The Pope card in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Marseille tarot and in the Rider Waite tarot represents a Major Arcana of a static nature with a meaning that is as broad as it is precise. Its meaning varies depending on its position, which is why it may be speaking to us as much about religion, tradition and group identification as it may be referring to restriction, defiance of norms, and withheld temptations.
The Pope, number five, in masculine is the sum of the cards of the Magician and the Emperor, the first and the fourth card. The feminine is the sum of the Empress and the Pope, the second and the third. Five is also a sacred number in Wicca doctrine, and is the representation of the Pentacle, the five-pointed star, which is nothing more than a man with his arms outstretched and his legs apart.
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Having said all this, the figure of the Pope indicates the concrete way in which everything manages to manifest itself in the world. This comment, extended and extended to the graphic representation of the Pope and the symbols found there, is the prelude to understanding the general characteristics of the letter.
The Pope carries out his mission through teaching, study, meditation, religious tradition to the point of bringing the earthly and divine worlds closer together. The zodiacal sign he refers to is that of the bull, and the basic element is the earth. Both of these two elements, Taurus and Earth, are concreteness and reality. In many tarots this card is the masculine counterpart of the Pope, which we have already talked about.
Meaning of The Pope or Hierophant in the Tarot Marsella Jodorowsky and Rider Waite
The Hierophant is a card with a broad meaning that focuses primarily on «doing the right thing.» While it is true that “what is right” depends largely on our own moral, social and cultural values, it is also true that there is a universal way of what is right, and this card tells us that this is the path we must follow, even if we think that the answer we seek lies within us and we already know it.
It is a card that stands out for its emphasis on spiritual values, which guides us to follow established norms and not to challenge the rules, indicating that, for now, it may be good to seek group support and seek ritualization in the things that we make. Rituals are something to hold on to right now, whatever that means to you.
In a general sense, this card indicates a favorable or positive outcome, but it also indicates that you will need great willpower and determination to achieve it. If, on the contrary, a negative result is shown, then this will be final.
The Pope can come to represent you or someone else within a spread. Indistinctly, it represents a person with high and lofty values, with wisdom and great balance along with an intellect that has been cultivated. This is a person who is perfectly capable of teaching and advising with his ideas, even if they are not always moral, but always have deep intellectual support.
The Pope or Hierophant to the right
First of all, the teaching of spiritual laws, the education received, the tradition. The latter can also be interpreted as conformism, in everyday life, due to the formal education received. The departure of the Pope during an online tarot reading can represent a period in which the interested party becomes involved in everything that constitutes a traditional way of life.
This can be useful to understand, especially in a crisis, that you should not act hastily, on the contrary, you should involve the group of people with whom you have the most dialogue and trust, who can give you a concrete hand in the matter. understanding of the way forward. get out of this crisis.
Being the card of traditional values and institutions, the Hierophant is about doing the right thing as perceived by your inner being. The Hierophant is closely linked to spirituality, the innate wisdom that we all possess and, by spin, our connection to the universe or a higher power.
The religious aspect that the Hierophant signifies is widely defined, ranging from Islam to Judaism and Christianity to the worship of extraterrestrial beings. As such, your idea of »the right thing» might be markedly different from what others believe it to be. However, when confronted, you must be firm and stand up for your beliefs.
When the Hierophant appears in a spread, it should be taken as a warning that this is not the time to break with tradition, but rather stick with the tried and true that has served you so well to date. Conformity is the name of the game right now, as is the ritual of honor. For example, if you usually go to church every Sunday morning, now is not the time to stop or start altering your routine. The more conservative the ritual, the more crucial it is that you don’t stray from the pack, especially if it involves adhering to broader social norms.
The Pope or Hierophant in Health
The Hierophant tells us that your health is fine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat a little better and start exercising regularly again. The ritual is useful at this time, so if you eat a healthy breakfast every morning at 8am sharp, don’t wait until 8:30am on some days or skip it altogether. If you always take the stairs instead of the escalator when given the chance, don’t suddenly decide not to now.
