wound of the Sacred Heart, pierced by a soldier). This 'fifth wound', the 'heart wound', is carried within by every patriarch. The Hierophant eternally bleeds beneath his vestments; he is akin to the wounded Fisher King from the Grail legends. This is also reminded by the 'Ring of the Fisherman' worn by the Pope.

The Hierophant's moral problem is to listen to the inner voice and be righteous not only in fulfilling his task, like the Emperor, but also towards himself. His immediate task, however, is to, while obeying himself and his own, even the most natural and correct, impulses, not to become deaf to those around him, constantly weighing their desires against his own.

The Hierophant can be a Mentor on the narrow path where there is 'yes' and 'no', good and evil, evolution and degradation, and not just neutral 'experience' and 'growth' to who-knows-where (after all, a cancerous tumor also grows). Personality psychology, for its part, has done everything to free a person from evaluative pressure in these matters. When excessive, this pressure demoralizes and destroys, but its complete absence, in general, yields the same effect. If the appearance of the Fifth Arcana in a reading causes a slight stupor (it's unclear what it's about and what to do with it), then it's time to dust off such an instrument as conscience—we all periodically need this, even being good people.

On the Waite card, the two keys crossed at the feet of the Hierophant symbolize, according to Guggenheim's thought, orthodox doctrine and the external manifestations of life. The traditional papal tiara denotes power over three levels of being – heavens, earth, and the underworld (in psychological projection – 'superego,' 'ego,' and 'id'). The lilies on the surplice of one of the kneeling monks symbolize spiritual idealism, and the roses on the vestment of the other – love for people. On Crowley's card, the Hierophant is depicted holding a symbol of trinity, and below is depicted his feminine nature, with a sword-thought in her hand, which rules him from within. The staff in the Hierophant's hand (a cross with three crossbars or three intersecting circles – the emblem of Roerich) – implies a new incarnation. The staff is usually a symbol of the faith professed by the deck's creators. Interestingly, in many decks, although the Hierophant is in magnificent vestments, his feet are bare – this is a reminder of inner humility and that whatever the external rules, the ultimate point for their servant is still personal conscience, naked and felt as one's own 'skin.' Behind the Hierophant's head is depicted a five-petaled lotus inscribed in a five-pointed star – a symbol of active participation in cosmic creativity. From behind the Hierophant's back peeks an enraged bull (symbol of Taurus) – a symbol of powerful creative potential, as well as passions and desires, to which the Hierophant corresponds astrologically. In Greek mythology, the figure of the High Priest corresponds to Dionysus – the patron god of all fruitful forces of the Earth. Taurus is the most 'earthy' sign, which with its rigid frameworks corrects matter; therefore, it can 'elevate' itself only by embodying unshakable righteousness on its path.

The Hierophant is not always harmless. He undoubtedly was present during the sessions of the Holy Inquisition and presided over those bonfires into which German students threw books by Zweig and Mann. Purity of faith, purity of the party, teaching, blood, race – this is his 'professional' headache. His worst trait – self-satisfaction, intolerance, and exceptional conviction of his own rightness. Lynching, searching for enemies of the people, fighting infidels, witch hunts, tribunal, auto-da-fé – that is his dark bottom or black peak. The question from the Fifth Arcana – why, actually, are the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life opposed? Why, becoming like gods, knowing Good and Evil, shalt thou surely die?

The Hierophant points out another problem. The ordinary modern person seems to be deprived of any 'visible' ideology instructing him on the 'true path' (like the moral code of the builder of communism, true Catholicism, or Dr. Goebbels' sermons), and at the same time, he is often stunningly narrow-minded, intolerant, and crushed by stereotypes – just read the comments on the internet on any topic that 'touches a nerve.' We seem to live in an era of unprecedented freedom of conscience, but something strange is happening with this very conscience and its freedom. The Hierophant may pose a question about this interesting internal circumstance – why do you so strongly disapprove of something that you'd literally go at it with fire and sword, huh? Or why do you rush to defend something with a zeal that would do honor to a participant in a crusade or St. Bartholomew's Night, imagining that he is saving the true faith from heretics? Sometimes the Hierophant in his tiara seems like such an anachronism in the deck, something outdated – but he also speaks of the fact that we have not changed nearly as much as it might seem. The right to one's own views and convictions de facto is not always welcomed. Freedom of thought and speech in society somehow turns into an avalanche of perception clichés where freedom of thought is not even a scent; the inability to wisely perceive the true gifts of life goes hand in hand with the pursuit of its free joys…simplicity or excess – everything can turn into emptiness if it is inside.

