The Hierophant traditionally represents the connection between humans and the divine, the teacher of hidden knowledge, spiritual beliefs, organized religion, moral growth and development. Here we have a symbol of tradition and moral authority. The Hierophant can be seen as representing formal, organized religious and moral beliefs and attitudes, education and the principle of teaching and learning. 

Wow, this is the second time this week I drew The Hierophant.  I guess he's getting pissed at me because he feels I'm avoiding him.  That's very possible simply because I'm avoiding a lot of things lately.  Showing up reversed may be his way of reminding me that I can't escape from responsibilities and obligations.  I may wish things were different but you know what they say about wishes.

He may also be reminding me that school is going to be back in session soon.  My opportunity to simply relax and enjoy my time off is drawing to a close.  Soon it will be back to the grind, studying and doing homework.  And that's okay because if I want to be seen as a source of information, knowledge and maybe even wisdom then I need to make sure I actually have something to offer.

According to Rachel Pollack, this card (called Tradition in the Shining Tribe Tarot), this card means "finding your path, either through tradition or your own searching.  A sense of protection, of hope and trust.  Wisdom, also responsibility.  Secret actions to help others.  Sometimes social institutions, especially marriage."   Looking at the image on the card I love how the five stone figures encircle a spiral shape that has paths leading from it.  Behind them a body of water with a fish peeking it heads out is visible.  Across the water is another shoreline that seems filled with mountains.  It is as if the stone figures are protecting the secrets of the spiral but they are not hoarding it.  They allow the spiral's wisdom to spread out so that others can nourish themselves from its energies too.

That is one of the things that frustrates me about many organized or even initiatory religious paths - only certain people are deemed eligible to have access to the "secret knowledge".  Our access to the divine and to divine knowledge is limited and controlled by these select few.  These stone figures do protect the spiral but they do not appear to be impeding access to it or its energies. 

The Druidcraft High Priest looks like an ancient Celtic priest sitting on a throne crowned with bull horns in the middle of a forest.  He seems half wise man and half wild man.  His connection is to an ancient knowledge, that of the woods and the wild things not book smarts.  He is at home in this setting and able to understand and translate the messages of the wilderness.  This knowledge may not be accessible to everyone but that is because not everyone has the ability or the interest in learning the language.

Just as I wrote this it hit me - that is what I do - I translate the messages from the Tarot for those who wish to access that wisdom.  Or at least that is what I should be doing but right now I'm not.  Perhaps that is why this card is reversed for me - I'm not putting this gift to use to help others.  I think it's also important to realize that I can sometimes be arrogant in who I will use this gift to aid.  I have often had a tendency to "poo-poo" those who wish to access the arcane, mystic power of the Tarot just to see if they'll ever get married or if "so and so" loves them.  What absolute gall and arrogance I have!  The reality is that for many people, there is probably no more important question in their lives than whether or not they will find a loving relationship.  What may seem like a silly question to me may in fact have deeper and more meaningful impact on the querent's life.  As my hubby told me a long time ago - never knock someone else's car not matter how much of a piece of crap you think it is.  To the owner, that car might be a cherished friend and much loved baby.  It's not for me to judge other people's needs and motivations when it comes to Tarot.  Perhaps instead of judging them, what I should do is educate them.  Help address the issues that initially bring them my way and help them see how much more depth and richness the Tarot can bring to their lives.  If I seem to arrogant and superior I'll lose the opportunity to expose them to the joys Tarot has brought to the lives of many people, including me.