The High Priestess

Quiet knowledge that does not need to be spoken. The High Priestess asks for stillness, patience and attention to what is not being said.

Upright

• intuition
• mystery
• inner knowing
• patience

Quiet knowledge that does not need to be spoken. The High Priestess asks for stillness, patience and attention to what is not being said.

Reversed

• secrets
• withdrawal
• ignoring intuition
• surface noise

An inner voice drowned out, or secrets that have been kept too long. Reversed, the card can point to a need to listen to instinct instead of to everyone else.

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

In the picture

A veiled woman sits between a black pillar marked B and a white pillar marked J, a crescent moon at her feet and a scroll in her lap, with a tapestry of pomegranates behind her.

Astrology and numerology

The Golden Dawn, the Victorian magical order whose scheme most modern decks follow, linked The High Priestess with Moon. Read about Moon and the element water, which the card shares.

Its number reduces to 2, which numerology associates with partnership, balance, sensitivity. See every card that reduces to 2.

Yes or no

In yes or no tarot, The High Priestess 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.