Diploma in
Learning the Tarot
Major Arcana: High Priestess, Empress, and the Emperor
Uncover the symbolism of the High Priestess, the
Empress, and the Emperor
Understand the meaning of the upright the High
Priestess, the Empress, and the Emperor
Explore the meaning of reversed the High
Priestess, the Empress, and the Emperor
Objectives
High Priestess (II):
Rider-Waite-
Smith symbolic
description
High Priestess:
Symbolic description
High Priestess:
Symbolic description
• The High Priestess seated between white and
black pillars
• Pillars inscribed with 'J' and 'B' for Jachin and
Boaz
• Boaz means strength, Jachin means establishing
• The pillars depict the duality of nature
High Priestess:
Symbolic description
Partly covered Torah signifies that sacred
knowledge is both explicit and implicit
High Priestess: Symbolic
description
The moon is a symbol of the subconscious
and the emotions that lie beneath
High Priestess:
Symbolic description
The number two numerologically represents
duality and the balance of opposites
Upright High
Priestess:
General meaning
Upright High Priestess:
General meaning
• The High Priestess is the guardian of the
subconscious mind
• The teacher of sacred knowledge and hidden
mysteries
Upright High Priestess:
General meaning
High Priestess keywords
• Intuition and subconscious mind
• Mystery
• Sensuality
• Spirituality
• Sacred knowledge
• Higher power
Upright High Priestess:
General meaning
• Trust your inner instincts to guide you through
• Rely on your intuitive understanding of the issue
Upright High
Priestess: Love
Upright High
Priestess: Love
Secret romantic relationship or affair
Non-expression of emotions
Upright High Living separate or secret lives
Priestess: Love
Interested in an
unapproachable person
Upright High
Priestess: Love
• Follow your heart rather than your mind
• Discover hidden passions or surprising
connections
Upright High
Priestess: Career
Upright High Priestess:
Career
Keep your financial
Use your instincts
situation private
Upright High
Priestess: Best
course of action
Upright High Priestess:
Best course of action
• Embrace your truth
• Trust your gut
Reversed High
Priestess:
General meaning
Reversed High Priestess:
General meaning
High Priestess reversed keywords
• Secrets
• Dishonesty
• Contradictions
• Emotional coldness
• Depression
• Secret intentions
Reversed High
Priestess: Love
Reversed High
Priestess: Love
• The High Priestess is the guardian
of your intuition
• Difficulties if you follow your
conscious mind only
Reversed High
Priestess: Love
• A warning that someone is
hiding a truth from you
• Now is the time to uncover
the truth
Reversed High
Priestess: Career
You may not
have all the Be extra
Reversed information vigilant with
Listen to your
inner guide
High Priestess: when it comes
to your work
your finances
Career
Reversed High
Priestess: Best
course of action
Reversed High Priestess:
Best course of action
• Ask for help
• Be honest with yourself
• Reveal secrets in order to speak your truth
Empress (III):
Rider-Waite-
Smith symbolic
description
Upright Empress:
Symbolic description
Upright Empress:
Symbolic description
• Pomegranate-patterned robe symbolic of
fertility
• Crown of twelve stars shows her rulership
over the cycles of the natural world
• Twelve stars connects to the twelve
planets of the zodiac and twelve months
in a year
Upright Empress:
Symbolic description
• Sceptre symbolises power over life
• Symbol of Venus represents the planet of love
• Pose and loose gown may suggest pregnancy
Upright Empress:
General meaning
Upright Empress:
General meaning
Empress keywords
• Feminine divine
• Sensuality
• Fertility and nurture
• Abundance
• Creative flow
Upright Empress: General
meaning
• Hard work will pay off
• Financial and creative success
• Needs will be met
Upright
Empress: Love
Upright
Empress: Love
• Nurturing
• Supportive lover
• Sensual committed relationship
Upright
Empress: Career
Nurturing colleagues
Creative period at work
Upright
Empress: Career Material comfort
Generosity
Upright Empress:
Best course
of action
Upright Empress:
Best course of action
• Practise emotional generosity
• Learn to trust your feelings
• Bring a healing influence to a situation
Reversed Empress:
General meaning
Reversed Empress:
General meaning
The Empress encourages you to make
self-love and self-care a priority
Reversed
Empress: Love
Reversed Empress: Love
Overprotective
Smothering
Fertility issues
Reversed
Empress: Career
Reversed
Empress: career
• Hard work not recognised
• Unsupported by employer
• Creative blockages
Reversed
Empress: Best
course of action
Reversed Empress:
Best course of action
• Tendency to put others before oneself
• Make self-love and self-care a priority
How would you interpret
the Emperor as someone's
feelings for you?
Question
Emperor (IV):
Rider-Waite-
Smith symbolic
description
Upright Emperor:
Symbolic description
Upright Emperor:
Symbolic description
• White beard represents experience,
maturity, and wisdom
• Gold crown shows authority and
rulership
• Red robe symbolises power and
assertiveness
Upright Emperor:
Symbolic description
The Emperor sits atop a stark, barren
mountain showing determination, ambition,
and leadership capability
Upright Emperor:
General meaning
Upright Emperor:
General meaning
Emperor keywords
• Authority and power
• Father figure
• Order and structure
• Success through self-discipline
Upright Emperor:
General meaning
• The Emperor denotes a powerful
ambitious person
• The Emperor rules with grit,
strength, and unyielding power
Upright
Emperor: Love
Traditional Using logic Unexpressed
relationship in love emotions
Upright
Emperor:
General
meaning
Upright
Emperor: Career
Upright Emperor: Career
Creating processes Structure
Discipline Routine
Upright Emperor:
Career
A thought leader Balanced finances
in your work and spending habits
Upright Emperor:
Best course
of action
Upright Emperor: Best
course of action
• Lead with authority
• Be strong and fair
• Hard work will pay off
Reversed Emperor:
General meaning
Reversed Emperor:
General meaning
• Domination
• Excessive control
• Lack of discipline
• Inflexibility
Reversed Emperor:
General meaning
The reversed Emperor does not know where
to draw the line and may use excessive force
or persuasion to get what he wants
Reversed
Emperor: Love
Reversed Emperor:
General meaning
• Domination
• Excessive control
• Lack of discipline
• Inflexibility
Reversed
Emperor: Love
Difficulty emotionally connecting in
your relationship
Reversed
Emperor: Career
Low concentration
Tyrannical boss
or focus
Reversed
Emperor:
Career
Not disciplined Out of control
about money finances
Reversed Emperor:
Career
Ruling the workplace Finances are out of
like a tyrant your control
Reversed
Emperor: Best
course of action
Reversed Emperor:
Best course of action
• Examine your relationship with power
• Are you abusing your own power or
giving your power away
The Emperor as feelings for
you:
Answer
• Unromantic
• In control
• Dominant
• Rational
• Stable / protective