The Hierophant symbolizes correct, important, and responsible steps taken with great faith in one's cause. A vivid sense of mission, significance of one's work (usually in terms of serving people). This is a card of honesty, purity of aspirations, honest deals, and fair play. Confident movement towards a goal with the conviction that the cause is worth it. Serious advancement in professional development.

The Hierophant personifies the traditional education system, school, formal learning. Through him goes the transmission of one's knowledge to others, as well as the active use of others' experience. Work in the field of education (or at least work that truly requires good education and knowledge). Professional connection with cultural or religious institutions (at worst, rigid attitudes and a persistent smell of dead rituals one cannot abandon reign there). Generally all professions where imperturbability, knowledge, and persuasion skills are important.

The Hierophant is a significator of all institutions where longstanding traditions are strong, and also where there are various 'schools,' 'approaches,' and 'styles' (in essence, they are akin to denominations—none is the ultimate truth, although their bearers tend to perceive them as such). This card can denote any profession that implies the ability to interpret laws, traditions, or some cultural establishments.

Hierophants are scientific supervisors, consultants, psychotherapists, teachers, and mentors of all sorts. In a general sense, the card speaks of suitability for the position held and high professional status. The Hierophant corresponds to large organizations, often state ones, and in any case, those created clearly not yesterday and relying on established traditions (e.g., a bank or city hall). The Hierophant loves university workers, librarians, archivists, museum workers—all those places where knowledge with a long history is preserved. A person signified by the Hierophant may have a professional connection to religion, everything related to marriage. Sometimes—a doctor who helps get rid of acquired problems, 'absolving sins.'

This card can mean that a huge amount of energy is being invested in a project while it perhaps needs good organization more.

The need to follow instructions, play by the rules. The card does not exclude profit-making, but still tunes the querent in the direction that 'man shall not live by bread alone...', making it understood that money is not the main thing now. The Hierophant is not a card of business and entrepreneurship.

This card symbolizes the highest spiritual components of relationships and in a sense always raises the question of their level.

The Hierophant is connected with community and social laws, therefore his domain encompasses if not love, then marital vows. Depending on other cards, it can foretell a wedding, a strong marriage, solid friendship. The card can indicate that partners are united by a common goal, common faith in something, in a word, something greater than just sympathy or passion. Sometimes the Hierophant communicates that the 'right' partner will appear in life when spiritual development reaches the appropriate level, so as not to mar this connection in any way.

The Hierophant is a great traditionalist; he appreciates respectability and restraint. He can be a very loyal admirer and an extremely respectable candidate for a life partner. Recall the hero of the 'Twilight Saga' Edward, when he explains to Bella, who is eager to drag him into bed, that he is a man of a different era and according to his notions everything should happen differently. 'I would court you for a long time, we would walk along the avenue and drink iced tea on the veranda, and maybe I would steal a kiss from you. But only after receiving your father's blessing would I get down on one knee, present you with a ring, and ask if you would do me the honor of marrying me.' That is the Hierophant. And modern Hierophants of both sexes are profoundly indifferent to what century it is. They truly lead lives in accordance with their ideals, accepting all the discomfort that may be associated with it. The Hierophant solves any problems in relationships, and especially in marriage, exclusively through virtue and restraint of his impulses. A partner described by the Hierophant card can be trusted. Not in the sense that it's a guarantee of his personal sanctity, but for him, infidelity is not disloyalty to a partner. It is betrayal of his own spirit, his own notions and high moral principles, and that is a far more intimate and painful affair than a careless step to the side.

Usually the Hierophant has high ideals and is capable of creating relationships where everything is 'honest and noble.' However, quotation marks are out of place here. Honest and noble. This can be quite a trial in itself if the other partner's human capabilities are not of such high caliber (and since Hierophants are, in general, rare items and rarely travel in packs, that's usually the case).

Often he tries with all his might ('Sorry for preaching!') to convey to the other his vision of the meaning of relationships, to show what is important and what is right. He dreams of creating truly good relationships based on love and responsibility for each other, free from infidelity and hurt.

At worst, the Hierophant speaks of people being bound by the coldest of feelings—a sense of duty.

The Hierophant subordinates everything to beliefs, including nutrition, sex, and hardening, hence loves fasting, vegetarianism, yoga, Ayurveda, and the like. It's not a fact that the chosen system is suitable. As is known, what is good for a Russian is death for a German. What works perfectly in India or China may yield far from desirable results for a native of the temperate zone.

