MAJOR ARCANA · II
The High Priestess
Do not rush the answer. Look quietly toward the heart of the matter.
- Stillness, mystery, inner wisdom, what is hidden, insight
- Insight, calmness, intuition, careful observation, what has not yet been revealed
- Closing yourself off too much, being swept away by emotion, assumptions, superficial understanding, disconnection from your true feelings
SYMBOL & STORY
What The High Priestess represents
The High Priestess is a card that quietly contemplates truth in a place where not everything has yet been revealed. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the High Priestess sits between two pillars, one white and one black. The two pillars evoke a world in which opposites coexist: light and darkness, consciousness and the unconscious, affirmation and denial. Rather than leaning toward either side, the High Priestess sits calmly between them. Her willingness to observe opposing things as they are, instead of rushing to decide everything in black and white, is one of the card's most important qualities. On her lap is a scroll marked "TORA." Arthur Waite explained this as representing ideas such as the "greater law" or the "secret law." Part of the scroll is hidden beneath her robes. This can be understood not so much as everything being concealed, but as a state in which "what has already been shown" and "what has not yet been revealed" coexist. You do not need to judge everything only from what is visible right now. Behind her is a veil decorated with palm trees and pomegranates. The veil can appear like a boundary between the visible world and whatever lies beyond it. Pomegranates are sometimes interpreted as symbols connected with life, abundance, and mystery. At the High Priestess's feet is a crescent moon; on her head is a crown suggestive of the moon, and on her chest is a large cross. The moon does not produce light directly, but shines by receiving it. For that reason, later tarot interpretations came to associate the High Priestess strongly with intuition, the subconscious, receptivity, and related qualities. Waite himself, however, listed divinatory meanings such as secrets, mystery, the future as yet unrevealed, silence, persistence, wisdom, and knowledge. Seen this way, the High Priestess is more than simply "a card that tells you to trust your intuition." She asks you not to force an answer onto what you do not yet understand, but to watch quietly and perceive its deeper nature. If The Magician is a card about using your will and abilities to act upon the world, the High Priestess is a card about listening inward before taking action. And if The Hierophant represents teachings shared through society and tradition, the High Priestess can be seen as representing an inner understanding that has not yet been put into words. When this card appears, you may not need to produce an answer immediately. There are the facts you can see now. There are things you still do not know. And there are things you quietly sense within yourself. Rather than rushing to compress them all into one answer, try remaining for a while in the space between them. That is where the wisdom of the High Priestess begins.
UPRIGHT & REVERSED
Upright and reversed The High Priestess
Compare the keywords and detailed meanings to see how the symbol changes with orientation.
UPRIGHT
Upright meaning
Do not rush the answer. Look quietly toward the heart of the matter.
- Insight, calmness, intuition, careful observation, what has not yet been revealed
The High Priestess upright represents a time when calmly discerning the situation is more important than taking immediate action. On an inner level, turning your attention inward instead of being swept along by the voices around you can make it easier to notice your true feelings or a subtle sense that something is not quite right. This does not necessarily mean a dramatic intuition in which the answer suddenly descends upon you. "For some reason, this one point keeps bothering me." "I feel as though there is still something I do not understand." "It may be better not to decide yet." Small impressions like these can also be forms of insight represented by the High Priestess. In practical circumstances, there may be information or background factors that have not yet come to light. If you draw a conclusion using only what you know now, you may overlook something important. At work, there may be circumstances you cannot understand from the visible conditions alone. In love, the other person may not yet have put their feelings into words. In relationships, there may be background circumstances you do not know. The card can appear in situations like these. However, there is no need to assume that "someone must be hiding a secret." Sometimes more time is simply needed. In terms of action, this is a good period for observation, study, preparation, keeping records, and introspection. When the High Priestess "does not move," it does not mean that nothing is happening. Even if no change is visible from the outside, understanding is deepening within and preparations for the next action are taking place. And if you have already thought about the matter thoroughly, the card can also be read as saying, "You do not need to keep searching outside yourself for the answer. Deep down, you already know." By becoming quiet, an answer that had been hidden beneath the noise may begin to emerge.
