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brainstorming, Cancer, character development, Christopher Vogler, Corrine Kenner, elements, Joanna Powell Colbert, Major Arcana, Meet the Cards, Pisces, plotting, Raelyn Barclay, recommended reads, Scorpio, tarot, Tarot for Writers, The High Priestess, The Writer's Journey, Water, writers, writing
Or in this case just THE PRIESTESS is number two in the Major Arcana, standing for feminine duality. “Guard the mysteries! Constantly reveal them!”
- Symbolism: Intuition.
- Element: Water (see Tarot Elements)
What I See:
This is a peaceful card with its blues and greens. I sense the circle of life. It looks like the Priestess is sitting in a world within a world. — This is where my inner nerd comes out, LOL, this card reminds me of a Star Trek episode where Picard is trapped in a room, with a gate flashing different locations, on a planet about to explode. (I’m pretty sure Kirk found himself in a similar situation.) — I envision a woman meeting an earlier version of herself where the wiser woman warns her younger self of pitfalls ahead. I have an overall feeling, “it’s important to listen to dreams as long as one doesn’t get caught up in them.”
Light (upright) Reading:
Pay attention to dreams, as they may carry messages, and let intuition flow.
- Keywords: Intuition, Inner Wisdom, Esoteric Knowledge, and Insight.
Shadow (upside down or reverse) Reading:
Perhaps it is time to emerge from seclusion, reveal secrets, and be active in the world.
- Keywords: Secretive, Deceptive, Irrational, and Promiscuity.
Plots:
How about a time-travel story? Perhaps include a dream or vision into your plot.
The number two, its yin and yang, is perhaps telling you to explore concepts that come in pairs: male and female, heaven and earth, night and day, or good and evil. Two as the Roman numeral resembles a doorway — a gateway — perhaps a passage between worlds.
- Themes: Dreams, Secrets, Emotions, Spiritual Purpose, Privacy, Memory, Women’s Mysteries, or Solitude.
Characters:
The Priestess balances youth and wisdom while holding fast to the autonomy of both.
- Archetype: Anima (the unconscious female element of the male) — Vogler refers to this as the Shapeshifter, Virgin, Priestess, Witch, or Wise-Woman.
An archetype found frequently in dreams, myths, and stories is the Mentor [Wise-Woman], usually a positive figure who aids or trains the hero. ~The Writers Journey
by Christopher Vogler
- Mythical Figures: Artemis, Hecate, Persephone, Sophia, and Isis Veiled.
The nine-point personality enneagram can also be useful for character building.
The High Priestess is E2: Helper and/or Giver
- Self Image — I help
- Passion — Pride
- Virtue — Freedom
- Narcissistic Trap — Service
- Avoids — Needs
- Speaking Style — Flattering or Advising
E2 people are relationship oriented. They are concerned with what others think of them, image and prestige. They see themselves as being for others and often believe they know what’s best. They dislike being alone and may feel sad or inadequate.
Additionally, look up one of the Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) for personality traits.
On a practical level, you can also identify with the High Priestess as a writer herself; she records her wisdom and observations in her secret book of life, and she guards and measures her words carefully. ~Tarot for Writers
by Corrine Kenner
Image: Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert from Llewellyn Worldwide
I like this card, I feel like she is going to give me advice.
Exactly! This card alone makes me want to explore what advice I’d give a past me 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Erin!
The more I read of your tarot descriptions, analysis and thoughts, the more I wonder if it is possible to do a tarot reading via e-mail 🙂
According to the junk filter of my email account there are quite a few tarot readers who do, LOL. The thing with reading tarot, at least for me, is that my impressions change. Maybe because my “questions” are different or maybe because each time I look at a card something different stands out to me. Either way, I love the exploration.
Thanks for stopping by Angela!
I love the duality of this image with her face revealing both age and youth. I immediately thought of a character who, depending upon the person seeking her advice, either presents herself as young or old. Question? Is that a salmon or a trout in the lower right hand corner? Just curious. I’m tuning into the symbolism of the owl, the moon and the pomegranate, but since I’m not that familiar with fishes, was wondering what type of fish that is. I’m liking this deck more and more and, no surprise, it’s winging its way towards me through the mail. 🙂
Yay for the mail service 🙂
The book says salmon. “Wisdom, knowledge, second sight, poetic inspiration (Celtic). Spiritual nourishment, determination, renewal (Pacific NW Native American).
I love your vision of a character presenting herself differently depending on the seeker. There really is a complete story within the one card.
Thanks for stopping by Jenna!
Love the duality of this–age and youth, wisdom and novice. I think the writer has to have a little of each quality of the Priestess for balance. Such a lovely series.
I agree Julie. The duality of this card is fascinating.
Thanks for stopping by!
“I envision a woman meeting an earlier version of herself where the wiser woman warns her younger self of pitfalls ahead.”
Boy, wouldn’t that be an amazing gift. What kind of trouble I could have avoided. 🙂
LOL, yep. Not to mention setting us paths we wished we started earlier…or is that just me?
Thanks for stopping by Ciara!
I’m back with even more questions. LOL.
I like the duality in this card and I get a sense of the nurturer or mother figure. But is she passive in anyway? Yin is traditionally passive and yielding and I was curious as to whether the High Priestess had these traits too.
I’ll shut up now. 🙂
I think she’s both Maria. She picks her fights 😉 She’s passive but takes action when she needs to. Neither the book that came with the cards or Tarot for Writers specifies a passive trait. However as a mother I know I’m passive in some areas but active in others…kids tend to do that to a person, LOL.
Thanks for stopping by Maria!
Thanks, Raelyn. When I saw the reference to Celtic in the book’s explanation regarding the Salmon, of course I had to go digging around. 🙂 I found this on a website.
Salmon (Bradan): A very wise, magickal creature in Celtic lore. A salmon of great knowledge is said to swim in the Well of Segais, eating the mystical hazelnuts that fall into the well. This salmon is said to be as old as time itself and knows everything past and future. When the Irish hero Finn mac Cumhail burned his thumb on a salmon and then put the thumb in his mouth, he gained shamanic knowledge. The salmon teaches you how to get in touch with ancestral knowledge and put it to practical use. (which definitely fits with the Priestess): http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Celtic/animalallies.html
Love this. I have a soft spot for the Celtic lore 🙂 Thanks for digging around and coming back to share your findings!
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