The Hierophant... represents law? Really?

[ThusSpokeZarathustra]

I always thought of The Hierophant as a card symbolizing a preoccupation with law--not with legality, but with established ethics.

In the Rider-Waite imagery of The Hierophant, however, he is seated between two pillars: Law and Liberty. Law doesn't seem to be pertaining to legality here, either--Law and Liberty seem to be opposites here; while liberty is undoubtedly about freedom, the fact that it's juxtaposed by Law seems to imply that Liberty is Chaos.

Many keywords associated with the Hierophant--conformity, conservatism, discipline, convention--are key words of this idea of "Law." Why is that, though, if the Hierophant rests between Law and Chaos--therefore remaining neutral?

Is the Hierophant solely a teacher of what is? If so, why is he so strongly biased toward lawful ideals?

 

[ravenest]

I dont think he is ... this is all your postulation ... the association with Liberty and Chaos ... or that Chaos is an 'opposite' of law (you probably mean chaos = riotous anarchy ? ) .

If one doesnt accept that association then it isnt valid ... so really, you (or anyone else that accepts your associations here) are the only one that can answer that particular question.

I think a lot of these concepts relate more to the idea of card V as The Pope ... as the Hierophant IMO the concept moves more towards the 'teacher and student' . The Hierophant is one who can teach the 'Mysteries' can assist one on the path of 'knowing thyself', by doing that he himself also learns more.

I have drifted away from Waite a lot ... does he say the pillars on card V are Law and liberty? In any case Liberty need not be Chaos. In decks like Waite and Thoth the underlying pattern (and hence inner meaning) is often Kabbalistic ... here the two pillars, in relation to any expression of Law and Liberty might be better expressed as Geburah and Chesed ('severity' and 'mercy' ) , or , as principles, the whole dynamic and application better expressed in this passage:

" Remember that unbalanced force is evil; that unbalanced severity is but cruelty and oppression; but that also unbalanced mercy is but weakness which would allow and abet Evil. "

 

[Farzon]

The keywords you give for the Hierophant seem to me only to be the negative implications of the card. I like your thoughts about law and liberty. But I wouldn't say the Hierophant tends more towards the side of law though, nor does he remain neutral... I think the Hierophant represents the force that brings law and liberty into balance and this force is religion, tradition, God.

God speaks the law but man needs to follow of his own free will to be redeemed.

 

[tarotbear]

Many keywords associated with the Hierophant--conformity, conservatism, discipline, convention--are key words of this idea of "Law."

The Hierophant is the 'keeper' of conformity, etc., but I'm not sure that makes him 'Law' in the context you have described.

 

[pandap]

On what little I've learnt, I think the Hierophant, or the Pope, symbolises instruction. The 2 figures below the Hierophant are I think, supposed to represent the querent, who are seeking instruction from him. The Hierophant is casting his influence on the querent, and the attitude of the querent will determine if he/she learns from his instruction. I don't know where the legal aspect comes in at all.

 

[PAMUYA]

The Heirophant for me is a teacher, but not of free thought, but one to teach the rules of society/God. Whether it be religious or political (left or right), it is about conformity of that societies rules of conduct. It could be or not be fair depending on your perspective or if you are in the minority, or majority tribe.

 

[Thirteen]

Religion is a group of many with one voice: Hierophant

In the Rider-Waite imagery of The Hierophant, however, he is seated between two pillars: Law and Liberty. Law doesn't seem to be pertaining to legality here, either--Law and Liberty seem to be opposites here; while liberty is undoubtedly about freedom, the fact that it's juxtaposed by Law seems to imply that Liberty is Chaos.

Liberty isn't chaos, any more than Law is order. There are laws that cause more chaos than order. And there are those who are at liberty to do as they like, who are not chaotic but orderly.

But the important thing to see is that the Hierophant is *between* the two. He doesn't pertain absolutely to either one, any more than the HPS pertains to either one of her pillars. Wang, in the Qabalistic Tarot, states that the Hierophant is "The Teacher." And that his job is to teach opposites what they need to know about each other. He is the "Earth" (Taurus) that is between heaven and the underworld (the twin keys), also between Sun & Moon (his followers, who might also be reason & intuition). And the thing is, that without him, such opposites can't understand each other. The Hierophant, as Wang points out, is the one that everyone listens to. When he speaks, every goes quiet and hears what he has to say.

As for the Hierophant's "conservative" aspect: Wang also points out that Waite saw the Hierophant as the ruling power of external religion. This as opposed to the HPS' as the inward and personal esoteric. Religion is a group of many that speaks with one voice (everyone listens, right?). This means that individual voices, dissenting voices, don't get heard—or don't want to be heard. They aren't useful at this moment (for example, if there was a fire, you wouldn't find it useful for individuals to be doing what they wanted. It's far more useful for everyone to do as directed. Individuality, dissent, isn't always useful).

That's what's conservative. The conformity and discipline is not in following laws, but in listening to that one voice and being directed by it. And sometimes it will direct the person to follow a rule (pray like this) and sometimes it will direct them to be at liberty (pray as you like). But everyone follows that direction, and that is where the Hierophant card gets its familiar meanings. Not because our Hierophant's word is law, but because it is a spiritual truth that all want to hear and follow.

 

[kwaw]

Liberty in respect of law is perhaps to be understood in reference to liberty as 'free-will'?

