The Hierophant

The Hierophant is the masculine counterpart to the High Priestess. He is also known as the  Pope or the Teacher in other Tarot decks and is ruled by Taurus. The Hierophant is a religious figure sitting between two pillars of a sacred temple – though  this temple differs from the one in which the High Priestess sits. He wears three robes – red,  blue and white – and a three-tiered crown, both representing the three worlds over which  he rules (the conscious, sub-conscious and super-conscious). In his left hand, he holds the  Papal Cross, a triple sceptre that signifies his religious status. He raises his right hand in a  religious blessing, with two fingers pointing towards Heaven and two towards Earth. Before him kneel two followers. The Hierophant’s task is to pass down his spiritual wisdom  and initiate the two into the church so they can take up their appointed roles. This imagery  speaks to a shared group identity and a rite of passage to enter the next level. The crossed  keys at the Hierophant’s feet represent the balance between the conscious and subconscious  minds and the unlocking of mysteries, which only he can teach.