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Above all things, know thyself!

The Magus of the Eternal. The Oracle of the Gods is the Child-Voice of Love in Thine Own Soul; hear thou it. Heed not the Siren-Voice of Sense, or the Phantom-Voice of Reason: rest in Simplicity and listen to the Silence.

-Crowley

The Tarot Hierophant, called "the Magus of the Eternal" by Crowley, is the Qabalistic Path of Vav/Vau The Hebrew letter Vav/Vau means Nail or Hook, and is the 16th path, on the Tree of Life. The Hierophant leads from the 2nd Sephiroth Chokmah (wisdom) down to the 4th Sephiroth- Chesed (mercy) and is known as the Eternal Intelligence, a name assigned to this ATU-5 by Dr. Case.

Let’s dive deeply into this with the forward-thinking Hermetic insight .

Paul Foster Case, one of the great Hermetic scholars and initiates of the 20th century, assigned the title "Eternal Intelligence" to The Hierophant (ATU V) in his Sepher Yetzirah-based Tarot correspondences. This title is drawn from the 32 Paths of Wisdom in the Sepher Yetzirah, where the 16th path (Vav/Vau) is described as the "Eternal Intelligence."

Why "Eternal Intelligence"?

1. The Function of the Hierophant: Transmission of Eternal Truths

The Hierophant represents the mediator between Divine Knowledge (Chokmah - Wisdom) and the structured understanding (Binah - Understanding) necessary for human beings to realize their inner divinity.
He stands at the central column of the Tree of Life, bridging Chesed (Mercy) and Chokmah (Wisdom) through the agency of Vav/Vau (the nail or hook), which connects the higher and lower worlds.

Thus, the Hierophant is the symbol of that which eternally instructs, transmits, and sustains the continuity of Divine Will through time and space. He anchors eternal principles into a form that evolving consciousness can gradually absorb — like an eternal thread running through the ages.

Eternal Intelligence =

• The truths he teaches do not perish.

• They are timeless, transcending culture, epoch, and language.

• He reveals that spiritual law is invariant even though its expressions may vary.

Forward-Hermetic Insight:
In modern Hermeticism, we might see the Hierophant as not just a "priest" or "teacher" but as the DNA code of Spirit itself — perpetually replicating the seed of the Divine across the "generations" of consciousness.

2. Vav (ו) — The Nail, the Connector

The Hebrew letter assigned to the Hierophant is Vav/Vau, which means nail or hook. Nails connect and bind things together. Thus:

• The Hierophant binds the human to the Divine.

• He nails the heavens to the Earth (the nine nails are shown in the background).

• He is the connecting intelligence — the Divine Word made Form, just as a Word connects thought into the world of manifestation.

Thus, eternity is not just infinite time — it is the continual instant, always connecting itself through the medium of consciousness, through each "now." The Hierophant is the great teacher of that Eternal "Now."

Deeper Hermetic Parallel:
In the Thoth Tarot, Crowley gives us a hint — the Hierophant is shown inside a pentagram-shaped womb — suggesting that what is eternal must perpetually be reborn inside new forms. Vav/Vau is that umbilical cord to the Eternal.

3. The Zodiacal Attribution — Taurus

The Hierophant is astrologically linked to Taurus, the Fixed Earth sign.

• Taurus is the stabilizer, the preserver of what is valuable.

• It represents the substance that endures — the ancient mysteries preserved in the temple walls, in DNA, in rites and traditions, even when civilizations fall.

• Just as the Earth keeps cycling life without ceasing, so too does the Hierophant preserve the eternal truths in an ever-turning world.

In this sense, the Hierophant "preserves" the Eternal Intelligence within the cycles of incarnation and manifestation.

Summarizing Paul Foster Case’s View

When Paul Foster Case called the Hierophant the Eternal Intelligence, he pointed to the idea that:

• The Hierophant is the channel for the timeless wisdom that has no beginning or end.