As a significator of illness, it can point to age-related problems, e.g., arthritis or osteoporosis. Mary Greer writes about illnesses of the ear-nose-throat type, muscle pains, and infections transmitted from person to person via airborne droplets (from speaker to audience).

Literature contains remarks about kidney diseases.

If the upright Hierophant is something traditional, the reversed one is non-traditional, so to speak, as an experiment. It can indicate that the person is considering something unethical and unprincipled, workarounds, and playing without rules. Pope Alexander Borgia could be a good example. But it could also be something smaller—e.g., some unseemly actions, everyday sins that still scratch the conscience... Or perhaps a desire to run away from school, dropping out. This card covers youthful nonconformism, fighting authorities, eccentricity, individualism, extraordinariness. At worst, appearing in a reading about some undertaking, it shows that an incorrect path was chosen from the start.

The reversed Hierophant speaks of a lack of social approval, of unwillingness to understand and accept some action or choice made. Perhaps the person fears being rejected, punished, exposed? The reversed Hierophant is an oppositionist and an outsider; he possesses his own unique point of view, not accepted by society. His element is rebellion, disobedience, revolt, and the fact that it all comes from within does not mean the person is unafraid of the consequences and ready to go all the way. There is always some confrontation with the 'establishment' (corporate, academic, ecclesiastical, and sometimes simply family), sometimes with the state system. He doubts established values, disobeys rules, and wants to create his own. The card can describe something ritualistic but non-traditional—e.g., a same-sex marriage. Sometimes it says one can do something by circumventing the rules, try to solve problems in a roundabout way, and what comes of it will be indicated by other cards in the spread.

Traditionally, in the reversed position, the Hierophant is a symbol of slander, disgrace, dubious advice that brings harm, as well as false facts. The reversed position of the card can also mean excessive freedom of behavior, ignoring the rules of good manners, eccentricity that causes harm, laziness, irresponsibility, unreliability. If in the upright position it is an impending marriage, then in the reversed position - a planned marriage will not take place. Sometimes indicates a divorce. May also mean that the person currently has no opportunity to study. It may be that the teacher turns out to be a false teacher, the teaching – a false doctrine, or simply the person himself is not ready.

On a psychological level, it speaks of excessive kindness and generosity, when kindness irritates, and generosity reaches the point of foolishness. Loss of personal authority, appeasement, capitulation, weakness – a person betrays his principles. There is an opinion that the reversed Hierophant indicates that at the moment the situation is out of control, so the best course is to rely on fate and humbly wait to what outcome the development of events will lead. But most often it is a hint that the advice given to the querent by someone will not lead to anything good. The reversed Hierophant resembles a thesis advisor who, through carelessness, vanity, or unwillingness to conflict, agrees to supervise a student's thesis in an area they understand nothing about. As a result, the process seems to be going on, but neither learning, nor teaching, nor passing the academic check called a defense is possible. Everyone loses because from the very beginning it was done 'the wrong way.'

With The Fool – unorthodoxy, nontraditionalism

With The High Priestess – a very favorable sign

With The Emperor – following the canon, rules

With The Lovers – there is an opinion that this combination primarily indicates that the person will act not as they should or as expected, but as the heart dictates.

With The Hermit – love affair/infidelity

With The Devil – clash with a strong personality and risk of falling under their unfavorable influence. Possibly, spiritual searches have taken the wrong path.

With The Tower – loss of trust, crisis, loss of ground underfoot

With The Sun – clear vision of goal, understanding of meaning

With The World – the matter is nearing successful completion, no serious trials are expected.

With Two of Wands – superiority, standing out from the crowd

With Seven of Swords – a lone wolf, adhering to own convictions and not living by rules

With Three of Cups – following public opinion, 'conformity to the crowd'

With Six of Cups, Six of Pentacles – a strong and happy marriage.

With Three of Pentacles – strong team spirit

With Eight of Pentacles – a strong combination for studying

Melchizedek

The Pope

A passage from the Bible permeated with all sorts of vibrations of the Fifth Arcana - firmness of faith, the stone of the temple, the church, the impregnability by the 'gates' of another (Fifteenth) Arcana, marriage, absolution, cleansing of conscience...: 'And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' (Gospel of Matthew, 16:18-19). And more subtly 'For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?' (1 Corinthians, 10:29).