REVERSED
Reversed meaning
Let go of assumptions, and check both the facts and your true feelings.
- Closing yourself off too much, being swept away by emotion, assumptions, superficial understanding, disconnection from your true feelings
The High Priestess reversed has two major directions of interpretation. One is a state in which the stillness of the upright card has become excessive. You keep thinking but cannot act. You withdraw into your own world. You hide your true feelings too much. You tell no one anything and continue searching for the answer alone. Quiet reflection has gradually turned into stagnation or isolation. The other direction is the opposite: losing the stillness and depth characteristic of the High Priestess. You may be strongly driven by emotion. You may judge from surface-level information alone. You may think you understand something that you do not actually know well. You may become overly confident in your own view and stop considering other possibilities. Waite himself listed meanings such as passion, ardor, conceit, and superficial knowledge for the reversed position. In modern interpretations, the card is also commonly read as intuition not functioning clearly, not knowing your own true feelings, or confusing assumptions with intuition. These two directions may seem opposite, but they share one thing in common. Both have moved away from the High Priestess's center—the calm state of observing things quietly. You may be deciding that something you feel only when you are anxious "must be intuition." Or, conversely, you may already sense something important but dismiss it by telling yourself, "I'm just overthinking." That is why, when this card appears reversed, you do not need to rush to decide whether to trust or doubt your feelings. First, separate fact from imagination. Then ask whether you still feel the same way when you are calm. In practical circumstances, the card can indicate insufficient information, misunderstanding, secrecy, or circumstances that have not yet been put into words. However, this does not simply mean, "Someone is hiding a secret." You may not have checked the information you need. The other person may not yet be ready to speak. Or perhaps nobody knows the answer yet. The reversed position can also be read as "something hidden beginning to come out." A secret becomes known. True feelings slip out. Someone speaks about something they had kept silent. Or you yourself become aware of emotions you had not previously admitted. By looking at the surrounding cards and the question, and distinguishing whether the movement is toward closing inward or toward something spilling outward, this card becomes much more three-dimensional.
LOVE
The High Priestess in love
Upright love
In love, the High Priestess represents feelings that have not yet been put into words and quiet connections rather than openly expressed passion. Even if the other person's behavior is difficult to understand, that does not automatically mean they have no feelings for you. They may be carefully measuring the distance between you, or they may simply be someone who does not easily show their emotions. With unrequited love, this may be a stage in which learning about the other person is more important than pushing actively to change the situation. What kind of distance feels comfortable to them? When do they show a natural expression? Observe not only their words, but also their ordinary behavior. However, there is no need to assign meaning to every small gesture. The High Priestess encourages observation, but she does not encourage assumptions. If you are already in a relationship, the card can represent a calm connection in which you understand each other without always needing words. Respecting each other's time alone or sharing quiet moments can actually deepen intimacy. On the other hand, if you remain silent because you assume, "They should understand without me saying anything," misunderstandings can arise. Important things should gradually be translated into calm, honest words. For reconciliation, the card may indicate a time to look inward and ask why you want to return rather than acting immediately. Is it because you are lonely? Because it is that specific person? Do you want the old relationship back, or do you want to build a new one? By asking yourself these questions quietly, you may begin to see what you need to do next. If you are looking for a new relationship, the card can point toward someone who makes you feel strangely calm when you talk, or someone with whom you connect intellectually or spiritually rather than through dramatic attraction.
