High Priestess and Justice: The Quest for Perfection
AUTHOR’S NOTE: During my studies I often come across the opinion that the High Priestess and Justice display two faces of perfection, one natural and the other imposed. Although I’m mainly a Thoth and Tarot de Marseille guy, here I’m using the numerological structure of the Waite-Smith Major Arcana, which places Justice in the eleventh position of the sequence rather than the eighth. This makes perfect sense from the standpoint of “numerological counterparts,” since Eleven relates to Two through “Theosophical reduction” (11=1+1=2), making these cards more alike than different as paragons of virtue.
The two represent archetypes of excellence; the High Priestess is usually held aloft as a shining example of spotless purity while Justice demands perfection as the price of its approbation. The High Priestess is a more “crystalline,” abstract, spiritual presence while Justice (the Libra correspondence of which is the sign of exaltation for tough-minded Saturn) “kicks ass and takes names” in the pursuit of an honest verdict, and is most likely the patron saint of TV’s “Judge Judy” Sheindlin (nobody would ever mistake prickly Sheindlin for serene Mother Theresa).
In a reading, when it isn’t merely a harbinger of inscrutabilty (“You’re not ready for that information”) the High Priestess is usually treated as a benevolent or at least a benign influence, assuming one has the sensitivity and restraint to approach her “high seat” with due respect and thereby earn her benediction. (I suspect that most readers default to the first interpretation since it’s easier to say “I don’t know and she’s not telling.”) Justice, on the other hand, is seen as a card of mixed portent, always delivering one’s “just desserts,” the key to which is to be found worthy rather than wanting when the verdict is handed down.
Here is a brief exercise that applies these “alike but different” archetypes to the pursuit of spiritual elevation and refinement. We will assume that the individual would like to embrace the exalted, unflappable tranquility of the High Priestess but also needs the incisive shrewdness of Justice in carving a path to self-realization. (Perhaps she has been exploring religious or esoteric orders and now has more questions than answers.)
I will apply these principles to a random two-card pull, one card showing the seeker’s prevailing state of mind and the other her future “enlightened” condition. To facilitate this I will consider the High Priestess (elementally a “Water” card) to represent the “Water of Spirit” as the overarching environment of the matter and Justice (an expression of elemental Air) to bring precision and a bit of severity to the determination. By comparing each card to the archetypal apotheoses both elementally and empirically, and then deriving a “quintessence” card from the two for a similar comparison, we can determine which model will best serve the querent’s purpose and then recommend a course of action. Since we’re talking lofty aspirations here, I’m using only the Major Arcana for this reading. Also, because this overview contemplates an ideal reality rather than a potentially flawed one, I’m not applying reversals.
The question put to the tarot was “How can I become a more spiritually-centered person?”
After setting the High Priestess and Justice at their stations, I pulled the Lovers as the querent’s pre-existing state and Death as her “fulfilled” development. Then I calculated the “quintessence” for the two and came up with the Sun. The numerical “gap” between the Lovers and Death is spanned by the Hermit and the Wheel of Fortune, suggesting hesitation and a lack of confidence in making the leap; because the High Priestess is too remote to speak to the implications, this is where the Sun and Justice come in.
The Lovers suggests that she is at a crossroads and is seeking guidance, which is forthcoming. The angel in this card is more attuned to the situation than the High Priestess is likely to become so, although she is presently of divided mind, the querent clearly has little affinity for the latter’s disinterested opinion (which may only be “Put your clothes on and get out of my face!”) The angel has its right hand raised in the universal sign of “Stop right there!” and could be trying to shelter or deflect. It seems to be saying “Pay no attention to that woman behind the curtain.” (Possibly her own mother [and role model] was a “saint” with exacting expectations for a daughter who now wants to distance herself from that maternal obligation.)
On the other hand, the Lovers is an esoteric articulation of the cerebral Air sign Gemini; elementally it is on the same page as Libra-inspired Justice and is willing to submit to its carefully-reasoned judgement. The seeker’s best shot for escaping her current impasse will come more from the “head” than from the “heart.” She has no use for mysticism, which can be imputed from the Golden Art Nouveau image by the fact that the rational Man stands closer to the angel than the intuitive Woman. Interestingly, the Man is eyeing the High Priestess warily while the Woman is gazing hopefully at Justice. Despite the fact that Air and Water are mutually supportive, she really doesn’t want to appease her “mother.”
Death as her evolved self portends a “total makeover,” from the ground up, and as a manifestation of Water-sign Scorpio it appeals to the High Priestess for inspiration, who may in fact have an agenda that suits. But the querent has already looked at “born-again” cults and other fundamentalist faiths that aspire to “tear you down and put you back together again” (always, of course, in their own image regardless of your spiritual needs). Her present critical state of mind will not tolerate that degree of submissiveness. The High Priestess may have a narrative for the occasion but Justice — with that big sword — exercises “editorial privilege” and will nip any such foolishness in the bud. It is tempting to say “Death will have its way with you and you will have to experience the ‘dark night of the soul’ before you can emerge into the Light” but that particular path seems like a “slippery slope” that goes nowhere but into metaphysical chaos (she didn’t ask to be “converted,” just inspired) so I doubt I would unload on her quite so firmly.
A consummate “Fire” card, the Sun as the “quintessence” harmonizes nicely with the two “Air” cards, the Lovers and Justice, while being uncooperative with Death and stand-offish to the High Priestess. It strikes me that if she can find a mentor who is enthusiastic and magnetic, she could make great strides in finding herself spiritually. The chilly High Priestess offers only “scripted” advice in that regard while the warming Sun is more improvisational and uplifting, not to mention much more fun. As far as finding such a person, she will just have to “trust to her luck” and maintain an upbeat attitude while continuing her gate-keeping with Justice.
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on April 4, 2023.
