The Hierophant

What Does The Hierophant Tarot Card Mean?

The Hierophant depicts a priest who is the head of a religious congregation and their followers; it can take a male or female form, depending on the tarot deck you are using. Hierophants are known as the interpreters of sacred ancient mysteries and time-tested beliefs, which fits the meaning of this card perfectly.

The Hierophant tarot card is a fascinating card to decipher during an online tarot reading session. It represents a society that functions according to conventional norms. The core idea behind this card is that it protects the things being done legitimately and according to the rules that people are expected to follow and accept. It’s all about tradition and conformity.

The Hierophant Upright Tarot Card Meaning

The upright Hierophant symbolizes established social structures and traditions and the need to uphold them. It represents the need to follow conventional morale, whatever it means to the person reading the tarot deck; it is also the embodiment of traditional spiritual practices, such as major religions.

If you draw The Hierophant in an upright position, it means that the cards encourage you to stick to the rules. Alternatively, the deck might be advising you to seek a mentor or serve as one to impart traditional wisdom and guidance.

The Hierophant Tarot Card Meaning: Love & Relationships

When you search for true love and draw the upright Hierophant, you can rest assured that your efforts will not go wasted. This is because you will most likely engage in a healthy relationship that will be based on a long-term commitment. The upright Hierophant often represents traditional relationship structures. It may suggest that following conventional relationship paths or seeking counsel from trusted sources will benefit your love life in the long run.

The Hierophant Meaning: Money & Career

The upright Hierophant means that the deck is telling you that if you want to be successful in your career, you should avoid shortcuts at all costs. You’ll be much better off if you dare take the long, challenging path to success. Also, the cards are waning you that searching for unconventional ways of generating money will only drain you out. Try to figure out how other people are making money and what steps they take to generate their income.

Upright Meaning: Past

If you draw The Hierophant in an upright position when asking the deck about your past, the cards may be trying to remind you of a time when adherence to tradition and established systems helped you get what you wanted. Think of the situation in the past when you turned to authoritative figures for guidance, and the stability and structure their advice brought you was exactly what you needed.

The Hierophant Reversed Tarot Card Meaning

As is almost always the case, the meaning of The Hierophant in a reversed position is the complete opposite of its upright version. The reversed Hierophant represents breaking away from the traditional path and challenging the established norm.

However, this interpretation isn’t necessarily negative. It might mean that you must pursue your beliefs and desires and pave your way instead of following what clothes did before you. Perhaps the deck is telling you that it’s time you think outside the box and search for a less conventional solution to the problem that currently bothers you.

The Hierophant Tarot Card Meaning: Love & Relationships

At times, a relationship can end up not conforming to conventional norms, and there’s nothing wrong with that (at least not always). That’s what The Hierophant in a reversed position might mean if your questions for the deck are focused on your love life. Follow your own vision of a perfect love story; don’t listen to what society is telling you blindly.

At the same time, ensure that your relationship is equal, or else the inequality between you and your significant other can lead to a broken partnership. That’s the negative meaning of The Hierophant in a reversed position, and you need to be aware of that.

The Hierophant Meaning: Money & Career

In the workplace, there can sometimes be an imbalance of power in the hierarchical chain of command. Managers may use their authority to make employers obey and follow their principles. People may give you advice in terms of earning a better living. For the most part, seeking advice is not a bad thing. However, it’s best to stick to what you’re most comfortable with, no matter how tempting other money-making ventures may seem.

Reversed Meaning: Past

The reversed Hierophant might be pointing toward a situation in the past where breaking away from traditional paths led to growth. Chances are, you will need something like this again to succeed at what you’re planning. Alternatively, the deck might be trying to remind you of a time when breaking the rules caused your downfall. Consider both scenarios.

Is The Hierophant a Yes or No Card?

Upright Hierophant Meaning: Yes or No

If you draw The Hierophant in an upright position when asking a yes or no question, the answer is yes, especially if your question has to do with traditional approaches in some way. The cards are telling you that you need to follow the conventional wisdom to get the result you want, even if it isn’t the most exciting approach.

Reversed Hierophant Meaning: Yes or No

In turn, the reversed Hierophant in response to a yes or no question is a no, especially if the situation you are asking the deck about involves conforming to established norms. The cards encourage you to abandon the traditional approach and search for your own way to success. Your hard work and courage will pay off.

Reading The Hierophant in a Spread

Now, let’s see how other cards you draw together with The Hierophant in a spread affect its meaning.

The Lovers. When you draw The Hierophant and The Lovers together, the cards are trying to tell you something about your relationship. More specifically, they are pointing toward a situation or dilemma within your relationship that involves conventional social norms and expectations.

The Emperor. The Emperor, which symbolizes structure and authority, reinforces the meaning of The Hierophant. Once again, the deck encourages you to demonstrate leadership while also adhering to established rules and systems.

The High Priestess. In contrast, the pairing of The Hierophant and The High Priestess represents the balance between known and unknown or between external teachings and internal wisdom. You need to find your own way in life, but denouncing traditional approaches without at least trying them is counterproductive—that’s what the deck is trying to communicate.

The Fool. The duo of The Hierophant and The Fool represents the tension between tradition and new beginnings. You are likely facing (or will soon face) a choice between sticking to the well-known path or trying something entirely new.

The Hermit. The Hermit, which stands for a personal spiritual journey and introspection, complements the meaning of The Hierophant. Perhaps the deck is trying to tell you that you need to learn from both the conventional wisdom and your own unique experiences, especially spiritual ones.