The Hierophant V and The Pope V : Tarot Interpretations

The Hierophant V and The Pope V
​Upright
The Number 5 represents the 5 senses: sight, hearing, taste, feeling, and smell. It stands for the ‘essence of things as they are’ and in Latin the word for five means Nature. We might describe The Hierophant V: Rider and The Pope V: Marseilles as those cultural leaders who give others meaning to the sentient-spiritual relationship in the realm of of life experience and to the world of the senses.
In their Upright position, The Hierophant V: Rider and The Pope V: Marseilles symbolise society’s norms and traditions and are sought after as key sources of knowledge and wisdom - both sacred and profane. The Papal characters are leaders of conformist and traditional institutions and work to maintain society’s established order and conventional ideologies; the tried and the true. Key V of the Major Arcana represents the guide, teacher, pastor and mentor; and can signify receiving counselling, education and religious instruction or contract, such as a traditional marriage contract. The Hierophant V: Rider and The Pope V: Marseilles deliver sensible and socially acceptable advice. The values they represent are designed to help us grow, to move us towards peace, spiritual understanding and better living. In both images The Hierophant V: Rider and The Pope V: Marseilles appear much larger than the other figures – the acolytes, students and initiates. Their considerable ‘weight’ and relative size signifies their much greater authority, power and station in life. They are positioned to so their bodies, faces and hands are clearly visible to all.

5.jpg Visual Oracle - Ultimate Edition Lite 16.3.28 (Lifetime License). The Hierophant V

Each wears a gold and jewelled Triple Crown or Tiara representing a divinely appointed clergyman-teacher-pastor. In their left hand each holds a golden staff with Triple Cross; a symbol of faith, hope and love. The Triple Cross signifies needs for a fulfilling spiritual life – a love of nature, a love of ones neighbours and the love of God. Gold-yellow is a masculine colour and symbolic of a both the precious metal and of the Third Chakra. It symbolises wealth and abundance, power, supreme spiritual qualities, unconditional love and a deep understanding of the self and the soul’s purpose.
​The Hierophant V: Rider and The Pope V: Marseilles share many common elements. They are both almost completely covered by their extravagant ceremonial garments; leaving only their hands and faces exposed. The Hierophant V: Rider’s resplendent red cloak with white trim, bearing the Cross motive, reminds us of both the The Magician I: Rider and The Emperor IV: Rider. The Pope V: Marseilles wears an impressive red ceremonial cape with golden trim over a royal blue tunic. Red is a masculine colour and signifies physical vigour, force, excitement and passion. Red is the colour of the 1st Chakra and stands for the courage to live one’s (earthly) purpose with persistence, personal strength and a passionate and balanced approach. The underlying energy of the First Chakra is that of physical-emotional connection to family, tribe, country and nation. 

The Hierophant V. B.P. Grimaud. 1969, Tarot of Marseilles, Ets J.-M. Simon, Paris France

​Under his red cloak The Pope V: Marseilles wears a substantial tunic of royal blue; the colour royal blue signifies devotional study, the quest for religious truths and personal integrity. The Hierophant V: Rider wears a pale blue neckerchief which signifies peace, calm and healing. Lighter shades of blue are associated with the throat and Fifth Chakra; and symbolise communication, the ability to express oneself clearly and to manifest one’s goals in life.
The white undergarments worn by both figures suggest an underlying purity and capacity or healing through expression compassion with words. White is the colour of mental clarity, pure thoughts and actions and stimulates feelings of renewal.

The Hierophant V: Rider and The Pope V: Marseilles also differ in rather interesting ways. The Hierophant V: Rider is often considered a spiritual teacher and has a face that appears youthful and delicate; his eyes however, hold a steady, determined gaze over the heads of those who gather before showing focus and clear direction. His hands appear small, graceful and even effeminate even as his arms are open wide in salutation. The Pope V is God’s representative on Earth and a man in his senior years with a thick grey-white beard and long hair. He has an experienced, worldly face. The Pope’s gaze seems softer and more contemplative; focused on those gathering around him to receive his teaching and blessing.  ​

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