The Hierophant V in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
The Hierophant Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Major
Earth
Taurus
The Hierophant, the fifth major arcana of the Tarot, is the guardian of sacred knowledge, tradition and the rules that govern collective harmony. He represents faith, spiritual structure, guidance and authority based on wisdom. Where the Emperor embodies order in the material world, the Hierophant roots principles in the spiritual and moral world. He is the bridge between ancient teachings and their application in everyday life. His presence in a drawing suggests a phase of searching for meaning, ethical clarification or guided learning. It can symbolise a teaching or protective figure, but also an invitation to become your own inner master. It calls you to act with integrity, respect fundamental values and integrate the lessons you have learned. It reminds you that true authority comes from a heart enlightened by wisdom, and that the spiritual path sometimes requires the humility of receiving before passing on.
RWS Tarot : Arcana The Hierophant readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card The Hierophant
In love, the Hierophant symbolises official unions, traditional relationships and moral or spiritual commitment. It evokes a relationship based on deep values, fidelity and mutual respect. It is often associated with marriage or a form of social or religious recognition of love. If you are in a relationship, this card may indicate a move towards a serious commitment, or the solidification of an existing bond through rituals (engagement, ceremonies, etc.). If you are single, the Hierophant indicates the possibility of a stable encounter with a serious person committed to principles. However, it can also highlight a relationship framework that is too rigid, where conventions or family pressures take precedence over the impulses of the heart. He urges you to align your romantic choices with your deepest values, to favour loyalty and transparency, even if this means going off the beaten track.
Professional / Work reading
with the card The Hierophant
At work, the Hierophant evokes the transmission of knowledge, institutions, standards and hierarchical environments. It symbolises jobs related to teaching, training, religion, or any position in official structures (administration, justice, education). This card highlights your role as a guide, teacher or mentor: you have knowledge to share, and you may be called upon to lead or inspire others. It values rigour, professional ethics and respect for procedures. It can also signal a period of apprenticeship, internship or return to study. If you are faced with tensions, the Hierophant advises you to remain faithful to your principles, to be patient, and not to try to break the rules without thinking it through first. He reminds you that legitimate authority is based on wisdom, not power for its own sake.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card The Hierophant
In financial terms, the Hierophant evokes a responsible, structured and secure approach to money. It often indicates stability acquired through discipline, or a return to more traditional and prudent management. This card generally favours safe, long-term investments, or decisions guided by trusted advisers (bankers, solicitors, financial consultants). It may also suggest material help from an institution, organisation or family inheritance. On the other hand, it warns against risky financial initiatives, impulsive investments or independence at any price. The Hierophant favours solid structures, transparent approaches and actions rooted in experience. He invites you to put your trust in stable values – loyalty, prudence, consistency – to build your material security. Here, money is not an end in itself, but a means of supporting a collective, family or spiritual project.
Family reading
with the card The Hierophant
In the family sphere, the Hierophant represents tradition, intergenerational transmission and bonds based on shared values. It may symbolise a respected authority figure (often a father, grandfather or spiritual elder) who guides or influences the household. This card also speaks of education, family rituals and the continuity of cultural or religious references. It evokes a structured, sometimes conservative environment, in which stability is sought above all else. It can signal a period when family rules and codes take on great importance, for better (anchoring, unity) or for worse (rigidity, stifling expectations). The Hierophant invites you to enter into dialogue with this family authority, to recognise the riches that tradition brings while affirming your own truth. It can also encourage you to pass on your own values to your children or to support someone close to you in a moral or spiritual apprenticeship.
Spiritual reading
with the card The Hierophant
Spiritually, the Hierophant is a key card: it represents the link between the divine and mankind, the inner guide, master or priest who transmits sacred knowledge. It evokes a quest for meaning rooted in a tradition, a system of thought or a structured spiritual practice. It may indicate that you are ready to receive a higher teaching, or that you yourself are in the process of becoming a reference for others. It encourages you to seek wisdom not only within yourself, but also through texts, rituals, communities or wisdom figures. It highlights the need for deep alignment between your values and your actions. It’s also a card that speaks of faith, of trust in something greater than yourself. It invites you to deepen your relationship with the sacred, while respecting your heritage and retaining your free will.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
The Hierophant and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card The Hierophant according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card The Hierophant in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
