This is a card of…

Stillness

Meditation

Gestation

Silence

Reverence

“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet and still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice. It will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”

-Franz Kafka

Key 1 is associated with the moment of conception, the magic spark of life. Key 2 brings us to the period of gestation. The High Priestess inhabits a sacred protected space. Her presence makes the space sacred. We are channeling her energy whenever we engage in ritual with true reverence and respect for its necessity. In her lap she holds a book or scroll, clearly visible. Behind her a veil is drawn, blocking our view. Her stillness and wisdom create a border between the known and the unknowable.

Maybe it is more accurate to call the unknowable that which cannot be known yet. We cannot simply tear the veil away. The High Priestess is here to help us feel our way to the other side. All practices that bring us to a point of contained inner stillness in pursuit of wisdom- meditation, spiritual seeking, religious retreats, vows of silence etc.- are her domain. On our best days we are inhabiting her when we draw our cards.

Silence and stillness are important keywords for this card. The magician is seeking an outer manifestation of his will. The High Priestess clears her mind and environment of distraction so wisdom can come to her. She knows the spirit of wisdom (the Inner Guide, the Universe, God, whatever we choose to call it) has good manners. It will not shout over all the chatter in our head. When there is quiet, it will speak.

This advice to make less noise, to be receptive, can also be applied to social situations. Try the exercise of letting others speak without thinking of how to respond. Focus on listening and receiving their words.

Symbols of the moon and the womb often appear on this card. What happens in the womb is mysterious and miraculous but must remain protected and hidden to grow safely. As the moon waxes, it appears to grow, but what really happens is that she reveals a little more each evening of what was there all along. The processes of the High Priestess cannot be rushed or forced. Her wisdom is not something conquered, but received.

In personal relationships this card is often a prompt to consider that even people who seem “an open book” have hidden depths and complications, as do we all. Certain aspects of our lives and psyches belong behind a veil, to be shared only with a select few. This lady wants you to respect the border between your public and intimate self.

Advice:

Sit still

Clear your mind

Be patient

The answer will come

Warning:

Don’t say something just to have something to say.

Anxious thoughts are only thoughts, not facts

Keep your own counsel