Sacred Circle-High Preistess

Fulgour

Sacred Circle : The High Priestess

Sacred Circle : The High Priestess

The High Priestess


The card depicts the High Priestess, a pale and serious woman
clad in white and silver robes. On her forehead she wears a silver
fillet which bears the image of a crescent moon. In her hand she
holds a crystal ball. She is shown standing beside a holy well,
which is overhung by a willow tree.

A swan flies across the full moon in the night sky behind her.
At her feet grow snowdrops, demonstrating that it is the season
when the first signs of spring begin to stir, the festival of Imbolc
which falls at the beginning of February. ~ Anna Franklin

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http://www.geocities.com/annafranklin1/index.html

http://www.geocities.com/annafranklin1/tarot.html
 

Jewel-ry

Jewel-ry knocks on the door ...

Just want to say that this is one of my absolute favourite cards of all decks. She is just so beautiful, mysterious, and enigmatic.

I also find her so easy to meditate with.

~
 

magpie9

Sacred Circle-The High Priestess


One of the interesting things about the Sacred /Circle High Priestess is that she is pictured outdoors, without any of the RWS traditional symbolism.
Instead, she stands holding a crystal ball by a sacred well, with a swan. There are very early spring flowers at her feet, setting the season as Imbolc, also known as “Lady’s day”, on Feb. 2nd. There is a full moon behind her, and a stone henge. She is dressed in a simple white robe, and has a veil casually looped on her arm, that the wind blows behind her. Her gown is belted at the waist with a red cincture, the color representing life. She also wears a crescent moon headdress, defining her as a Priestess. Her focus in on the crystal ball, and a willow branch frames the scene.
She gives the impression of preparing to enter the ritual space in the stone henge.
This then, is a high priestess who is a leader of a working circle a teacher, and perhaps a diviner. She is not the traditional cloistered and set apart RWS high priestess, who is solitary and represents the female passive principle.

I don’t really get the swan. The book says that she is the familiar of the goddess Brighid, whose feast Imbolc is. Swans figure in many Northern European Myths as Shapechagers or enchanted humans. They are said to sing so beautifully that people come from miles around to listen.
 

Fulgour

I looked online to see if I could find a "silver fillet"
but then searched for Crescent Moon Crowns.
Sterling Silver Crescent Moon Crown
(click on image)

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But there was also an unexpected image of a blue flower.
The High Priestess somehow makes me think of flowers.
Crown Vetch (Coronilla Varia)
(click on image)

And the site showing the flower had a lovely poem.

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Acquainted with the Night

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain ~ and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
and dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
when far away an interrupted cry
came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-bye;
and further still at an unearthly height,
O luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.



Robert Frost
1874 - 1963
 

magpie9

WoW! Beautiful!
I think you are a secret poet, Fulgour
:)
 

Fulgour

The High Priestess

I am the beauty of the green earth,
and the white moon among the stars,
and the mystery of the waters,
and the desire of the hearts of all.
Call unto thy soul,
arise and come unto me,
for I am the soul of nature,
who gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed,
and unto me all things must return,
and before my face,
beloved of gods and of all,
let thine innermost divine self
be enfolded in the rapture
of the infinite...




C.G.Leland 1896
 

Silverkitten

Wow Fulgour,
That was a breath-taking poem/writing. Thank you for posting and sharing it's beauty with us.

Donna
 

bluecaffeine

the high priestess

I like this card. For the Catholics, women are nothing, but in the Celtic/Pagan world women are wise. I learned from the book, that the word "witch" comes from "willow", Interesting. The noise of the swan symbolizes prophecy. So thats the secret of the swan.