- Pulling the reversed Hierophant means you need to break free of old traditions and look within for guidance.
- When you pull the reversed Hierophant, it can be telling you to be less rigid in your beliefs.
- Seeing the reversed Hierophant can be a sign that it’s time to start pursuing your more “out there” passions.
The Hierophant Overview
The Hierophant symbolizes tradition, convention, and authority. The Hierophant wears a triple crown and holds a triple cross. He sits between two pillars, two keys at his feet, two students before him. He radiates authority—the ruling symbol of the crown, the spiritual connection of the cross, those who have come to learn from him. The keys unlock his knowledge of heaven and earth. Now if only you could get your hands on them… An upright Hierophant represents traditional authority and institutional wisdom. He may be telling you to stick to what works or to find a teacher—he’s got knowledge ready to share. Reading tarot is all about symbolism, so it’s important to have a deck you connect to. The classic Rider Waite tarot deck is often applauded for its imagery, but many artists have done their own take on the cards.
Reversed Hierophant Spiritual Meanings
Seek guidance from within. The Hierophant sits in front of two acolytes, their attention fully on him. He is a spiritual guide and teacher, but when the card’s flipped, the students are actually on top of the master! Mentors come in and out of your life, and while that’s something to be grateful for, some knowledge is best sought within. It can be scary to go at things alone, but you’ve always got your own back. Follow your intuition when you’re lost by listening to how your body feels. Does doing a new task warm your heart? Does talking to a person make you queasy? Your body knows more than you may think.
Break free of old traditions. When the Hierophant is upright, it’s signaling to you to trust in institutions and draw from formalized wisdom. When it’s flipped, the story changes. The structures you’re in are not serving you as well as they could, and it’s time to find something new. This can manifest itself in many ways. If you’re having difficulty connecting to spirituality through organized religion, for example, it may be time for you to look towards more informal practices. Not everyone needs to worship at a temple.
Loosen up your beliefs. The structure the Hierophant offers can help you grow (think of tomatoes on a trellis), but it can sometimes be restrictive. You may be outgrowing things that have worked for you in the past. Allow yourself to not always be right, and listen to other people’s experiences. There may be a new way of perceiving the world in your future. Questioning the root of your beliefs can help you change your mind. If you think eating meat is wrong, consider the lives of others. Is meat less expensive than vegetables in some areas? Could eating meat be wrong for you, but fine for others?
Reversed Hierophant Well-Being Meanings
Confront your unconscious. If this card is nudging you towards guidance from within, it’s important to be sure that guidance is something you can trust. Do shadow work by addressing your more questionable actions to help yourself get on the right path. Your shadow is the accumulation of the parts of yourself you don’t like. You may do things and not know why, or react to situations in a way that is “out of character.” To build trust in your ability to do what you believe is right, ask yourself why you do something, and follow that line of inquiry to its root.
Let the mundane world in. When times get tough, it can be comforting to turn to spirituality. Nourishing your soul and concentrating on the higher self is a great grounding practice, but don’t forget your everyday life. This card may be telling you to pull back a little and focus on your physical needs. When you’re faced with hardships, reach out to your support system for help. Having a self-care day with friends or cooking a meal with your family can bring you peace in ways you didn’t know you needed.
Don’t be too strict in your routines. When you ask about your health and pull the reversed Hierophant, it can be telling you to loosen up your wellness routines. Whether that means eating mindfully instead of following a diet or taking your workouts down a notch, look for ways to cut yourself a little slack.
Reversed Hierophant Love Meanings
Embrace what comes your way. When you pull the reversed Hierophant during a love reading, it’s telling you to let the situation unfold as it will. You don’t need to be in control of what happens to have a good experience. Especially when you’re looking for love, let the universe do its thing! The best things in life come when you’re not looking for them. Enrich yourself and do what you want to do to improve your chances of getting a date. People like it when you’re comfortable and happy with who you are.
Seek freedom. This card can mean you’re feeling held back or stuck in a relationship. It’s not telling you to just break it off, though! Reaffirm your needs and wants with your partner, and focus on your own pursuit of happiness outside of them. Make a list of the things you get from your relationship, then make a list of things you want. If you have concrete ideas for fulfilling your desires, it’ll be easier to make them happen with your partner.
