Short meaning: Growing potential, hidden talents or an unknown destiny gradually coming to the fore. Intuitive skills are heightened; you sense change even though you can’t define the exact nature of it as yet. It can precipitate an interest in mysticism or some form of spiritual awakening.
In-depth meaning: The High Priestess represents secrets and things that are yet to come to light. The Subject shouldn’t try to pursue the detail of what is coming but should be prepared for new information to come to the fore. They aren’t aware of everything at play or every influence that will come to bear as yet.
This means that now may not the right time to be making important decisions or to make any long term commitments. The playing field is about to change and the Subject won’t know whether it will be a completely different game, a different position in the game or indeed if they’ll be playing with a different team altogether.
This card also highlights talents, interest and abilities that are developing in the Subject and they will soon find out something about their overall destiny and direction. They may realise that there is something else they are fated to do. Or that they possess characteristics and abilities they aren’t aware of yet.
Notes on the image: The High Priestess is portrayed here as a very attractive, mysterious woman attending an altar bearing candles, flowers and a book. It’s as if the person viewing the card has just interrupted her in the midst of some religious/spiritual ceremony or ritual.
The High Priestess focuses on a very different side of femininity to The Empress.
She is much more ethereal, elusive and alluring, inviting us to use more of our intuition by not giving much away. She is slightly inaccessible standing behind her altar and the viewer is left entranced by her, wanting to know what she knows about them. But The High Priestess represents that now is not the time to find out.