Who are my teachers?
The Hierophant
.
“As you teach, so will you learn.” If that is true, and it is true indeed, do not forget that what you teach is teaching you.”
Friends -
The Hierophant card reminds us to have faith in ourselves. We often forget the adage "above all things know thyself," especially a challenge at this time of family gatherings and the general craziness of the holidays.
The Hierophant represents the principle of learning and teaching. He translates spiritual enigmas into practical applications. He teaches us how to embody this role in our lives and relationships.
As the High Priestess represents the yin energy of the inner spiritual journey of the self, the Hierophant moves outward with yang energy – connecting with others, bringing forth information, and communicating knowledge.
In the most recent Elyn’s Diary, we began to explore our authenticity with the first five Major Arcana Tarot cards:
The Fool: What does my heart tell me?
The Magus: How do I tell my truth?
The Priestess: How do I trust my intuition?
The Empress: How do I nurture?
The Emperor: How do I lead?
We'll continue in the months ahead to look at each of the Major Arcana cards and some of the questions they invite us to explore. The 22 cards in the Major Arcana represent universal principles collectively experienced, regardless of our culture or family upbringing. These 22 teachings address how, as human beings, we grow, evolve, and deepen.
In this time of the climate emergency, the Hierophant reminds us to stay true to ourselves and our hopes for a healthy and resilient world. The change is in every one of us.
I’ve been honored over the years to do readings for so many – is it time to do yours?
For your heart, mind & spirit -
Elyn
elyn@tarotbyelyn.com
About my readings
The Three Spread – Three questions, three cards, three spreads. This online reading includes a follow-up email with additional comments about your reading. 50 minutes - $125 book here.
*NEW!* The Celtic Cross – Now that we're emerging back into the world, it's time for the always insightful - and magical - Celtic Cross reading. Includes a follow-up email with additional comments. 80 minutes - $170/ book here.
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The Hierophant translates spiritual enigmas into practical applications. He teaches us how to embody this role in our lives and relationships.
In ancient Greece, a hierophant meant "revealer of mysteries," a priest of the Eleusinian rites, and keeper of rituals surrounding agrarian deities like Demeter and Persephone. His very body was the bridge between the divine and the people. His voice carried through mystical information, higher knowledge, and teachings that could be applied to everyday life.
The Hierophant can indicate that a teacher is coming into or is present in your life. The Buddhist proverb reminds us that "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
It's essential not to accept blindly anyone else's teaching as absolute truth - always apply your intuition and discernment to anything you are taught, taking on what feels right for you and discarding what does not. Any good teacher will tell you that they don't have all the answers and may not necessarily be right, but are sharing their experience with the intention of helping others. It's too easy to place those you feel know more than you on a pedestal and then experience that deep disappointment when eventually and inevitably they topple from their precarious perch.
For this Major Arcana card, there are four aspects, or 'bardo' (suffering) Minor Arcana cards that represent four challenges everyone faces in life: Defeat (five of swords); Disappointment (five of cups); Anxiety (five of wands); Worry (five of disks.) These are tests of faith – The Hierophant symbolizes the path to overcome those challenges.
The further you walk down your inner path, the more you realize how much there is to learn. So it's important to remain open to new knowledge and wisdom, retaining a teachable spirit; otherwise, you could easily become dogmatic and rigid in your beliefs (and history shows where that leads!)
Are you open to receiving spiritual support and insight? Do you allow yourself to be inspired? Do your values align with the person you are working to become?
Remember - you are a holder and keeper of wisdom, mystery, and spiritual communication. If you have a hard time feeling that, let The Hierophant help you step into that birthright.