Accept other’s differences. Pulling the reversed Hierophant can mean there’s some room for compromise. When people get set in their ways, it can be difficult to see eye to eye with them, even when you’re in love. Work on open communication to help determine where you both stand, what’s most important to you, and where you can meet in the middle. Think about where you and your partner butt heads. They load the dishwasher one way, you load it another. If you can find small places to make compromises (as long as the dishes are getting clean) you’ll be able to put those differences past you.
Look to the long-term. The traditional aspect of the Hierophant can indicate something serious and long-term. In reverse, it can mean things from the past can be lingering. You may be bringing something along from an old relationship to a new one, or maybe that person you’re courting is…married? Step back and look at the factors outside of your relationship. Moving on from a past relationship can be hard, but it’s a wonderful learning experience. Even if they’re out of your life now, having that relationship taught you something about yourself, if you just know where to look.
Be authentic and honest. Being truthful about your feelings is the cornerstone of a good relationship. If you find yourself thinking “I love you so much!...but I really wish you’d clean the kitchen more often,” this card is letting you know everyone is best served when you bring up your wants in a non confrontational way.
Reversed Hierophant Career & Finance Meanings
It’s time to try things your way. Breaking from structures requires innovation, and you’re just the person to bring it. If you’ve got an idea to change the rules or go about something in a radically different way, lean into it. If you can’t find a way to do it in your current job, it might be time to make something for yourself. Have you been itching to change the filing system at your work or the way orders get processed? Now’s your time to speak to your superiors about your ideas for better productivity!
Listen to those below you. If you’re the boss, that’s great!—and you may be well served listening to those who report to you. The Hierophant is the carrier of wisdom and awareness, but everyone has wisdom and awareness in their own way. The acolytes at the top of the card have something to teach the Hierophant, too. Try opening the floor to suggestions during meetings, or having an anonymous feedback box in the office.
Adjust before making big changes. If you pull this card after starting a job, it can mean you’re having some trouble adjusting to the new structure. You’ve got your own way of doing things, and it’s worked for you in the past, but take a second to adapt to your new environment before respectfully giving your insight.
Look before you leap. Sometimes, your job can make you crazy. You might think, “What if I. just give up and try something else?” The reversed Hierophant lets you know you need change change, but also asks you to assess the structure you’re currently in. Do you dislike your field of work, or do you just dislike your current job? Before you switch industries, look around in your own for new opportunities.
Get financial support from a trusted source. When it comes to money, the reversed Hierophant can mean you have a distrust of financial institutions that is negatively affecting you. The big banks have their problems, but sometimes your money situation is best handled by the professionals. If you’re not into banks, look into local credit unions. This card can also be a warning to pay attention to how you invest your capital. Buying safe stocks instead of going for risky ventures might be in your best interest.
Interpreting the Hierophant in Reverse
Imagine the Hierophant's throne room was flipped in real life. In a 3-dimensional version of the card, what happens when everything’s turned upside down? The keys fly away, the crown comes off (the Hierophant may even be hanging on to his chair), but the pillars are unbothered. The guiding qualities have been disrupted, but the structure that held them remains. You can use this trick to interpret other cards, too. For example, a cup that overflows (with life and abundance) turned upside down loses all its water, and the card becomes a search for that refreshment instead of a sign of it.
Ask yourself what you would do in that situation. Pulling a card means different things for different people. To connect yourself to the reading, think about what you’d do. Are you running after the keys or holding on to the structure? Are you clinging to the scepter? Are you the Hierophant or the students? Focus on the different symbols to gain insight into where you are. Running for the keys means you’re looking for wisdom in a new place, while holding on to the pillars means you’re being upheld by those who came before you.
Remember that reversed cards aren't always a bad sign. The Hierophant in reverse could be a negative omen, but like every card, it’s just about how you read it. Card reversals are often giving you the insight to look for the things you need. What represented the Hierophant’s personal power is gone, but you can still learn from the reverence given to him before. The pillars and throne left behind can be seen as undue rigidity, but it’s also a symbol of the lasting work a community put into creating a holy place of knowledge.
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