Tarot Card Number: 2

Tree Number: 13

Ruled By: The Moon

Hebrew Letter: Gimel

Numerical Value: 9

 

The Papess Tarot Card Description

This card, sometimes called The High Priestess Tarot Card, is a bit controversial card within the Major Arcana. The controversy lies in the two names, The High Priestess Tarot Card is so named in the Ryder-Wate-Smith Tarot Cards and The Golden Dawn Tarot deck.

In many of the older ones, the card is named The Papess Tarot Card. This name is said to be a reference to a myth that claims that a woman became a pope in the early Middle Ages.

This card shows a woman sitting between two pillars and holding a book, sometimes believed to be the Torah. She is crowned with a cross on her chest. Her dress is blue and turns into running water at the bottom, where a crescent moon in lying at her feet.

Primary Meaning

This is a card of studies and increased knowledge. If the Questioner is thinking about going to school or searching for increased knowledge, this card tells him to go ahead. For someone interested in the esoteric or spiritual studies, this card indicates that they have the ability. This card indicates scholarship in the widest sense of the word. This card can also indicate the arrival of a good teacher or a scholar.

Secondary Meaning

The secondary meaning is the total opposite to the cards primary meaning. It shows the total lack of commonsense control, emotional outburst and the lack of foresight. It also shows that the Questioner has difficulties in coming to terms with themselves, as well as difficulties by the Questioner to accept his feminine part.

Further Reading

There are e-books or guides that offer the beginner some guidance.But no matter what is promised, you should always remember that true knowledge of the Tarot Cards comes with time.

Learning to read the Tarot Cards takes time, a lot of time and the virtue of patience is of high value during that time. Just this fact automatically filters out the ones that are not ready.