Melissa Cynova Thanks, BP for your suggested for today’s blog. I’d been wanting to talk about the High Priestess, but couldn’t figure out how to fit it in. And here we go.
I wrote about her here, but she’s such an interesting card, I thought I’d give it another go.
One of the things I like about the tarot is that there are a billion decks to choose from. Some cards in the Rider Waite deck bring it on home to me, and some make me want to claw my face off out of frustration. I can’t make any sense of the Osho Zen deck, but my friend, Mark, swears by it. You get to try on new decks like clothes and change them according to your needs.
I chose a few of my favorites to contrast and compare the High Priestess. She is the keeper of secrets. She decides who sees behind the veil. She’s a deeply mysterious card, and represents calm, patience and hard work.
This is the Prairie Tarot by Robin Ator (who is a super nice guy, too). I love how the lenses of her glasses are opaque like the crystal ball. Only she can see through them. She’s also guardian to the space behind her. In the Rider deck, there is a vast ocean behind her.
I found this image at www.taslimur.com It’s just beautiful, and I don’t think it’s a real deck yet, but maybe someday. We see the traditional pomegranites, crescent moon, Tora(t) scroll and the crown of Hathor. And the Tree of Life behind her, with the dark and light pillars. What Stands out for me is the expression on her face. Inscrutable. God, I love this.
Tarot of the Trees. Pomegranates, the dark and light on either side and the crescent moon. Beautifully done. And rather inspired by the female form, I think.
You guys know I have a crush on the Shadowscapes deck by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. Just gorgeous. The light and dark are balanced with the feathers in her dress, the owl, the amorites in the wood. Spirals and signs and beauty.
Let me know what your favorite HP card looks like.
xoLFT