The Hierophant

Established practice, guidance from a teacher or institution, and the comfort of shared rules. The Hierophant is about learning the way things have been done.

Upright

• tradition
• teaching
• shared belief
• conformity

Established practice, guidance from a teacher or institution, and the comfort of shared rules. The Hierophant is about learning the way things have been done.

Reversed

• rebellion
• unconventional paths
• dogma questioned
• restriction

Breaking from convention, or feeling boxed in by it. Reversed, the card encourages finding your own approach, and can warn against following rules only because they exist.

Not every reader uses reversals. Many treat a reversed card as the same theme, blocked, delayed or turned inward.

In the picture

A robed teacher sits between two grey pillars, one hand raised in blessing, with two crossed keys at his feet and two kneeling followers in front of him.

Astrology and numerology

The Hierophant is linked with Taurus, a fixed earth sign, and so with the element earth.

Its number reduces to 5, which numerology associates with change, freedom, curiosity. See every card that reduces to 5.

Yes or no

In yes or no tarot, The Hierophant counts as a maybe. This follows a common convention and not a rule from the deck's makers.

Tarot is a tradition of symbolism. This page says what readers traditionally associate with the card. It does not predict anything and it is not advice.