The Hierophant
Astrology: Taurus | Element: Earth | Hebrew: ו (Vav) | Kabbalah: 16. Aleph 【Wisdom - Compassion】
Passing rivers, lakes, and palaces, Xiao Ye arrives at a vast wilderness. The land stretches endlessly. He wanders in circles for a long, long time, yet cannot find a direction. He climbs onto a huge rock, and at the moment he reaches the top, three colossal divine statues walk across the plain. With kind and gentle faces, the deities—eyes closed—still perceive him precisely. He turns around; mist rises from his hand, and a wreath of grass condenses in midair. Xiao Ye gazes at the wreath, sensing that once he wears it, he will know the direction forward…
Symbolism:
Rose and Lily Wreath: Represents passion and spiritual growth.
Crown of Thorns: Symbolizes power, as well as self-discipline, trial, and spiritual practice.
Three-Tiered Cross Staff: The three realms of body, mind, and spirit; also holiness and authority.
Floating Thorn Crown: Guidance, cultivation, and the transmission of spiritual growth.
The Hierophant’s Ears: Referencing divine statues, symbolizing listening to the inner voice.
Gesture of Consecration: Blessing and the transmission of spiritual power.
Two Walking Statues: Ascetic practice, followers seeking guidance and spiritual growth.
The Turning Hierophant: Proactive and leading guidance.
Astrological Symbols on the Stone: Represent Taurus.
Kabbalistic Path 16: The nail—tradition and spirituality, connection and stability.
Upright:
Religion, bonds, spiritual pillar, marriage, alliance, assistance, trustworthy relationships, steady advancement, spiritual growth, help and guidance from elders, faith, compassion.
Personality: Traditional, mentor-like, spiritual teacher, upright and balanced, tireless in teaching, charismatic, socially recognized, scholarly temperament, leadership, virtue, spiritually inclined, helpful to others. Representative figures include teachers, elders, monks, officiants, godfathers, and guides.
Relationships: Shared values and beliefs, traditional marriage, conservative and loyal relationships. Meeting suitable partners through matchmaking or introductions. Potential for emotional control. Often involves an older partner. Relationships progress step by step, with a cautious attitude toward love.
Career/Studies: Support from benefactors. When facing problems, seek help from elders or superiors. Work environments that emphasize etiquette and systems; institutional roles. Jobs with development potential. Job seekers may rely on introductions from elders.
Finances: Generally stable finances, often supported by others—partners, family benefactors, or patrons. Suitable for small, long-term financial planning and conservative investment. Pay attention to omissions or losses.
Advice: Seek help from elders or professionals and listen more to others’ advice. This stage favors learning and accepting guidance—do not close yourself off. Cultivate respect and trust. Compared to material gains, shifts in belief and perspective bring better results. By meeting spiritual needs, you will achieve deeper growth.
Reversed:
Excessive kindness, slow progress, misguided direction, stubbornness, erroneous guidance, collapse of faith, ineffective help, isolation, hypocrisy, false benevolence, unorthodox paths, rebellion.
Personality: Soft-hearted to a fault, overly kind, distrustful of others, difficulty accepting differing values, unwilling to heed advice, excessive generosity, unconventional, a breaker of tradition.
Relationships: Unequal relationships, one-sided giving, relationships not accepted by tradition, excessive leniency toward a partner, value conflicts, difficulty aligning viewpoints.
Career/Studies: Too many rules, loss of advantageous conditions, misjudgment, loss of credibility. Able to break conventions and innovate, but the process is arduous. Balancing innovation and rules leads to better development.
Finances: Unrealistic choices, unsuitable to increase investment, interference in others’ affairs, financial loss due to others. A need to reassess financial strategies; consulting professionals and balancing new advice and ideas is a constructive solution.
Advice: Do not blindly believe sweet words. Make full use of existing resources, break rigid thinking patterns, and dare to innovate—while paying attention to degree and effectiveness. Rebuild your own judgment.