The Hierophant

The next card in our deck is the Hierophant, representing Taurus. 

The Hierophant is the masculine counterpart to the High Priestess, and in some decks may be known as the Teacher or the Pope. 

Typically, the Hierophant card depicts a religious figure sitting between two pillars presumably of a temple (though, different than the temple of the High Priestess). He wears robes of red, blue, and white and a three-tiered crown. His left hand holds the Papal Cross, his right hand is held in a religious blessing with two figures towards the sky and two towards the ground. Before him are two followers kneeling. There are crossed keys are his feet, showing him to the be the gatekeeper of this temple (and more). Our individual decks at the shop vary: Bryce (Rust Belt Arcana) has a man dressed in camo, and the keys are replaced by crossed guns, Kelley (Over the Garden Wall/Stitcher's Tarot) has Adelaide and a hand that holds a key and yarn, Chelsea (Weird Cat Tarot) has a green cat with a Papal cross, and Ashley (Yarn Tarot) has a closer view of the Hieophant, with one key on a necklace and two balls of yarn in his hand. 

If you think of the Zodiac cards as a learning journey, where the Emperor card wanted you to learn structure and the Lovers wants you to discover your own beliefs and make your own choices, the Hierophant wants you to learns the principles of discovery from a trusted source. The Hierophant upright represents religious beliefs, spiritual wisdom, conformity, traditions, and institutions. Reversed, it is challenging the status quo, freedom, and representing your personal beliefs. 

Pulling the Hierophant card upright is... fine, probably. It might want you to work with a teacher, mentor or guide about spiritual values and beliefs in a structured way. It might be encouraging a period of formal study as you delve into a subject. Maybe instead of being the student, this card is encouraging you take on the role of teacher and mentor to the others. You can honor and acknowledge your responsibility to share your knowledge in a structured way, one that respects... tradition (this card is not my vibe). 

Maybe it's arrival suggests you are following convention and staying within the bounds of a ‘tried and tested’ model. You are not yet willing to go out on a limb or offer any new and innovative ideas. Instead, you adhere to the key principles and rules that you know will lead to a successful result.

I am personally less wary of the Hierophant reversed. Reversed, the Hierophant can remind you that you are your own teacher. The wisdom you seek can be found within. You are being guided to follow your own path and adopt spiritual beliefs that feel true to yourself and who you are, rather than blindly following others'. With this card reversed, there is no spiritual cop trying to police you, and you don't need an authority to succeed. It's a card suggesting a challenge of the status quo and comes back to the question of "Why?" Why do we do it this way? The Hierophant reversed looks more like the rebellious anti-establishment teenager than the spiritual teacher seen upright. Maybe the card is letting you know you're able to have a run in with the cops, whoops!

Ultimately, the Hierophant card, representative of grounded Taurus, is an answer to why, but with two answers - "because I said so" and "well, why do you think?" It's structure and also a question of that structure, and we'll see what unfolds next month with the Lovers!

Our Hierophant yarn might be ever so slightly reminiscent of a bomb pop with white, sky blue, and a pink undertoned red with green, gold and red-orange speckles. 

BASES:

Chester Mini Skein: 20g, 87 yards, 75% super wash merino/25% nylon
Hattie Floof: 50g, 437 yards, 70% Superkid mohair/30% silk (lace weight)
Chester Sock: 100g, 437 yards, blend of 75% superwash merino/25% nylon
Gladys Shawl: 100g, 438 yards, single ply blend of 70% superwash merino/30% silk
Tortie Sport: 100g, 287 yards, 80% alpaca/20% silk
Minnie DK: 100g, 246 yards, 100% superwash merino wool 
Genny Worsted: 100g, 191 yards, 80% superwash merino/20% alpaca
Chubby Trevor: 115g, 136 yards, 100% superwash merino
Chunky Trevor: 100g, 76 yards, 80% superwash merino/20% nylon, single ply
Summer Fingering: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 438 yards
Summer DK: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 246 yards
Summer Worsted: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 181 yards
Piper Fiber: 85% Polwarth Wool/15% Tussah Silk, approximately 4oz braid of fiber for spinning, felting, etc