The High Priestess is card II, the quiet keeper of mysteries. Where the Magician acts, she listens. She's the card of intuition, dreams and the wisdom that comes when you stop talking and pay attention.
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What's on the The High Priestess card
A calm woman in flowing blue robes sits between two pillars, one black marked B and one white marked J, named for the pillars of Solomon's temple. Behind her hangs a veil decorated with pomegranates, hiding what lies beyond. She wears a crown shaped like the waxing, full and waning moon, holds a half-hidden scroll marked TORA, and a crescent moon rests at her feet.
- Black and white pillars: the balance of opposites: light and dark, known and unknown
- The veil of pomegranates: hidden knowledge, fertility and the mysteries of the Goddess
- The moon crown: the Triple Goddess and the cycles of the moon
- The half-hidden scroll: wisdom that is only partly revealed
The High Priestess upright meaning
Upright, the High Priestess asks you to trust your gut. The answer you're looking for may not come from research or other people's opinions, but from a quiet inner knowing. Pay attention to dreams, synchronicities and the feelings you can't quite explain.
She also suggests that not everything is visible yet. There may be information still hidden, so it can be wise to wait, watch and keep your own counsel for now. For witches, she's a beautiful card for meditation, moon magick and developing your psychic senses.
The High Priestess reversed meaning
Reversed, the High Priestess shows a disconnection from your inner voice. You may be so busy, anxious or caught up in other people's views that you can't hear yourself think. It can also point to secrets, gossip or something being kept from you.
The remedy is quiet. Turn off the noise, spend time alone, journal, meditate or sit by the moonlight. Your intuition hasn't gone anywhere; it's just waiting for you to listen.
Not every reader uses reversals. If you don't, read the upright meaning and let the cards around it show whether the energy is flowing or blocked.
The High Priestess in love
Upright: A deep, intuitive connection, unspoken attraction or a relationship with a spiritual quality. Something may be developing quietly beneath the surface.
Reversed: Secrets, mixed feelings or emotional distance. Listen to what your intuition is telling you, even if it's uncomfortable.
The High Priestess in career and money
Upright: Trust your instincts at work. Research, study, counseling, healing or spiritual work are favored. Keep plans private until they're ready.
Reversed: Office secrets, missing information or ignoring a gut feeling about a job or deal. Ask more questions before deciding.
The High Priestess as feelings
As feelings, the High Priestess shows someone who feels a deep, almost mysterious pull toward you but keeps it to themselves. They may be reserved, thoughtful or unsure how to express it. Reversed, they may be hiding their true feelings.
Is The High Priestess a yes or no card?
Maybe. The High Priestess is usually "not yet" or "the answer is hidden": wait for more information and trust your intuition. Reversed, it leans toward no, or toward something being kept from you.
The High Priestess correspondences
Use these when you work with the card in spells, on your altar or in meditation. The element and planet follow the classic attributions used by most tarot readers; the crystals, herbs and colors are common modern pairings. Tap any of them to read more in The Witch's Cabinet.
| Element | Water |
|---|---|
| Planet | The Moon |
| Crystals | Moonstone Labradorite Selenite |
| Herbs and incense | Mugwort Jasmine |
| Candle colors | Silver Candle Blue Candle |
A High Priestess Moon Ritual for Intuition
Best on a full moon or the night before, when the moon is bright.
You will need:
- A silver, white or blue candle
- A bowl of water
- A moonstone or any clear stone
- A notebook beside your bed
Steps:
- Set the bowl of water where it can catch the moonlight, or beside a window.
- Light the candle and drop the moonstone into the water.
- Gaze into the water for a few minutes and say: Lady of the veil, keeper of the moon, open my inner eyes. Show me what I need to know.
- Ask one question, then sit quietly and notice any images, words or feelings.
- Snuff the candle. Put the stone under your pillow and write down your dreams in the morning.
Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep flames away from curtains, dried herbs and pets.
The High Priestess FAQs
What does the High Priestess mean in tarot?
The High Priestess means intuition, mystery and inner knowing. She asks you to trust your gut, pay attention to dreams and accept that some answers aren't ready to be revealed yet.
Is the High Priestess a yes or no?
The High Priestess is usually a maybe or "not yet": the answer is still hidden. Reversed, she leans toward no or suggests that something is being kept from you.
What does the High Priestess mean in love?
In love, she points to a deep, intuitive and sometimes unspoken connection. Reversed, she can mean secrets, mixed feelings or emotional distance.
What do the B and J pillars mean?
They stand for Boaz and Jachin, the two pillars of Solomon's temple. On the card they represent opposites in balance, such as dark and light or the hidden and the known.
Keep learning the tarot
See every card on our tarot card meanings page, or read all 22 trumps side by side in the Major Arcana explained. New to reading? Start with our guide to cleansing a tarot deck and divination for beginners. When you're ready to read with confidence, our Tarot course teaches every card, spread and reading technique step by step.
Cards that pair well with The High Priestess: The Magician, The Empress.