This card represents the Midwinter Solstice - Yule. There is a robin perched on the chalice and a wren among the acorns and leaves on the card's border. The book goes into the legend of the robin and wren - I won't copy it here. The Druid equates with the Hierophant in that Druids were the priestly class of the Celts - to be a full Druid took years of study and, presumably, a measure of wisdom was achieved.

From the book, page 67: "Among the ancient people, the winter was the time of dark, cold, and death, a time when the darker forces were in ascendance. The holly is evergreen and lasts throughout the winter, representing continuing life, though it is thorny and difficult. The red berries may represent blood and sacrifice, or perhaps the blood and light of the Sun God, believe to be reborn at the midwinter solstice. The holly's place in the ogham alphabet is tinne, meaning fire."

Page 68: "The Druid is the spiritual teacher within you who recognizes the necessity of opposite in balance. The card emphasizes the need to bring into harmony your relationship with the material world and the ordinary consciousness and the realm of spirit."

My thought on the Druid/Hierophant:
I will admit to always having had a problem with the Hierophant card in any deck. He's always smacked of religious/spiritual ultimatums and I've always been one to automatically rebel against that kind of authority. [g] So I tended to "skim" right past the card if I found it in a spread - really, just paying token attention to what it was trying to tell me. But I eventually started thinking that I really needed to confront what made me uncomfortable - and I think it boils down to something pretty basic for me. I don't like being told what to do. [g] The Hierophant represents society to me - what is needed to conform, to succeed within the confines of "what is expected" in a given situation. A parent saying, "When you're older, you'll understand - right now, do what I say!" Now when I see the Hierophant in a spread - particularly for myself - I stop & consider whether or not I've been given good advice but ignored it because of my pig-headedness. It's telling me to listen rather than reject out of hand. It's fine for me to go my own way, but refusing to at least acknowledge authority might close some doors I'd prefer to be left cracked.

The Druid of the Sacred Circle really helped in my understanding of my block. He is less an authority than a wise teacher. The Druid seems to be not only willing to give advice, but willing to listen when I don't agree with what he has to say. [g]

Bron
Graymist35@aol.com