Artist - Sylvia Gainsford
Book - Howard Rodway
Contributor for this card: Louis Bourne
Astrological Influence: Moon
Element: Water
Month: July

"The young, delicately clad figure of the High Priestess has long fair hair and dark eyes. On her wrist she wears a silver bracelet with arcane markings. Around her neck is a lapis lazuli necklace that promotes clairvoyance. Her head-dress bears the symbol of the full moon. A magic wand of ivory, tipped with silver and a blue crystal, is held aloft in her right hand. She stands on the edge of a magic circle with her left hand resting on a deer's head. The deer is sacred to the goddess Diana. About her feet can be seen a black cat, woodland animals and a snake, keeper of secrets, who symbolizes purity of mind and purpose. In the background, a unicorn, who has emerged from the woods, crosses the stream. Birds and a Painted Lady are flying about. Over the head of the High Priestess an inverted triangle is shown - this is a goddess symbol. Crescent moons face each other in the upper corners; one black and one white. These stand for the positive and negative forces. In the foreground, orpine flowers are growing. The orpine is a herb associated with the moon. Above the plant flutters a Six Point Burnet moth. In the bottom left hand corner is a cobweb which represents Ariadne, the caster and weaver of spells. The flowing river seen in the Empress card orginates in this arcanum. It is seen here springing forth from the woodlands behind the High Priestess. Eventually, it will reach the sea in the Star card."

My thoughts on this card:
The way this card speaks to me, I see a beautiful woman who is wise and intuitive. She is quiet, perhaps seemingly fragile, yet very powerful and resilient. With her knowledge, she can understand the balance in the universe, and is also able to see things in their polar opposites of positive and negative. She is a teacher. A lady of the mysteries, who invites us to push beyond the veil of this reality and seek out that which is hidden.

Dana
darklayce@prodigy.net