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When The High Priestess lands in a reading, readers lean in.
The High Priestess upright
Intuition, inner wisdom, mystery, the subconscious, stillness.
The High Priestess reversed
Ignored intuition, secrets, disconnection from self, hidden agendas, surface knowledge.
Keywords: intuition, inner wisdom, mystery, the subconscious, stillness
The classic reading (Waite, 1911)
- Upright: Secrets, mystery, the future as yet unrevealed; the woman who interests the Querent, if male; the Querent herself, if female; silence, tenacity; mystery, wisdom, science.
- Reversed: Passion, moral or physical ardour, conceit, surface knowledge.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is the oldest layer of the card — modern readers soften and expand these meanings.
Golden Dawn correspondences
- title The Priestess of the Silver Star
- Planet Moon
- planet Moon
Fortune telling with The High Priestess
- A mysterious woman arrives
- A sexual secret may surface
- Someone knows more than he or she will reveal
The light and the shadow
In its light, The High Priestess: Listening to your feelings and intuitions Exploring unconventional spirituality Keeping secrets Being receptive Reflecting instead of acting Observing others Preserving purity
The reversed trap of The High Priestess: Being aloof Obsessing on secrets and conspiracies Rejecting guidance from spirit or intuition Revealing all Ignoring gut feelings Refusing to become involved, even when involvement is appropriate
- Archetype: The Virgin/The Maiden
Questions to ask The High Priestess
- What might a rebel against tradition do?
- What isn't being said or revealed?
- What could be achieved by observing and reflecting?
The extended portrait, upright
The High Priestess card in the upright position represents intuition and mystery. It suggests the power of secrets and the feminine aspect of the psyche. This card can indicate a heightened sense of psychic ability and a connection to the unconscious mind. It may also suggest the importance of silence and stillness in order to tap into your inner wisdom. The High Priestess card can be a reminder to trust your intuition and to listen to the whispers of your soul.
The extended portrait, reversed
When the High Priestess card appears in the reversed position, it can indicate a lack of intuition and a feeling of ignorance. It may also suggest dishonesty and manipulation, particularly in matters of secrets and hidden knowledge. This card can indicate that secrets will be revealed and that the truth will be exposed. It may be a reminder to listen to your inner voice and to avoid deceptive behavior.
Card details
- Arcana: Major Arcana
- Yes or no: maybe — timing matters
- Published: June 15, 2026
Read The High Priestess in context
- The High Priestess — love meaning
- The High Priestess — career meaning
- The High Priestess — money meaning
- The High Priestess — yes-or-no verdict
- The High Priestess reversed, in full
The High Priestess in combinations
- The High Priestess and The Star
- The High Priestess and Four of Swords
- The High Priestess and King of Wands
- The High Priestess and Three of Cups