In Symbolic Masonry:

Chapter Five--The cable tow.

""He [the candidate] is restrained now [after the removal of the cable tow] by the voluntary obligations taken, all of which indicate the necessity of constant vigilance and self-control. In place of the former command—'thou shalt not'—comes the voluntary pledge—'I will.' The result is to replace outer constraint by inward restraint, without annulling or altering a single moral precept. The slave who formerly obeyed a Master through fear, now voluntarily serves a Master through love. The difference is that between a bondman and a freeman, and the result to the candidate can hardly be put in words when it is once realised."

The homely practical truth and usefulness of all this interpretation may be made instantly discernible by a simple example. In human society in general, law, written or unwritten, is the cable tow that holds fast every man. The good man cannot escape from it any more than a bad man, and he who walks about his own yard, a free and respectable citizen, is quite as much held fast by the law as he who sits sullenly in a prison cell, denied the right of seeing the sun or of walking upon the grass. But while these two men are equally held by law, the manner in which law holds them is as different as day is from night; for whereas the prisoner is held by it against his own will, the free man obeys it of his own choice. The hope of the world depends upon those who "have the law in their inward parts" and keep it because they love order and security. Men and women who must be forced to keep order are a source of social unhappiness; it is impossible to have a policeman at every man's elbow. A wise and good citizen is one who inwardly understands why law is necessary and what law is, and gives it a voluntary obedience, so that nobody needs to stand by to force compulsion. Moreover, such a man has learned that freedom is nothing other than the inward and voluntary obedience, glad obedience, to wise and just laws. People of a low order must be held fast by external force; in proportion as men and women become advanced, external force becomes increasingly unnecessary, so that in a truly civilised state, order rests on the inward character of men. The savage has the rope about his neck; the civilised man has it in his heart. It is not a question of tie or no tie; but of what kind of a tie it is that holds a man to his fellows, to the state, and to his duty."

"In what sense are you bound by law as a candidate is bound by the cable tow? Is law a thing that gives us liberty? or does it take away liberty? Give examples of other "cable tows" that bind us in every day life? How about the ties of friendship? marriage? business contracts? Does the principle made clear by the interpretation of the cable tow enable you the better to understand the meaning and use of all human ties?"

 

[Owl Tarot]

I think a lot of these concepts relate more to the idea of card V as The Pope ... as the Hierophant IMO the concept moves more towards the 'teacher and student' . The Hierophant is one who can teach the 'Mysteries' can assist one on the path of 'knowing thyself', by doing that he himself also learns more.

I have drifted away from Waite a lot ... does he say the pillars on card V are Law and liberty? In any case Liberty need not be Chaos. In decks like Waite and Thoth the underlying pattern (and hence inner meaning) is often Kabbalistic ... here the two pillars, in relation to any expression of Law and Liberty might be better expressed as Geburah and Chesed ('severity' and 'mercy' ) , or , as principles, the whole dynamic and application better expressed in this passage:

" Remember that unbalanced force is evil; that unbalanced severity is but cruelty and oppression; but that also unbalanced mercy is but weakness which would allow and abet Evil. "

Really nice point in my opinion. It seems more natural and easier to understand if you intercept the two pillars as Severity and Mercy rather than Law and Liberty. A good reason for that, in my opinion, is that Law and Liberty aren't opposites necessarily. They can be, but not usually. The Hierophant however seems to me to be more concerned with his religion, whatever it may be. He is the teacher of the mysteries of his God and can present the dogma necessary for anyone who wants to work with the religion he represents and is able to lead his students and himself to the mystical knowledge of "enlightment". So, because of his position when he instructs or talks everyone else listens in silence as Thirteen nicely pointed out in her post I think.

 

[Zephyros]

As was pointed out, although the idea wasn't developed, the Hierophant is attributed to Taurus, and that says a lot about who and what he is. Taurus represents hard work and tenacity, the bending strain to pull the plough. Connected to the Hierophant this could be connected to ritual and dogma, but it goes further than that. He is the practical application and study of lessons learned, whether for initiation (the "mysteries") or anything else. It would be wonderfully easy if there was only the HP to teach us things ("using your intuition") but it isn't the case. What's more, it shouldn't be, as there is an element of discipline in every endeavor.

If we're looking at him through the Tree of Life, it really depends on where one is headed. If you're beginning at the top and creating something, the Hierophant represents the order and discipline needed to do so. Descending from the primal energy down to the demiurge, he is the message behind the words, behind the laws.

If you're on your way up the Tree in a process of initiation, then he represents the outer shell of the true secrets of the universe. The shell must be discarded in order to arrive at the essence.

Another way of looking at him, and the respective pillars, is to consider the relationship of all three paths that cross the Abyss. Astrologically, all three pillars are connected through rulerships and exaltations, and they are the finally steps before achieving unity. If we assume the High Priestess is, according to tradition, seated in the Temple of Solomon, and "knowing" he is the final step before knowing God, and according to (certain) tradition God is the Torah, then we can assume the other two paths also fulfill a role, as is usual in the Tree. The Chariot is the shell of the Word, the outer, exoteric aspect of it. This is the actual words. The Hierophant represents the spirit of the word, the inner meanings of rituals and dogma (dogma in its good sense).

The High Priestess, on the other hand, is the inner, secret Word, the assimilation of the true spiritual meanings behind it.