What Does The High Priestess Mean in Tarot Reading?
In tarot, The High Priestess means trusting intuition, waiting on knowledge not yet revealed. Reversed: a suppressed inner voice, feeling disconnected.
The High Priestess sits between two pillars, a half-drawn curtain behind her — she represents the threshold between what's known and what's not yet. The half-visible scroll in her hands stands for knowledge not fully read.
This card is about waiting more than acting; the traditional reading counsels against rushing, trusting intuition instead of forcing something before its time.
Did the the high priestess come up upright or reversed?
- Upright
- Carries trust in intuition and patiently waiting on knowledge that hasn't come to light yet.
- Reversed
- Points to a suppressed inner voice, or a disconnection from yourself or your feelings.
If another symbol sits beside it
- The Moon
- The High Priestess with The Moon: something still unclear stirring deep in the subconscious.
- The Hermit
- The High Priestess with The Hermit: a period of strengthened inward reflection and intuitive searching.
Frequently asked questions
Does The High Priestess mean keeping a secret?
Not directly — the card is about knowledge that hasn't matured or become ready to surface yet, not deliberate concealment.
When does The High Priestess tend to show up?
Usually in questions where patience is called for rather than a clear answer, on something that will reveal itself over time.