Tarot: The Hierophant

Traditional Meanings

Keywords: knowledge, learning, study, tradition, ceremony, formal instruction, culture

This card can represent secret knowledge, or someone who can interpret secret knowledge, or often someone who will teach you secret knowledge.  Remember, there was a time that all mathematics and geometry taught now to children was once secret knowledge.  It stands for institutional or organized learning.  This can include schools, teams, communities, and society as a whole.  A more structured learning and cultural imprint.  It can represent group identity or institutions, and formal education.

This card is often interpreted with a religions looking official teaching the masses, be they children or otherwise.  It is predominately male, even in most female-based decks which follows the path of male-hood from youth (oak king), to father, and on to wise storyteller (holly king.)