By Lorraine Kemble
3. The Hierophant
Rachel decides to immerse herself in Jewish studies; genuinely thriving upon the knowledge. She learns with a Rabbi, respecting him for his individual characteristics. He is exceptionally clever, offering ‘mind-blowing’ insights upon which to ponder. He is complex in character; being intuitive and righteous, having a terrific, sense of humour. After each learning session different aspects of their studies click upon Rachel, piquing her interest and she eagerly researches them, for the next session.
The Hierophant was the medieval Pope; he had his own army and the Vatican State was a sizeable area known as ‘The Papal States’. The Hierophant is the embodiment of political and spiritual power that can only be found in groups. The Hierophant is merely holding his office until he dies and is replaced by the next, yet, it is the maintaining of the papacy itself, over two millennia from whence its power emanates. The bald spots on the heads of the kneeling men are traditional shavings that medieval priests and monks would make, to show their submission to the authority of the Pope. As the priests submit to the authority of The Hierophant, so to does The Hierophant relegate to the office he holds. He represents conventional entrance into an order, and a balance between the conscious and subconscious minds.
Numerically, The Hierophant is associated with five.
Jupiter rules The Hierophant on a planetary basis. In fact, Jupiter is the largest of the astrological orbs.
The previous installment can be found in the March 2019 issue of Tarot Reflections. Watch for the next installment in the May issue.