The Hierophant as Advice: Follow the Proven Path

Written by Chaya the Medium.

The Hierophant as advice asks you to learn the proper way first. Here is when that helps, and when the reversal says break the rule.

If you want the short answer, the Hierophant as advice says: do it the established way, and ask someone who knows. Get the qualification, follow the procedure, seek a mentor. Tradition exists because it has worked for others.

What the Hierophant advises upright

Tina Gong's the Hierophant guide at Labyrinthos associates the upright card with tradition, conformity, spiritual guidance and institutions. In an advice position I read those meanings as an instruction: the attitude or action the card is asking of you, rather than a description of what will happen. The Major Arcana overview at Biddy Tarot is a useful second reference.

Upright, the Hierophant advises learning and humility: take advice from a teacher, follow the recognised steps, commit in the recognised way.

What the Hierophant is not asking you to do

The Hierophant is not asking you to abandon your own values to fit in. The proven path is advice only when it matches what you believe.

The Hierophant reversed as advice

Reversed, the Hierophant as advice says question the rule. You may be following a tradition that does not serve you, or deferring to an authority you no longer trust. A reversed card in an advice position is usually pointing at the habit that is getting in your way, not at a punishment.

The Hierophant as advice in love

In love, the Hierophant advises commitment and shared values: talk about what you both believe and want long-term.

The Hierophant as advice for work and money

For work and money, he advises the conventional route: training, credentials, proper process, a mentor's advice. Advice from a card is reflection. For decisions with legal, medical or financial weight, take it to someone qualified as well.

One step to take this week

Find one person who has done what you want to do, and ask them one specific question this week.

For comparison, the Emperor as advice and the Fool as advice ask different things of you. The the Hierophant card meaning page covers the card in full, and the Hierophant as a yes or no, the Hierophant as feelings and the Hierophant as timing cover the other questions people most often ask of it. You can draw a card for yourself with the free daily tarot tool. For a personal interpretation, my guide to an online psychic reading explains how readings work, and the three-card tarot listing and customer reviews are worth reading before deciding whether to order.