Reversed love
In love, the High Priestess reversed can represent a state in which true feelings are difficult to see or you are thinking too much about what someone feels. However, it can appear in more than one way. With unrequited love, you may be reading too deeply into the other person's small reactions. Their reply was late. Your eyes met. They did not speak to you today. They smiled more than usual. If you try to build an answer from every single event, you may end up looking at an image of the other person's feelings that you have created inside yourself rather than at the actual person. At times like these, separate "what actually happened" from "what you imagined from it." Conversely, this card can also appear when you truly sense that something about the relationship is wrong, but keep looking away and telling yourself, "I'm sure everything is fine." Both trusting intuition too much and ignoring intuition too much are worth watching. If you are already in a relationship, saying too little can become a problem. "They should understand without me saying it." "If I say this, they might dislike me." If you keep putting away your true feelings this way, an invisible wall can grow between you. Conversely, the card can also indicate emotions overflowing so strongly that you lose your calm and direct them too forcefully at the other person. In either case, the task is to return from the extreme. If you have been too silent, speak a little. If you have been expressing emotion too intensely, give yourself some time before speaking. For reconciliation, memories of the past or lingering attachment may be making it difficult to see the person as they are now. Is the thought, "There is no one else for me," really what you want now? Or is loneliness making it feel that way? It may help to sort through this carefully. On the other hand, if you have suppressed your feelings for a long time, the reversed card can also represent a state in which you can no longer keep your true feelings hidden. If you are looking for a new relationship, you may be too guarded to let people in, or, conversely, judging someone only from surface-level charm.
FEELINGS
The High Priestess in their feelings
Upright their feelings
When the High Priestess appears upright as the other person's feelings, they may have feelings for you but be quietly observing and confirming them rather than expressing them immediately. Even if they are conscious of you, they may not turn that awareness into words or action until they feel sure of themselves. This does not necessarily mean that their feelings are weak. They may be cautious precisely because they do not want to treat the connection lightly. They may be closely observing your conversations and sense of distance while asking themselves, "Can I feel safe with this person?" or "What do I really feel?" Their behavior is likely to be restrained, with few obvious displays. Still, interest may appear in small ways: remembering what you said, quietly showing concern when needed, or becoming a little softer when the two of you are alone. Because the High Priestess is connected with secrecy and silence, it is best not to use this one card to declare that "there is hidden love." The feeling may not even have taken clear words inside them yet. Rather than forcing an answer, creating a relationship in which they feel safe enough to be honest can make their feelings easier to see.
Reversed their feelings
When the High Priestess appears reversed as the other person's feelings, they may not be able to sort out their own emotions clearly. Even if they are conscious of you, anxiety and assumptions may be mixed into what they feel, making it difficult for them to recognize their true feelings. They may also be holding too much inside. Fear of being hurt, misunderstood, or of damaging the current relationship can lead them to remain more silent than necessary. As a result, they may look cold or become difficult to read. Another possibility is that secrecy or suspicion is increasing and they are reading too much into your words and behavior. They may search for hidden meaning even when nothing unusual has happened, or become guarded because of past experiences. When this card appears, it is important not to interpret the other person's silence only in the way you hope. More than whether feelings exist, the safer conclusion is that they are not currently in a state where those feelings can be read accurately. Calm conversation and interactions grounded in facts can gradually untangle what has become confused.
WORK
The High Priestess in work
Upright work
In work, analytical ability, specialist knowledge, careful judgment, and powers of observation can become especially valuable. Rather than trying to stand out, investigate carefully. Rather than moving forward on momentum, understand how the system works. Quiet and thoughtful work of this kind is likely to lead to results. The card is especially compatible with work that handles knowledge in depth, such as research, analysis, education, writing, IT, and specialized professions. When the card appears regarding the workplace environment, there may be circumstances that cannot be judged from what is visible on the surface alone. Rather than believing rumors as they are, confirm the facts. If you are considering a job change, this is a good time to avoid deciding in a hurry based only on the conditions written in a job listing. Organize the actual job content, working style, workplace atmosphere, and what you truly want. If something vaguely bothers you, you do not need to ignore that feeling. However, rather than reaching a conclusion from intuition alone, investigate why it bothers you. Doing so can turn that feeling into a more reliable judgment. For achieving a goal, even if visible results have not appeared yet, strength may still be accumulating beneath the surface. If you are continuing to study or prepare, you do not need to rush the result. In workplace relationships, you may become someone who listens to others or is trusted with private concerns. Someone may even confide a secret in you. However, you do not need to carry every other person's circumstances yourself. Both discretion—the care not to spread what you know—and boundaries that prevent you from taking on too much are important.
