The High Priestess represents our connection to our lunar nature and trusting our instincts, subconscious influences that are hidden beneath the surface.  She suggests a need to pay attention to subtleties.  But it also indicates a need to connect with our inner wisdom and deep spiritual knowledge.  This card is the 2nd Major Arcana card.  Twos symbolize formation, polarity, balance, and the coming together of opposites.  The High Priestess is the guardian of the veil, the guide through to the unseen world of intuition, inner wisdom and self-knowledge.  She represents a woman's individual nature - apart from family responsibilities and expectations.  The High Priestess is a card of intuition and listening to your inner voice. 

In readings, the High Priestess poses a challenge to you to go deeper - to look beyond the obvious, surface situation to what is hidden and obscure. She also asks you to recall the vastness of your potential and to remember the unlimited possibilities you hold within yourself. The High Priestess can represent a time of waiting and allowing. It is not always necessary to act to achieve your goals. Sometimes they can be realized through a stillness that gives desire a chance to flower within the fullness of time." - Joan Bunning

Going deeper, looking within myself, connecting with my inner wisdom - they all sound like wonderful things to do.  Of course today was not really a day for doing them because I'm home sick feeling sniffly and wheezy.  I was so busy focusing on not sneezing on myself that I can't say I had much time for introspection or looking beneath the surface of anything. 

Then again, to be perfectly honest, I am not always a very introspective person.  I have an understanding of my foibles and my quirks (or my prejudices and biases) and I am very aware of my flaws but that doesn’t mean I have any desire nor need to change them.  I have a quirk in my nature which has rendered me very self-aware but with the ability to completely ignore any need to change certain behaviors.  It's not that I'm oblivious to them; it's just that if these behaviors aren't causing me discomfort then what's the big deal.  I sometimes feel this is a childish approach to things but at other times I realize it's a defense mechanism.  If I'm challenged by someone (or something) about my flaws, my immediate response is "flaws, what flaws?"  Of course I know they exist but I don't always appreciate having my attention brought to it by others.

As far as the High Priestess goes, I think I've approached that veil several times.  I might even have peaked behind it a time or two but I can't say that I've gotten comfortable with what I have found behind it.  Of course I'm guessing that might have been times when I've functioned as the High Priestess for others and I've certainly had people function as the High Priestess for me.  At this point it's still a goal to achieve rather than a permanent place that I've reached.  I think I'll always be growing and exploring my High Priestess nature and for today I think I'll focus on the healing and rest aspect.