2 – Revelation
Keywords: Occult, Secret, Subtle, Mysterious
The High Priestess sits in front of a floral tapestry that hides a wide vista of open water. She holds a half-concealed scroll under her flowing robe; this scroll is the Torah and it represents knowledge via revelation. A crescent moon lies at her feet, representing waxing knowledge. Next to the High Priestess are two pillars of opposite color: a black pillar with the letter B, and a white pillar with the letter J. This refers to the pillars Boaz and Jachin that framed the original Temple of Solomon, considered to be the holiest of holy places in ancient Jerusalem.
The symbolism in this card suggests that there is more to life than meets the eye. The highest and holiest knowledge is hidden from plain sight. The other major point of this card is that all knowledge is gained through a progressive revelation, a period of learning.
In a tarot spread the High Priestess represents experiences in your life that make you feel like you are learning or gaining knowledge. However, the High Priestess can also represent a period of time where one feels confused and has fantasies of being knowledgeable about a given subject or person.
6 Comments
So then the Boaz and Jachin pillars must be very important in Masonic iconography as well. Dating back to master mason Hiram Abiff.
In fact I just did a little research and it is so:
Andrew, would you say it is safe to assume that the Tarot has masonic ties?
Arthur Edward Waite is the creator of the Tarot deck most commonly used today (the one I use in these posts). He was a prominent member of the Masons, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (of Aleister Crowley fame), and the Societas Rosicruciana, which was a group for master masons.
To say the Tarot has masonic ties is an understatement.
And in other, far more immature news, B + J = Awesome.
Wow, Tailand. Thanks JB, that’s really something.
Sadly, this reference is lost on me.
Keeks? Help him out.