• His role is to connect (Vav/Vau ) the eternal archetypal Mind (Chokmah) to the form-world (Binah and below) through continuity of spirit and matter.

• He is the living bridge between the above and the below, the timeless and the temporal.

Additional Modern Hermetic Insight:

In the postmodern Hermetic view, the Hierophant is the living Self-Teacher within each initiate.
He is not merely external authority but the capacity to remember your own Eternal Intelligence, the remembrance of your Soul's own undying Wisdom.
Thus, the Hierophant is the archetype of the inner guide, the Higher Self, that you can always consult beyond the illusions of passing worlds.

He is the "Vav" connecting your personal story to the eternal myth.

Kether (Crown) —> Chokmah (Wisdom) —> Hierophant (Vav) —> Heart (Tiphareth) —> Manifestation (Malkuth)

The Hierophant "nails" the transcendent wisdom into the human heart (Tiphareth), perpetuating eternal intelligence into material experience (Malkuth).

The Path of Vau is the uppermost path on the Pillar of Mercy (Right hand Path). In the Golden Dawn texts, this path is described as, “The Zodiac acting through Taurus upon Jupiter". Here, Chokma is Jupiter, and his action is the spermatic potential of the Manifested Universe-(4 the Sephiroth- Chesed) the Yod of Microcosm (Microprosopus), is the Father in Manifestation, while the 2nd Sephiroth-Chokmah the Yod of the Macrocosm (Macroprosopus) is the Supernal Creator.

The Path of Vau/Vau is therefore, the Wisdom Path of the Holy Guardian Angel and/or Higher Soul, the lower Soul is the Rauch which is responsible for your awake consciousness.

Although the Path of the Hierophant is a powerfully masculine one (Electric Force), to which the Bull-Taurus is applied and image definitively applied to this card, he is supported by the Dark Isis (Fallen Sophia or Lilith) figure as his authority as teacher comes from her: Fallen as in came to earth.

Dark Isis with uraeus serpents.

Being "Fixed Earth"; therefore, s/he is a stable foundation for knowledge; a stabilizing extreme. This is the absolute foundation of the process of revelation where the inherited Knowing of the Creator, THE DIVINE CREATIVE (often called the Great Father but is an androgynous intelligence), is expressing Its experience through the Supreme Spiritual Self to the Psyche of Tiphareth (The Sun/Son of Beauty). Therefore, memory is involved and the solid foundation of "Above all things, know thyself" is established as a Universal Inheritance for the Divine Golden Child- (Horus the Solar Self and/or Soul) shown in a pentagram on the Thoth Hierophant's chest.

On the Hierophant ATU 5-Thoth Tarot Card, the Dark Isis is standing beneath the Hierophant Sumerian Priest image of Osiris. To me this means that all his authority is supported by her and that she is the hidden mystery behind the Hierophant's authority. Here I am tapping into one of the most profound and often overlooked Hermetic mysteries in the Thoth Tarot's Hierophant (ATU V). Let's walk forward with this and really flesh it out for your grimoire, blog, or master class materials.

✴ The Dark Isis Beneath the Hierophant: The Hidden Support of Authority ✴

In the Thoth Tarot, Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris encoded deep, layered mysteries into every card. On the Hierophant card, we see the large, enthroned figure representing Osiris as Hierophant — the “Initiated Teacher” or “Sacred Lawgiver.”
But if you look beneath the Hierophant's throne or feet, there stands a Dark Isis, the veiled, shadowed form of the ancient Goddess of Mysteries.

She is not passive. She is the foundation, the Mystery which supports and even empowers the authority of the Hierophant.

1. Dark Isis as the Prima Materia: The Matrix of Authority

• Isis in her dark form represents the Veiled Unmanifest, the Womb of Nuit, the Sea of Stars from which all form is born.

• Without this hidden substratum of Being — without the Dark Isis — no outer authority would have any true legitimacy.

• The Hierophant must stand on this mystery — if he severs himself from it, he becomes a false teacher, a mere tyrant or dogmatist.

