The High Priestess

The High Priestess is Major Arcanum II of the tarot, called La Papesse (The Popess) in the Tarot de Marseille. It depicts a seated woman crowned with a tiara, an open book on her lap. Upright, it evokes inner knowledge, study, discretion, patience and intuition ripening in silence. Reversed, the tradition reads in it excessive withdrawal, a burdensome secret, coldness or knowledge left unspoken. It pairs with The Hierophant, Le Pape in the Marseille deck.