Reversed work
In work, the High Priestess reversed can indicate insufficient information, biased judgment, poor communication, or inadequate preparation. Sometimes you may be thinking so much that you cannot act. At other times, you may be acting without thinking enough. If you have been refining a plan endlessly without ever trying it, it may be time to test it on a small scale. Conversely, if you are moving forward on impulse alone, you may need to stop and confirm the details. If you are considering a job change, before deciding from a vague feeling such as, "It seems good," or "Something about it feels wrong," try to identify why. You do not need to reject your intuition. But by comparing that feeling with actual information, you can turn it into a more reliable judgment. When the card appears regarding the workplace environment, it can indicate situations in which information is not being shared sufficiently, rumors are moving ahead of the facts, or someone is unable to express their true thoughts. In relationships at work, silence itself may be creating misunderstandings. You may think, "It is better not to say anything unnecessary," while the other person feels, "I cannot tell what they are thinking." Do not keep necessary reports or consultations entirely to yourself. And from Waite's reversed meaning of "superficial knowledge," the card can also be read as a warning against moving forward with work while merely assuming that you understand it. Admitting, "I do not know," is not immaturity. It is an important attitude that brings you back toward the wisdom of the High Priestess.
MONEY
The High Priestess in money
Upright money
In financial matters, carefully understanding your current situation is more useful than trying to increase your money dramatically. By quietly reviewing your income, spending, and savings, you may begin to see patterns in the flow of money that you had not noticed before. In terms of income, deepening your knowledge and expertise may lead to greater earnings in the future. Qualifications, skills, and experience that you are building now have value even if they do not produce immediate profit. With spending, careful consideration is more important than impulse. "Do I really need this?" "Do I need to buy it now?" "Is there still more I should research?" Simply pausing to consider these questions can reduce unnecessary spending. For investments or major contracts, checking the information is especially important. The High Priestess is a card associated with intuition, but it is not a card that encourages unsupported gambling. Do not rush to put money into something you do not understand. Research until you can genuinely understand and accept it for yourself. That caution protects your money. This is also a time to look at your true feelings about money. "Why do I want to save?" "Why do I feel the urge to spend?" "What exactly frightens me about losing money?" By understanding not only the numbers but also the feelings beneath them, you can develop a more stable relationship with money.
Reversed money
In financial matters, this is a time to be careful if you do not have a clear grasp of the numbers or if your judgment is being moved too strongly by emotion. You may avoid spending because you feel anxious. Or anxiety may lead you to shop in order to change your mood. In either case, emotion rather than money itself is driving the decision. With spending, check the things that may have been accumulating without your noticing. Subscriptions, small purchases, and habitual expenses can each seem minor while becoming a significant burden in total. Conversely, you may be denying yourself even necessary things because you are trying too hard to protect your money. The High Priestess reversed does not represent only overspending. It can also appear as "excessive restraint caused by anxiety." For investments or contracts, be especially cautious of superficial knowledge. Do not assume you understand something after only a little research or decide based only on someone else's success story. Keep checking until you understand the structure for yourself. On the other hand, if you have researched so much that you can no longer decide anything, narrow the question to, "What information do I actually need in order to make this judgment?" If you have been avoiding your financial anxiety, begin by looking at the present situation. Your balance, income, fixed expenses, and the money you will need in the future. The things you are most afraid to look at can sometimes become surprisingly manageable once you turn them into numbers. Making what was hidden visible is not meant to frighten you. It is meant to return you to a state in which you can choose for yourself.