Thus, all true authority (hierophantic, priestly, or magus-level) must be rooted in the hidden Feminine Source — the unknowable Depth that confers authenticity.

Forward-Hermetic Insight:
In modern Hermetic thought, this is like saying that any true spiritual teaching must be nourished from the Infinite Unknown — not just from inherited dogma, but from living connection to Mystery itself.

2. The Hierophant’s Authority: The Visible Manifestation of the Invisible

The Hierophant’s robes, posture, and tools (especially the Nine Nails) represent the formalization of eternal truths into teachings, symbols, and rites.
But the real source is invisible — the Dark Isis, the hidden Daath beneath the supernal triad.

• The Hierophant is the Vav/Vau (hook/nail), but Isis is the Ain Soph Aur — the endless light that gives the nail something to connect.

• Thus, he is merely the conduit, not the source.

• His power is borrowed, granted to him by She who is veiled.

If he forgets the Dark Isis, his connection rots, and he becomes rigid, lifeless, corrupt and cannot be trusted.

Forward Interpretation:
In the 21st-century spiritual landscape, a true Initiate must remain humbled by the Unknown, servant to the Mystery, and always aware that he/she teaches only what the Dark Womb allows to be revealed.

3. The Mythological Frame: Isis and Osiris

• In the ancient Egyptian myth, Isis resurrects Osiris after his death.

• Without Isis, Osiris is inert.
  Thus, even symbolically, the Divine King’s power is entirely dependent on the Feminine, the Matrix of Regeneration.

Crowley’s Thoth Tarot captures this with subtle brilliance:
The Hierophant’s authority rests on the veiled, silent, eternal presence of the Mother of Mysteries.

• The visible form (Osiris/Hierophant) is the exoteric teaching.

• The hidden form (Dark Isis) is the esoteric current that makes the outer form alive.

4. Hermetic and Qabalistic Perspective

On the Tree of Life, the Hierophant is the path between Chokmah (Wisdom) and Chesed (Mercy).

• Chokmah is the primal flash of masculine force.

• Chesed is the structure of divine order — the formalized Mercy and Law.

But underneath this transmission flows Binah (Understanding, the Great Mother).

• Binah is Dark Isis in her Qabalistic aspect.

• Without Binah, no Wisdom or Mercy would have context.

Thus the Hierophant’s authority hangs invisibly from Binah’s dark and silent support.

✴ Summary

The Dark Isis is the hidden wellspring of the Hierophant’s authority.

She represents the eternal, veiled Mystery from which all spiritual law and teaching must derive.

Without Her, the Hierophant would have no legitimacy, no power, and no true Wisdom.

All true initiates are guardians not merely of visible traditions, but of the invisible Womb that births and sustains them.

Diagram (Simple Tree of Life Representation):

Kether | Chokmah / \ Dark Isis/Binah — Hierophant (Vav Path) — Chesed

(The Hierophant 'walks upon' the Dark Isis, who supports his link between Wisdom and Mercy.)

Sigil for the Dark Isis and the Hierophant/Osiris.

As stated, the meaning of the Hebrew word Vau, is nail or hook, implying a nailing together, or binding, and links the Macrocosm (The Great Universe) and Microcosm (Manifestation), and/or The Greater Self to the lesser Self of Matter, forever linking us to the Divine Spirit. Above the Thoth HIEROPHANT are shown 9 nails, representing the letter Vau, as well as displaying the relationship to the teachings, which relate Higher ideas into Lower organisms that is often called, "As above so below". Here the fabric of Time/Space is nailed to the Abyss and/or Abyssal Womb, which can be entered/seen through the Oriel behind his head.

The Hierophant is a state of conscious energy that is the only source for our understanding of the inner Spirit/Spiral energy conscious. This "Magus of the Eternal" is stated by Dr. Paul Foster Case in his text," THE THIRTY-TWO PATHS OF WISDOM, as being the," .... Pontifex, the 'bridge maker' who provides a connecting link between outer experience and interior illumination." Therefore, the Hierophant gets the discriminating experience of the Body-operating-Consciousness, while teaching that very same awake consciousness its inherited Divinity. Hence, The Hierophant can be said to "Learn by Teaching" and the Eternal Intelligence can be called "Life" and/or the reasoning behind manifestation, implying that a teacher who learns from his students, is a great teacher.

