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To Taurus, the Hierophant offers quite the birthday gift:  spiritual wisdom and a sense of “inner knowing” or intuition.  However, with this gift comes great responsibility, and we are reminded that we must practice spiritual discipline and morality, respecting the unwritten laws of nature. 

As the 5th card of the Major Arcana, the title “Hierophant” literally means “the one who teaches the holy things”.  His purpose is to remain patient, steadfast, peaceful and calm in the face of crisis, sharing his wisdom with others.  

In the Hierophant card, we see the image of a religious leader or spiritual guru.  This card is a reminder that we are guided by our spiritual beliefs and traditions, and that we hold the “key” to the secrets we seek to know through our spiritual faith.

Associated with the element of Earth, this wise and practical spiritual leader acts as a liaison between ourselves and God.  It may seem strange at first to consider such a deeply spiritual  figure as being connected to the element of Earth, however, this is not the case when you consider that the Hierophant’s job is to bring the spiritual down to Earth. 

This card is often referred to in older decks as “the Pope” or “High Priest”.  According to Sandra Thomson, author of  “Pictures From the Heart, a Tarot Dictionary”, the term  Hierophant was ”the name of the High Priest of the Greek Elusian mysteries”.  The figure’s right hand is raised as a blessing or benediction.  This hand position is known as a “mudra” and is a symbol of  spiritual well-being. 

Some Key Ideas: Wisdom, mercy, society, religion, tradition, values, morals, beliefs, discipline, peaceful solution to any problem, the answers you seek are within you
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