The Hierophant
Tarot Number: 5
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
The Hierophant is regarded as the masculine counterpart of the High Priestess. Where the latter speaks to breaking free from rigid binaries and embracing the intuitive inner-flow, the Hierophant represents spiritual orthodoxies that are already well-established. Be it organized religion or time-honored traditions, the card encourages you to try the conventional approach, under the aegis of a disciplined mentor. It also suggests that you may undergo formal training, as you delve into the intricacies of old belief systems.
In the artwork, a sorceress stands before a portal, in a composition similar to the High Priestess. Unlike the High Priestess, her surroundings are more opulent, and she is clad in elaborate jewels. Her dress is a severe black in contrast to the Priestess' floral white. She embodies a draw towards the conventional, and adherence to the tried-and-true. Her hands are held in the Vishnu Mudra, known as the seal of universal balance, to signify the dual roles of herself and the High Priestess.
Upright: Spiritual growth, a teacher, conformity
Reversed: Subversiveness, out-of-the-box ideas, rebellion