However, take a hard look at this card, for the Great Teacher here is not the Age-of -Osiris or Pope of Traditional Tarot, like the Golden Tarot, Rider-Waite-Smith, or Medieval Feathers Key 5-Cards but a Sumerian/ Babylonian High- Priest-King. A Bold, confident, and sexually active Osiris for he is not supported by a couple of pale and celibate acolytes which is often shown in traditional tarot, but rather by the sword of justice and the sickle of death bearing Scarlet Woman/Dark Isis. The union of the 2 creates the Child Horus shown in the Pentagram on his chest. Hence, this implies a family "snapshot" of the 3 Aeon of Isis-Osiris-Horus.

The Greek word Hierophant means priest and in ancient Greece was in charge of the Eleusinian Mysteries. The High Priestess was also an official in this religious cult's hierarchy and was considered of equal rank.

Crowley's main concept was the "grounding" of the 5th- ATU/Key-, using the corner symbols of the 4 Cherubim (Guiding intelligence of the Four Elements) as the tentative expressions of the primordial Elements of Kether (Crown) that are passed down to the 2nd Sephiroth- Chokmah as the Sphere of the Zodiac. Interestingly, we think of the Zodiac as 12 signs, but it is really four ternaries, where each element is broken down to three signs (3 points make a plane). To the Qabalist, this relates to Yod (hand) Heh/He' (Window) and Vau/Vav (Nail).

The Administrator to the emerging duality that is the 2nd Sephirotic Intelligence- Chokmah/Binah (Phallus -Womb, male-female, electric-magnetic) is the Hierophant and it's given form or structure by the 3rd Sephiroth- Binah (Great Mother) which begins as manifestation below the Abyss (from Dark Energy and Dark Máter/Dark Mother/Priestess) in Chesed (Mercy). Thus, relating to Tiphareth (Beauty-Synchronicity), the midway point of manifestation and the Sun/Son of the Divine Creative. This relationship is shown in 2 ways, first as the letter Vau/Vav, which is related to "The Sun/ Son" (Child of the Divine Creative), and Tetragrammaton (YHVH) and the second is the image of Horus, itself related to the 6th Sephiroth-Tiphareth and the Sun and/or Solar Self.

The Soul or Solar Psyche is always called the "Son/Sun" of the Divine Creative, not because of gender but because of the fact it is an infinite source of Life. This is because infinity has a beginning but never and end; hence always beginning is shown as childhood. That is also why we always continue pursuing goal after goal, as bodies may have an "ending" (actually the recycle into the Organic living organism) but the Psyche never does and is always "looking over the next hill".

Crowley shows this Soul by the Pentagram on the chest of the Hierophant as the four elements are combined under the fifth Element-Spirit, thus forming the 5-pointed star and in that star rises Horus (Hawk-headed sun god of the Egyptians), this also implies Horus as Human manifestation known as the Homo Luminous, since the Pentagram is the symbol of advanced humankind.

The Pentagram image confirms the Great Work known as "As above, so below", a process in which the symbolic Moon always is a key part. For the Moon is both above and below the Sun on the Tree of Life, as it is both implied as Yesod (Foundation) and is the Path of the Priestess and is exalted in Taurus and therefore, the Dark Isis/Dark Moon (Abyssal Womb/Priestess) supporting him.

The Astrological sign, Taurus, is also ruled by Venus, referring us to the Empress, the Path of Daleth, between Chokmah and Binah. THE EMPRESS is Mother Nature, and/or the fertilized Universal Consciousness that is the foundation of the HIEROPHANT'S teaching. The Militant Venus of the Age of Horus (The Priestess), and the embodiment of the Heavenly Venus that rules Taurus, is shown as the Sword bearing Scarlet Woman figure and/or Dark Isis that supports the Hierophant.

