Meet the Cards: The High Priestess

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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