Large and In Charge ~ The Hierophant
By Claire Coleman, Art by Robin Ator

The Hierophant represents learning. In the Fools journey through the Major Arcana, this can be seen as the time the Fool starts school. The Hierophant can represent a teacher or religious leader. It is about learning something from a wiser person. The Hierophant is here to remind you that other people can teach you things if you will listen. Another meaning of the Hierophant is someone who has access to secret knowledge.

In school, or anywhere we learn, we have a choice whether to apply ourselves and gain knowledge or to ignore lessons. We also can choose whether to join in or set ourselves apart from others.

The Hierophant is also symbolic of joining groups or being part of a culture. We are all part of so many different groups, our family, our friends, our town or city, our country, our race, our sex and our religion. Some groups we may not particularly want to be a member of. Some we are very happy to join. Some we need to study before we see their value.

The final meaning, for me, is that this card is also about power. Your teacher has power, as has your religious leader. At the moment you are there to listen to them but one day you will be in their position. Let’s hope everyone with power over other people uses that power with love. Let’s also hope you do that when you have power over others. Being kind is usually the strongest thing we can do.

My interpretation of this card is that you always have a choice. You may be forced to go to school, for example, but only you can decide to listen. The more you learn the wiser the choices you make. The message of this card is listen, learn and be kind.