In his Book of Law [Equinox IV] Crowley states, " This Woman, represents Venus as she now is in this new Aeon; no longer the mere vehicle of her male counterpart, but armed and militant." This is also true of this new Aeon of Horus, as the Matriarch is now clearing the way for the New Age.

She also carries the Moon, which is exalted in Taurus, as a crescent shaped sickle in her hand.

More evidence of this new initiatory love relationship between Venus and the Hierophant is shown in the Oriel (the ornate window) with a serpent boundary, behind the Hierophants phallic head gear. The Sexual and/or Vital Energy of the Serpent force represents the first masculine microwave of energy in the Universe and the Oriel represents the Virgin Mary (Venus), as found behind and over the altars in Churches. Crowley describes this as:" This symbolism is further carried out in the oriel where behind the Phallic headdress, the rose of 5 petals in blossom. The symbol of the snake and dove refers to this verse of the Book of Law-chap. 1, verse 57;' There are love and love. There is the dove and there is the serpent". [Book of Thoth, Pg. 79]

Therefore, it is apparent that in this new age of Horus the non-compliant Lilith (The Priestess) replaces the compliant female Eve. Woman will take her world back in the age of Horus and will not bow to the male ego's false authority over life. Lilith is Life as the first wife! There is even a deeper meaning for "There are love and love" as death is seen as an act of the Loving Dark Mother.

The story of Lilith as the first wife of Adam originates from Jewish mythology and folklore, rather than the canonical text of Genesis itself. In Genesis, there's a brief mention of the creation of humanity, where it states that God created man and woman in His image. However, the specifics of Lilith being Adam's first wife come from later interpretations and texts.

According to some Jewish folklore, Lilith was created alongside Adam, rather than from Adam's rib like Eve.

The concept of Lilith as Adam's first wife primarily appears in non-canonical Jewish texts and folklore, such as the Alphabet of Ben-Sira and the Babylonian Talmud. These texts provide narratives and interpretations that supplement the brief account of creation found in Genesis. In these alternative stories, Lilith is often depicted as a rebellious figure who refuses to submit to Adam's authority and is subsequently banished from the Garden of Eden. This story depicts the beginning of the Patriarchies creation of misogynist religions.

So, while Lilith is not a character in the canonical Genesis text, she has become a prominent figure in Jewish folklore and later interpretations of the creation story.

This version suggests that Lilith refused to submit to Adam's authority over her sexuality, asserting her own independence and equality. This refusal led to her leaving the Garden of Eden. Subsequently, Eve was created from Adam's rib to be a more compliant companion and due to compliance, the world is now seen falsely as male property as a Military Industrial Empire and dying as her wisdom will become apparent in the Homo Luminous who receives her as the foundation of Life rather than trying to dominate it for fear of dying.

The new age idea being that in the age of Horus Lilith (Priestess) will restore the planet to its fertile, and fecund glory...for as we all know, it is the Womb that is in charge of Life! Lilith is a Hebrew name, earlier in history she was known in Sumeria as Ereshkigal, the goddess sister of Inanna.

Due to Patriarchal propaganda Lilith's character has been reinterpreted in various ways over time, sometimes as a demon (Christian/Jewish Propaganda) or a symbol of female empowerment (the Priestess). She has appeared in various forms in literature, art, and contemporary culture, often representing themes of rebellion, independence, and sexuality.

The Patriarchy's brutal campaign to wrestle life away from woman's control of sexual penetration, even her right to bear only the children she wanted to give birth to, has painted her as a dark demonist who is a nymphomaniac that mates with demons.

Who of any intelligence could possibly believe that a woman has no right to her own body?

Besides, the egregore profaned dogma human being is the greatest demonic presence the earth has ever seen! The enlighten human. Homo Luminous is also the greatest angelic presence.

