When I bought my first Tarot deck in 1985 I looked through them one at a time, captivated by the colours and intrigued by the multitude of symbols I found in each card. You’d think that by now I would have uncovered all of the significant details on every card, but no…I’m still being surprised and delighted by subtle (but significant) imagery I’d previously missed.
The High Priestess: Just moments before typing this article I looked at the image of the Tarot card called The High Priestess to mull over which of its many symbols I’d like to write about. The first thing my eyes were drawn to were the letters ‘B’ and ‘J’ on the pillars. Then my gaze drifted to the solar cross on her chest. Looking at these three items in conjunction with each other led me to discover a missing piece of a puzzle set by the designer A. E. Waite, and his artist Pamela Colman Smith.
B & J: The letters ‘B’ and ‘J’ stand for the Hebrew words Boaz and Jachin, the two pillars at the front of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. These Hebrew words traditionally meant in strength and he establishes. In modern Tarot, Boaz and Jachin are not thought of in biblical terms — they represent extremes such as severity & mercy, dark & light, night & day.
Solar Cross: Waite calls the equal-armed cross on her robe a solar cross, even though a true solar cross usually has a circle around it. A solar cross represents the sun and the seasons of the year, and by having the crescent moon (at her feet) and a sun symbol (the solar cross) in the same image, this card reinforces the concept of duality, as seen in the two pillars.
Combined: But remember, this solar cross is not a true solar cross. By leaving off the circle it has become a plus (+) sign, therefore the image shows B + J. The High Priestess does not sit between justice and mercy, she is justice and mercy — she is darkness and light!
Crown: She wears the crown of Isis, which is a sun disk between two cow horns. However, Waite’s symbol is ambiguous…it could be a sun disk, or it may be a full moon nestled between a waxing moon and a waning moon. Perhaps he is suggesting she is the light of the sun and the moon.
The Result: In my opinion, The High Priestess is a combination of extreme qualities resulting in a harmonious blend of spiritual perfection.
No matter how many times you look at the images in your Tarot cards, you will find more symbols than you can imagine. Make time soon to have a closer look at your cards. There is a rich tapestry of hidden figures, obscure occult references, and concealed words woven into the design — and they are awaiting discovery by you!