Among the 22 Major Arcana of the tarot, The Priestess is the second card and carries a very spiritual content. It transits between light and darkness, is related to the feminine figure and the energy of the Moon, and its element is water.

If you are looking for certainty, be careful not to be disappointed by the reading of this card. Instead of "yes" or "no", its essence refers to "maybe". The Priestess does not encourage movement; on the contrary, her order is to be quiet.

This letter is also known as Persephone , Inner Voice , Isis , The Maiden , Papisa But its essential meaning is always the same, as we will see further on.

We invite you to continue reading and dive into the aura of mystery of this very important card in tarot.

Meaning of the elements of the card

The image of the Priestess varies in detail among the different decks that exist, so here we take as a basis of analysis one of the most traditional, the Rider Waite Tarot. The choice is due to the fact that this deck contains the most important elements for the general meaning of the card. Check it out!

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• Crown and cloak The blue mantle and the crown of Isis refer to divine knowledge.
• "B" and "J" : the letters, which appear in the columns next to the Priestess, represent Boaz and Jachin, respectively, which are the pillars of strength and establishment.
• Black and white : the colors represent duality, negative and positive, good and bad, light and dark.
• Tapestry with pomegranates The positioning of the tapestry indicates mystery, that which is hidden.
• Scroll The word "Tora" appears on it, a reference to the sacred book of the Jewish religion.
• Cross located on his chest, represents the balance between mind, body, spirit, and heart.
• Crescent Moon : positioned below the Priestess' foot, it represents the unconscious and the mastery over intuition.

Similarities and differences of the Priestess in different decks

Besides the Rider Waite deck, created in 1910 by William Rider, there are other versions, in which some details change. In all of them, the Priestess wears a crown and long clothes, is seated on a throne and carries in her hand something that symbolizes mystery or knowledge.But each deck has its own peculiarities.

Mythological Tarot

Created in the mid 1980's by Liz Greene and Juliette Sharman-Burke (astrologer and tarologist, respectively), it features the Priestess represented by Persephone. Her dress is white and she is standing. Instead of a throne, there is an imposing staircase behind her. In her hand Persephone holds a pomegranate. In the two columns, the letters "B" and "J" do not appear.

Marseilles Tarot

In this popular deck, the card is called The Papess (La Papesse). The female figure carries an open book on her lap, instead of a papyrus. Her face has the appearance of an older woman, unlike other versions. The cloak worn is red, and both her feet and the top of her crown are cut off in the image.

Egyptian Tarot

This version also features The Priestess (here represented by Isis) with an open book on her lap. Her chest is bare and her hand holds a cross, symbol of life. The image shows Isis sitting on a throne, inside a temple. The duality of colors no longer appears in black and white, but rather, in colorful tones.

The Wild Wood Tarot

Here is another change in the Priestess' nomenclature, called The Seer. The image shows a woman trying to communicate with spirits - animals or ancestors - through water, as a clear representation of a shamanic priestess. She is even in the middle of nature.

Alchemical Tarot

In this tarot by Robert Place, the card is called The High Priestess and is a female figure inside a boat in the shape of a Crescent Moon. Her crown is also in this shape, while in the background a Full Moon lights up the sky. In her hand there is a book, but it is closed.

How does the Priestess help you connect with your intuition?

While other cards explore movement, The Priestess encourages us to stop and reflect. She reveals that not all facts are known to us, that there may be something hidden. To explore what is hidden, we must use our intuition.

With such an aura of mystery, this card does not recommend action, but rather to pause to think deeply and bring knowledge to the surface, including spiritual knowledge. After all, as already said, The Priestess is an extremely spiritual arcane, referring to the higher wisdom that is hidden and can only be revealed to those who know how to listen and explore their inner voice.

Its meaning is a true alert to the possible nuances of a situation. We are called to pay attention to the details around us, to discover what, in fact, hides behind appearances.

The partially veiled scroll that the Priestess holds is an indication that even though there are hidden facts, they can be revealed through the search for the wisdom that each of us carries within.

The energy of the Priestess and inner balance

In this arcane, the energy that appears is the feminine, but this does not mean that it is directed only to women. Everyone, men and women, have feminine and masculine energy within themselves, in some measure. Even, the ideal is to look for the balance between both, which are equally important.

The feminine energy refers to motherhood in the sense of welcoming. She is more turned inward, to the search for wisdom. Thus, the Priestess puts her energy into what really matters, through a thorough analysis of situations. Therefore, she is not given to superficiality.

Priestess in Astrology

The Priestess is related to the Moon and the sign of Cancer, ruled by this star. The meaning of this takes shape when we think about what the Moon represents: intuition, emotion, sensitivity (as well as the sign it rules).

The energy of this star, which is feminine, acts on the unconscious and subjectivity, revealing what is most instinctive in a person.

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With all the outline of this card, we see the utmost importance it has among the Major Arcana. Its symbolism refers to an essential part of life, the sensitive, which needs to be in balance within the whole. Therefore, if this card appears to you in any tarot reading, pay attention to the details and search for the wisdom that exists within you.