Secret of the High Priestess Spread

 

 

Difficulty: Average

This spread makes a nice alternative to the Celtic Cross, which covers basically the same ground. It is useful when a question doesn't quite call for the Ankh spread. This tarot spread is helpful for looking into a current trend. The High Priestess may or may not present a mysterious secret to be analysed after the rest of the spread.

1. & 2. Main impulses representing the topic at hand. They may compliment or oppose one another.

3. This is the current influence at this time.

5. The Waning Moon is the influence that is moving into the past.

4. The Waxing Moon indicates what is on the horizon, or the approaching influence. This is the immediate future.

7. The Light is what is clearly recognized, consciously.

6. The Dark indicates what is there but not fully perceived, though noticed on a deeper level of consciousness.

8. The Next Step is the near future, where this journey leads.

9. The final tarot card, only if it happens to be of the Major Arcana, reveals the Secret of the High Priestess. This is a special message that should be given added weight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Secret of the High Priestess Reading

The Waxing Moon The Empress	The Full Moon 2 of Swords – Peace		The Waning Moon 10 of Cups – Satiety
	Significator #1 5 of Disks – Anxiety	Significator #2 10 of Wands – Oppression
The Dark 10 of Disks – Wealth	The Secret of the High Priestess Knight of Cups		The Light Princess of Wands
	The Next Step The Magus

 

 

 

Significator #1 

 

5 of Disks – Anxiety

Mercury in Taurus

Sparks fly as five gears grind away. The nervous energy of the element of air has descended upon the earth plane, creating an atmosphere of great friction.

Meaning:
Intense strain accompanying a period of inactivity. Anxiety, loss.
When well-dignified: construction, building, labour, cultivation.

 

 

Significator #2 

 

10 of Wands – Oppression

Saturn in Sagittarius

The wands have now become bars. We live in prisons of flesh. We are each our own warden and we all do our own time.

Meaning:
Brute force with no apparent spiritual source. Lies, repression, cruelty, malice. The element of fire in its most destructive form.

 

 

The Waning Moon is the influence that you are putting behind you, as it moves into the past. 

 

10 of Cups – Satiety

Mars in Pisces

The nine lower cups are filled with the shining light of Kether from above, just as in the blueprint contained within the Ace all along. Overwhelming emotions here risk crossing the boundaries of sanity.

Meaning:
Pleasure fulfilled yet incomplete.
When ill-dignified: waste, stagnation, debauchery.

 

 

 

The Full Moon is the current influence at this time. 

 

2 of Swords – Peace

Moon in Libra

Two swords stuck in a mound form the shape of a V, the symbolic gesture of peace like the hippies were so fond of. The owners have thrown their arms down in the spirit of harmony.

Meaning:
Contradictory characteristics of the same nature coming together. Pleasure after pain. Quarrel resolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Waxing Moon indicates what is on the horizon; the approaching influence. 

 

The Empress

Venus

The Empress is queen of queens, the wife archetype. Radiating warmth, she gazes at the dove, symbolic of holy love. Two cherubs overlook her and two overlook the other half. The pelican feeding her young her own blood symbolises the self-sacrifice of motherhood.

Meaning:
Graciousness, elegance, love, gentleness, beauty.
When ill-dignified: wasting time, debauchery.

 

 

The Light is what is clearly recognized. 

 

Princess of Wands

A robust young woman stands on the mountain firing arrows. Her arrows represent the other Wands courts, Sagittarius, Aries, and Leo. She is a passionate, brilliant, and independent young woman. The tiger is a symbol of the lower animal nature that grounds her.

Meaning:
An individualistic energetic glowing young woman, impulsive in matters of love.
When ill-dignified: superficial, shallow, gossiping, unreliable, cruel, domineering.

 

 

 

The Dark shows what is there but not fully perceived, though it has been noticed on a deeper level of consciousness. 

 

10 of Disks – Wealth

Mercury in Virgo

Coins of gold, silver, and copper fall to earth. The ten coins in the foreground form the tree of life, each with a symbol matching its particular sephiroth. The coins in the background represent the different pathways. This card represents something valuable.

Meaning:
Material prosperity. Completion of material building. Good health.
When ill-dignified: sloth, heaviness, dullness.

 

 

 

The Next Step is the near future, where this journey will take you. 

 

The Magus

Mercury

The Magician stands on the mountain commanding the forces to obey his will.

Meaning:
Drive, willpower, skill, wisdom, craft, cunning, messages, business, creativity, wit, initiative, self-discipline. Sometimes occult wisdom or power.
When ill-dignified: knowledge interfering with the objective of the matter.

 

 

 

The Secret of the High Priestess - if, and only if, this card a Major Arcana, it reveals the Secret of the High Priestess. This is a special spiritual message that you should pay extra special attention to. If it is not a trump, the Priestess has revealed no secret. 

 

Knight of Cups

Pisces

The Knight of Cups rides a black horse, symbolising the dark unconscious force of water. In his left hand he holds a gold cup filled with gold. His horse leaps above a wave, symbolising the element of water at its most active state. Two dolphins leap along with the horse, representing Pisces.

Meaning:
A very sensitive, yet shallow man, who is quick to respond to attraction.
When ill-dignified: a sensual, idle man, a liar and a loser, prone to drug abuse.