Finally, if you start to feel sick, whether it’s a simple cold or something a little more serious, stick to conventional medicine. This is not the right time to start experimenting with alternative therapies, regardless of how safe or efficient they are.
The Pope or Hierophant in Love
If you are looking for a traditional relationship defined by the society you live in, finding this card in a love reading is a positive sign. In this context, the Hierophant means only good things.
If you’re single, someone you’ve been attracted to for a long time but has always been out of your league may have developed an interest in you. If you already have a good relationship, you can expect it to improve as time goes on.
The Pope or Hierophant in Money
The Hierophant warns the querent not to make questionable purchases or put money into risky investments at this time. We must try to be as conservative as possible financially. Follow all the conventional wisdom when it comes to money: don’t spend more than you earn, set something aside each month for a rainy day, don’t let your credit card balance get too high, and be smart and cautious with the resources you spend. you have.
The Pope or Hierophant at Work
In the workplace, this card indicates that you are about to enter a new phase of your career, whether it be the culmination of your current job, a promotion, or a possible transfer to a new geographic location. You will work with new people, and one of them will emerge as a kind of mentor, something that you have needed for a long time but that you may not have realized.
No matter what job you are currently doing or will soon be involved in, don’t rock the boat at work, try to stay organized, efficient and follow all the rules as they have been laid out for you.
The Pope or Hierophant in reverse
The Pope in an inverted position indicates rebellion, nonconformity, living according to one’s own rules and not those of the group. Social pressure imposed from the outside is no longer tolerated, which he would like the consultant to adapt to. However, depending on the cards that come to mind, it could mean that the direction you are following is not entirely correct.
Conversely, the Hierophant could indicate that you have been ignoring your spirituality to the point where it is negatively affecting you. You may also feel that you are somewhat alone in the world, that others just don’t understand you and are questioning your course of action because of it.
This is annoying, but you need to recognize that people just don’t agree with each other and it’s not a reflection of how they feel about their identity personally. If you’ve made a decision that matters to you, stick with it and don’t worry about what other people think. You haven’t lost control of your life, but you must stay vigilant or else people will begin to reduce your autonomy.
The Pope or Hierophant in Health
If the querent has been dealing with long-standing health challenges, it might be a good time to think about trying a different approach to dealing with them. If you’ve ever wondered about traditional Chinese medicine or other alternative therapies, now is a good time to investigate them on a practical level.
Any minor changes you make to your health regimen now could lead to some major improvements in your condition. Don’t abandon your current treatments entirely, but massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and any other alternative therapeutic approaches should be worth your consideration.
The Pope or Hierophant in Love
When the Hierophant reversed appears in a reading related to love and the emotional field of the person, then it suggests that you are starting to get bored and crave stimulation. This desire for stimulation can make you look elsewhere, with all that this entails. You must address this need and consider your circumstances and the options available to you.
While the querent relationship may be a little calm at the moment, there is still love there, so you’ll want to tread carefully so you don’t do something that will cause irreparable damage and effectively end it when that might not be what you really want.
The Pope or Hierophant in Money
As with the vertical interpretation of this card, the Reversed Hierophant in a money reading advises the querent to be conservative with their spending at this time. This does not mean that you should necessarily stay away from investing; in fact, it might actually be a great time to do it, but stick to the blue chip, stable, conservative variety or you risk a bit of regret. road.
The Pope or Hierophant at Work
If the querent focuses on the work environment, then the Hierophant could be telling him that he needs to adjust to the new reality of his work situation.
You may have a new boss who is unreasonably demanding, possesses a singularly unpleasant disposition, and is unwilling or unable to accept a compromise, regardless of whether it is for the good of the project or issue at hand. As much as you want to resist this individual’s demands, save it for another day, as it’s all about conformity now. Straying into rebel territory will only work against you.
The Pope or Hierophant: Combinations | special editions
Just as it happens with all the other cards that make up the Tarot cards, it is important that The Hierophant is evaluated in its meanings together with the cards with which it appears. This is why it is extremely important to know how to distinguish what its different combinations are telling us.