Sabbats and Sabbaths

Rider-Waite Tarot

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. [Psalm 122:1-3, NRSV]

Sometimes we need to listen to the wisdom collective wisdom of our spiritual tradition. At other times we need to break free from the herd, and dance to the beat of our own drummer!  Wisdom is knowing which one is needed at any given time in our lives.

The Hierophant signals that it’s time for us to lean on the rituals and teachings that have sustained spiritual pilgrims for thousands of years.  There is nothing wrong with tradition, structure, formal religious education and the like.  In their proper place, they give us a firm foundation to build on.  The parables and wisdom sayings in our spiritual tribe are a rich treasury of wisdom we would be foolish to ignore.  Not everything needs to be reinvented.  When we are feeling “unrooted” in our spiritual path, it’s important to listen to the voices of the Ancient Ones as well as our priests, priestesses, shamans, rabbis and mentors in the faith.  Only a fool would ignore such a rich treasury of collected wisdom.

In the Rider Waite version of the Hierophant, we see a figure who looks like a bishop or a pope.  According to Arthur Waite, the Hierophant wears the “triple crown and is seated between two pillars, but they are not those of the Temple which is guarded by the High Priestess.”  The Triple Crown is a papal crown which can represent the pope’s three functions as supreme pastor, supreme teacher and supreme priest.  Since the two pillars are not those of the Temple, I believe they represent stability and strength.

The Hierophant also holds a triple cross in his right hand which is an emblem of papal jurisdiction and authority.  The right hand is a symbol of esoteric or “hidden” wisdom which he interprets.  He is the holder of sacred mysteries which only he can impart. The last symbol on the card that is important is the crossed keys at the bottom of his throne.  They represent the power given by Jesus in Matthew 16:19, ” “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Needless to say, this is a very powerful card.  When it appears I take it as a sign that my spiritual life may need a little bit of structure.  Now is the time to stop being a lone wolf and, instead, lean on the collected wisdom of the Ancient Ones before making any important life decisions.  It’s a good time to use the spiritual traditions and rituals that have nurtured and sustained others for thousands of years.  The Hierophant also tells me it’s time to seek out a spiritual community where I can grow in my understanding of the Divine Presence.

DruidCraft Tarot

The DruidCraft Tarot reinterprets this card as the High Priest.  The illustration on this card is absolutely gorgeous.  In brief, he is also seated on a throne with the power of the Sun overhead, a symbol of enlightenment, vitality and power.  Subtly, all four elements of earth, air, fire and water are present on the card.  His hand gesture is NOT, I repeat NOT, a sign of the devil.  It is the Horned God sign of blessing which is the perfect Pagan counterpart to the more Christianized Rider-Waite deck. There are many other wonderful symbols as well such as the Taurus bull horn headdress, the oak leaves and acorns which speak of power and strength among other things.

Rider-Waite Tarot

They said to Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?  Genesis 17:9-14 [NRSV]

Fertility, motherhood and nurture are the hallmarks of The Empress.  She is Sarah who gave up on her dream of having a child…and then the impossible happened.  She is the laughter which accompanies the birth of unexpected creative endeavors and the nurture of new ideas and projects.  If The Magician is the spark of creation that sets things into motion, and The High Priestess is the one who gives the spark form, then The Empress is the Holy Mother who carries the “baby” to full term and nurtures it while it is a newborn.

O.K. I might be getting carried away with my analogy, but I think you get the point.  The Empress is a beautiful card which is rich in symbols of fertility.  In the Rider-Waite version of the card The Empress sits on a throne and wears a crown with 12 stars.  12 is an important Biblical number representing the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 apostles, etc.  It is a number of perfection or completeness, something that is “carried to full term” we might say.  Arthur Waite says she carries a specter which is topped with “the globe of this world.”  Below her feet is a field of ripening corn and behind her is a lush garden.  Her gown is decorated with pomegranates which, in Jewish tradition, symbolizes fruitfulness, knowledge, learning and wisdom.

DruidCraft Tarot

The biggest Pagan symbol on The Empress card is the heart-shaped shield beside her throne with the symbol of Venus on it.  Venus is the goddess love, beauty, fertility and prosperity.  She is also the Goddess of artists who guides their work and helps them to go from raw materials to the finished product.

The DruidCraft deck puts a slightly different spin on The Empress and re-envisions it as The Lady, the Divine Feminine, the Goddess.  I think this card is absolutely gorgeous and contains most of the elements of the Rider-Waite Empress card but in a slightly different form.  Christians have always been a bit wary of the Goddess, but when She is seen through the card of The Empress/Lady, the nature of Her power and how it works in our lives becomes abundantly clear.

When The Empress/Lady card appears in a reading, I take it as a sign to open myself up to the nurturing power of the Divine Feminine.  If, like Sarah, I feel like my dreams have died, it might be time to believe in them again.  The Empress/Lady tells me that it’s a good time to nurture ideas and creative urges and/or give birth to those that have already been gestating in my life.  This card calls us to get in touch with the mothering instinct that is in each and every one of us, regardless of our gender!

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