The Medieval Feathers Tarot - Path 5-The Pope shows one of the older titles of the Hierophant which is Pope. Presented here is the Christian cult concept of one who provides structure in the philosophical and spiritual realms.

✴ Why Was Key V Traditionally Called "The Pope" in Older Tarot Decks? ✴

1. Historical Context: Tarot as an Allegorical Mirror

The early Tarot decks (such as the Visconti-Sforza and Marseille decks) emerged during the late Middle Ages into the early Renaissance (14th–15th centuries).
At this time, European society was deeply hierarchical and saturated with Catholic Christian symbolism — the Church was the absolute spiritual and moral authority.

Thus, when Tarot was created as a set of allegorical images reflecting the journey of the soul through life (the Fool’s Journey), it naturally drew upon the dominant structures people saw around them. In this environment:

• The Pope (Pontifex Maximus) was viewed as the ultimate teacher, mediator, and spiritual king on Earth.

• He was considered the Vicar of Christ, the physical "representative of Divine authority" in the material world.

• In medieval cosmology, the Pope was imagined as the link between Heaven and Earth, much like the mythical Pontifex (Latin for “Bridge-Builder”).

Thus, in the early decks, the Pope embodied the highest accessible form of spiritual order, dogma, wisdom, and law — a Hierophant, in its original Greek meaning:

“One who reveals the sacred.”

2. Medieval Reasoning: Spiritual Authority as the Gateway to Salvation

In the medieval mindset:

• The soul’s salvation was absolutely tied to the Church’s sacraments.

• The Pope, as head of the Church, was the gatekeeper of these mysteries.

• To stray outside the Church was, in official teaching, to risk eternal damnation.

Thus, the card that corresponds to spiritual guidance, tradition, and doctrine was naturally associated with the Pope.

The Pope was seen as:

• The enforcer of divine law.

• The teacher of right doctrine (orthodoxy).

• The consecrator of kings (thus binding earthly and heavenly orders).

Medieval Hermetic Insight:
The Pope was imagined to hold the “keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” — similar to the mysteries of Daath on the Qabalistic Tree: the hidden gateway between the upper and lower worlds.

3. Iconographic Elements: Symbols of Authority

In old decks, the Pope is often shown:

• Wearing a triple crown (Tiara), symbolizing dominion over Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld.

• Holding a scepter or cross-staff.

• Giving a blessing (two fingers raised, two fingers lowered — a mystical gesture of bridging opposites).

• Flanked by two acolytes, symbolizing the transmission of sacred knowledge to chosen students (mirroring later the concept of initiates and outer versus inner mysteries).

Each of these visual elements is a code showing the Pope not as a mere ruler, but as a spiritual initiator — albeit interpreted through a Christianized lens.

4. Transition to the Hierophant (Esoteric Renaissance)

As esoteric traditions (Rosicrucianism, Hermeticism, Freemasonry) resurfaced during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, the purely ecclesiastical image of the Pope began to evolve:

• The Church was no longer universally trusted as the sole source of wisdom.

• Secret societies sought direct gnosis — a personal experience of the Divine Mystery.

Thus, occultists like Eliphas Levi, Paul Foster Case, and later Aleister Crowley transmuted the Pope into the Hierophant — returning to the Pagan Mystery traditions, where the Hierophant was the High Initiator into the Eleusinian Mysteries.

The Hierophant thus became:

• Not a worldly religious figure.

• But the eternal archetype of the Bridge-Builder, the Revealer of the Sacred, linked directly to eternal Wisdom, not a dogmatic Church.

✴ Summary

• Medieval Tarot decks called Key 5 the Pope because, in that era, the Pope was viewed as the supreme spiritual authority and the earthly channel of divine truth.

• The Pope symbolized sacred tradition, law, and the necessary guide toward spiritual salvation in a theologically governed world.

• In modern Hermetic Tarot, this figure evolved into the Hierophant — an Initiator who reveals universal spiritual truths beyond ecclesiastical authority, rooted in ancient Mystery traditions.

