This is my initial interpretation of The Emperor Tarot card.

Tarot Deck: Universal Waite Tarot

The High Priestess is gazing at us straight ahead in this card and her eyes have a piercing blank stare. She wants us to understand what she is thinking, but there are many secrets that have not been revealed. She is holding a scroll of a sacred document with the word “TORA” on it. The scroll is rolled up so that we cannot read the contents. But, since we can see the document, this leads us to think that if we can gain the understanding to discover the meaning of its contents, we can the unlock potential to be open to and understand new ideas or goals. This symbolizes the action of discovering how to find a solution or reach a goal.

I am inclined to believe that the scroll is the TORAH–the Hebrew Bible–with the “H” hidden intentionally, since the card conveys how thoughts can be hidden in the unconscious mind, and how one’s potential can be discovered if they can tap into these thoughts by being spiritually enlightened or by someone who can show them the way. However, I also read about the Wheel of Tarot / Wheel of Fortune (X) online, but I haven’t worked with that card yet.

The High Priestess is positioned between two columns/pillars. Each pillar has a carving of white lotuses on the top . One pillar is black and one is white, both representative of the concept of duality: positive and negative, masculine and feminine, good and evil. The black pillar has a “B” on it and the  white pillar has a “J” on it. These are spiritual/esoteric symbols.

There is a crescent moon, which symbolizes new beginnings and hope, which lays by her feet and is intertwined with her white gowns and blue robe. White symbolizes purity and blue symbolizes thought and intellect. I view this imagery as new beginnings for one’s thoughts using a clean slate, untainted and pure–in other words, true feelings–the ones buried in the unconscious mind. She wears a white veil that has a circular structure on it, perhaps symbolizing a crystal ball. The location of this crystal ball is on a veil, a metaphor for the unconscious mind. The crystal ball appears blank, and shows no visions of the future, which represents events that are unknown to us at the present time. A cross is also embroidered on her white gown, a symbol of  the heavens. There is an ethereal quality that emanates from her presence.

A Pomegranate tapestry is suspended between both pillars behind The High Priestess, the seeds symbolic of birth, new beginnings and fertility. Pomegranate seeds are also representative of the underworld, symbolic of death. Essentially, the lush seeds represent the cycles of life.

The wall of Pomegranates is blocking a large body of water that can only be seen from two slim slits between the black pillar and the white pillar on both sides of The Priestess. The pomegranate seeds symbolizing new new beginnings, and water representing the thought process, is yet another metaphor for new ideas being blocked by unconscious thoughts.

Possible Meanings in a Tarot Reading:

In a reading, The High Priestess Tarot card represents unconscious thoughts and tapping into the power of discovering the true meaning or potential of something that may not be obvious at first. She is the gatekeeper to knowledge in this card, and she represents any person who would be in this same role. There is much that is unknown to the naked eye, or mind, in this card. If one opens up the gates–and causes a flood–there is endless potential.

Symbolism:

• Sacred document with the word “TORA”
• Two pillars
• Crescent Moon
• White gown with a blue robe
• White veil with crystal ball
• Cross embroidered on the white gown
• Pomegranate seeds wall
• Water

Image: Universal Waite Tarot © US Games Systems, Inc.

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