RELATIONSHIPS
The High Priestess in relationships
Upright relationships
In relationships, the High Priestess represents quiet trust and deep understanding rather than lively social activity. Connections with people around whom you can feel at ease without talking constantly, or people who quietly listen when you need them, may become especially important. In friendship, calm interaction with a small number of people may satisfy you more than maintaining many shallow connections. Within the family, you may notice feelings that have not yet been expressed in words. However, you are not required to understand every feeling the other person has without them saying it. It is all right to leave what you do not know as unknown, and to ask when necessary. That kind of space is important too. In places such as the workplace, your ability to observe the atmosphere and calmly understand each person's position can become useful. Rather than judging from one person's statement alone, considering the background can help you avoid unnecessary conflict. You may also be entrusted with secrets or personal consultations. The High Priestess teaches that trust is not always created by talking about everything. Some trust is protected precisely by knowing when not to speak.
Reversed relationships
In relationships, silence may be turning into misunderstanding. You say nothing because you are trying to be considerate. You hide your true feelings because you do not want to be disliked. You keep imagining what the other person thinks without confirming it. As a result, a distance that neither person actually wanted may begin to form. In friendship, you may be carrying a small sense of discomfort inside. Even if it seems too minor to mention, repeated small concerns can eventually change the way you see the relationship. You do not need to say everything, but if something truly matters, gently putting it into words is one option. Conversely, the card can also appear as a warning against carelessly sharing secrets or personal stories. Before repeating something another person told you, ask yourself, "Is this really something I am free to tell?" Within the family, old problems or roles that have never been put into words may still be influencing the relationship. If you have continually thought, "I should just endure it," you may want to reconsider whether that role is truly still necessary. If you have become isolated, thinking alone for too long may be making the problem appear larger. Even talking a little with someone you trust can introduce a different perspective. Conversely, if you have listened to so many other people's opinions that you no longer know what you feel, you may need some time alone instead. The High Priestess reversed does not give a universal instruction that you "should be alone" or "should ask someone for advice." It asks you to notice which direction you are currently leaning too far toward and return to a more balanced place.
YES OR NO
Yes or No for The High Priestess
Upright judgment
- Judgment
- Unclear
- Reason
- The High Priestess represents information that has not yet come to the surface and a period of quiet discernment. With only what can currently be seen, it is too early to decide Yes or No; the answer is still hidden within.
- What could change the answer
- It will become easier to judge as time passes and facts or the other person's true intentions become clearer. Rather than piling speculation onto uncertainty, allow the necessary information to emerge naturally.
Reversed judgment
- Judgment
- Unclear
- Reason
- The High Priestess reversed shows a state in which intuition and anxiety, or facts and assumptions, can easily become mixed together. Not only may information be missing, but the way existing information is being interpreted may also be biased, so it is better not to rush to a conclusion.
- What could change the answer
- Increase what can actually be confirmed rather than relying on speculation, and look again once emotions have settled. If secrets or misunderstandings are cleared up, Yes or No can be read much more clearly.
MESSAGE FROM THE CARD
Advice from The High Priestess
Upright
You may not need to reach an answer immediately. Separate what you know from what you do not yet know. And you do not have to fill every unknown space with imagination. If you listen quietly to your own heart, you may begin to notice small impressions that had previously gone unheard. They may not be a loud voice telling you, "This is what you must do." They may be a much quieter sense that, "This direction might feel more natural." Do not rush the answer. Observe, learn, and feel. When the necessary time comes, what is hidden now will gradually begin to reveal itself.
Reversed
Your desire for an answer may be a little stronger than usual right now. But when you rush to fill what you do not know, anxiety and wishful thinking can begin to look like answers. First, confirm what you actually know. Then separate it from what you are imagining. If you have been thinking alone for a long time, it is all right to borrow the perspective of someone you trust. Conversely, if you have listened to so many outside opinions that you have become confused, return for a while to a quiet place. If you have hidden your true feelings too much, put just a little of them into words. If your emotions are overflowing, give yourself just a little time before acting. You do not need to know everything, and you do not need to decide immediately. What the High Priestess teaches is not the answer itself, but the attitude with which you face the answer. When you regain stillness, the facts, anxieties, wishes, and intuitions that had all been mixed together will gradually begin to appear as separate things.
READ IT YOUR WAY
Let The High Priestess lead to a reading in your own words.
Use these meanings as a guide or develop language of your own. With a custom deck, you can shape every description and image to fit your practice.