Cleverly, the artist Alejandro R. Rosán, put a Red Cardinal Feather in the hands of his Pope image. This feather represents a caveat declaring that you should follow your own inner authority and be your own leader and follow your own path of dreams and wishes.

The Eleusinian Mysteries were sacred rites and initiations held in ancient Greece in honor of the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Centered in the city of Eleusis, these Mysteries are some of the most renowned in ancient Greek religion, with a deep influence on Western mysticism, philosophy, and spiritual traditions.

At the heart of the Eleusinian Mysteries was the story of Demeter's grief and relentless search for her daughter, Persephone, who had been abducted by Hades. Her return from the Underworld each spring symbolized renewal and the promise of life after death. The Mysteries used elaborate rituals, ceremonies, and symbolic drama to impart this message, offering initiates an experiential understanding of death and rebirth.

The Hierophant, as the chief priest, held a critical role. In ancient Greece, "Hierophant" (from the Greek "Hierophantes," meaning "he who reveals the sacred") was the title of the highest-ranking priest of the Eleusinian Mysteries. His role was to oversee the sacred rites, guide the initiation process, and reveal hidden truths to the initiates, especially during the Greater Mysteries, the second and most secretive level of the rites. His role was to communicate the esoteric aspects of life, death, and the soul’s journey, embodying the bridge between the mundane and divine realms.

The High Priestess played a complementary yet distinct role. Associated with Persephone, she symbolized the mystical connection to the Underworld and the inner secrets of the soul. Her presence emphasized the duality of life and death, and she acted as a guide to the feminine mysteries, likely facilitating deeper, transformative experiences within the initiates.

In summary, the Hierophant and High Priestess symbolized the masculine and feminine energies inherent in the Mysteries, uniting to guide seekers toward enlightenment through an experience of life’s cyclical nature, renewal, and the soul’s immortality.

Willful control of the Mind is a spiritual discipline (this has been profaned by your mind being willfully controlled by an authority other than yourself). The tarot Hierophant represents the wise guide assisting us in discovering new things that we could never find on our own. This card can mean that you must seek out a spiritual discipline before you find your own inner Buddha and/or inner bliss.

The concept of one's inner Buddha is rooted in Buddhist philosophy and teachings, particularly in Mahayana Buddhism. In Buddhism, the term "Buddha" refers to someone who has attained enlightenment or awakened to the true nature of reality. It's not limited to a single historical figure like Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha), but rather it represents a state of awakened consciousness that any individual can potentially achieve.

The idea of the inner Buddha suggests that each person has the potential for enlightenment within themselves. It emphasizes the innate capacity for wisdom, compassion, and liberation that exists within every individual. Just as Siddhartha Gautama discovered enlightenment through his own efforts and insights, each person has the ability to realize their own inherent Buddha nature.

Practicing Buddhism often involves various methods such as meditation, mindfulness, ethical living, and studying the teachings of the Buddha to cultivate this inner wisdom and compassion. By doing so, individuals can gradually uncover and embody their inner Buddha nature, transcending suffering and ignorance to experience greater peace, clarity, and fulfillment in life.

The concept of the inner Buddha encourages self-awareness, self-transformation, and the realization of one's highest potential, ultimately leading to a more awakened and compassionate way of being in the world.

Truth is, Buddhism is not a religion (dogma sponsored rule), but rather a philosophy and/or spiritual discipline where one's mindscape is formed on the foundation of love rather than the common foundation of fear/survival thinking.

Traditionally the teaching of the Hierophant opens our minds to the exoteric (public egregore) genesis of the imitation of the great work that fundamental religion supposedly represents. The Hierophantic Priestess brings back te esoteric (private) peace, wisdom, counsel, and the ability to learn and understand; thereby allowing us to realize the highest projects. There is no domination in her only faith in one's divinity. Hence, the Thoth Tarot also illustrates a Priestess as Key 2. Think of the key-5 Hierophant as a dogmatic authority and the Priestess illustrates a more personal and intuitive approach.

