The High Priestess Tarot Card: Meaning, Symbolism, and Message
The High Priestess is card two of the tarot, the symbol of intuition and inner knowing. Explore its upright and reversed meanings, symbolism, and message.
After the bold action of The Magician comes a hush. The High Priestess, card two of the Major Arcana, is the quiet counterpart to all that outward power, a card of stillness, intuition, and the knowledge that lives below the surface of the mind.
The image and its symbolism
In the Rider-Waite-Smith image, the High Priestess sits between two pillars, one dark and one light, marked B and J for Boaz and Jachin, the pillars of an ancient temple. Behind her hangs a veil patterned with pomegranates. A crescent moon rests at her feet, a crown of the moon’s phases sits on her head, and a scroll marked TORA lies half-hidden in her lap.
The symbols all point inward. The two pillars are duality, the meeting of opposites. The veil is the threshold between the seen and the unseen, and the partly hidden scroll is knowledge that cannot be fully spoken, only sensed. The moon throughout is intuition, cycles, and the subconscious.
Upright meaning
Upright, the High Priestess speaks of:
- Intuition and inner knowing
- Mystery and what is not yet revealed
- Stillness, reflection, and the value of waiting
- The subconscious, dreams, and quiet wisdom
When she appears, she often asks you to stop pushing for answers and instead listen. The guidance you need may already be present, just beneath the noise.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, the High Priestess can point to intuition ignored, that nagging feeling you talked yourself out of. She may also signal secrets, information withheld, or a sense of being cut off from your inner voice. The invitation is to get quiet again and trust what you sense.
A famous admirer
The High Priestess’s air of mystery resonates strongly in music. Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, who has spoken openly about tarot, weaves this kind of moonlit, intuitive imagery throughout her songs, and Stevie Nicks built a whole stage persona around the same archetype of the veiled, knowing woman. The card has become a touchstone for artists drawn to the mystical.
A closing thought
The High Priestess does not hand you answers; she points you back to your own depths. When she appears, the work is to slow down and listen. For the wider story of the cards, see our beginner’s guide to tarot, or keep intuitive, symbolic art near you with our collection.
Frequently asked questions
What does The High Priestess card mean?
The High Priestess represents intuition, inner wisdom, and the mysteries that lie below the surface. She invites you to trust your inner voice and pay attention to what you sense rather than only what you see.
Is The High Priestess a good card?
Yes, she is a wise and protective presence. She often appears when you are being asked to slow down, listen inward, and trust knowledge that has not yet become words.
What does The High Priestess mean reversed?
Reversed, she can suggest ignored intuition, secrets, or a disconnection from your inner voice. It may be a sign you are overthinking or tuning out what you quietly already know.