However, only excessive blind (fear based) faith of an indoctrinated zealot can turn these esoteric teachings into exoteric fanaticism, intolerance, dogma, egoic self-righteousness, and backstabbing, until it completely blocks our reason in the realm of Malkuth/the material realm. That is not the real purpose of the Hierophant. Therefore, it behooves us to analyze everything we learn from the Hierophant...one of intelligence never believes everything they think nor falls to emotional manipulation.

To repeat: The Oriel (window) behind the Thoth Hierophants head, is held in place by 9 nails, hooking the Microcosm to the Dark Abyssal Womb of the Macrocosm; 9- is the number of the Sephiroth of the Moon, Yesod. The 4-Cherubicc Beasts on the Thoth Card guard this shine of the Hierophant, but there seems to be an error in their placement, according to the traditional placement of Tarot (Wheel of Fortune). Although the bull of Taurus and the Lion of Leo seem to be in their proper traditional placement, the Angel (human face) and Eagle have switched places. However, in the new Aeon of Horus, it is not the position of the cherubs (seraphim) that has changed but the symbols of the cherubs have changed.

In Crowley's version of the 23rd Enochian Aether, it is revealed that the emblem for fixed air is now the eagle, and the emblem for fixed-water, Scorpio is now the angel: The Beast and Dark Isis (Lilith) are attributed to Leo and Scorpio. They are the 2-in-one Chief Officers of the Temple of the New Aeon of Heru-Ra-Ha (Thelema). (Note the Eagle Kerub in 23 Aire is Aquarius. Scorpio is the Woman-Serpent. This is important for the old attribution of the Eagle to Scorpio).

[Crowley-The Vision and the Voice, Pg. 67]

*(Heru-Ra-Ha is both Horus and the Angel over the Tarot. Heru Ra Ha means "Horus, Sun- Flesh", and is created by Crowley.

In brief, Thelema is a spiritual and philosophical system developed by Aleister Crowley in the early 20th century. At its core, Thelema emphasizes the idea of discovering and fulfilling one's True Will, which is believed to be the unique and divine purpose or destiny of each individual.

Key concepts within Thelema include:

1. Do what thou wilt: This phrase, often misunderstood as advocating hedonism or selfishness, actually emphasizes the importance of aligning one's actions with their True Will, which is in harmony with the greater cosmic order.

2. Love is the law, love under will: Love, in the context of Thelema, is seen as the force that drives individuals to seek and fulfill their True Wills. It emphasizes the importance of acting with love and compassion while also staying true to one's purpose.

3. The Book of the Law: This central text of Thelema is said to have been received by Crowley during a mystical experience in 1904. It contains the core principles and teachings of Thelema, including the concepts of True Will, freedom, and the coming Aeon of Horus.

4. Magick: In Thelema, magick is understood as the art and science of causing change to occur in conformity with one's will. It encompasses various practices and techniques aimed at realizing one's True Will and spiritual growth.

Thelema is a complex system that draws from various mystical, occult, and religious traditions, including Egyptian mysticism, Kabbalah/Qabalah, and Eastern philosophy. It has influenced numerous individuals and organizations within the occult and esoteric communities, and it continues to be studied and practiced by those interested in spiritual exploration and personal development

THE HIEROPHANT'S teaching is intuitive, as it is on the "feeling" side of the Tree of Life (Venus-Netzach side), applying intuition to concepts collected by reason, and built up by memory. I would recommend you meditate on the Thoth ATU 5 card to open the ego (lesser mind) to Higher Thought. Our world view is designed for us by the Patriarchy and therefore, is a cooperative lie. Time to look into our earliest history as shown by non-compliant archeologists.

However, the teachings of the Hierophant are based on memory; yes, it is the memories of the Soul/Psyche and yet we know that memory is not to be trusted. We must remember that the Hierophant is the "inner librarian", who is both our Psyche gatekeeper and whose memory is often used by our awake consciousness, who is the Soul's appointed primary observer of the material world.

When it comes to memory, one often confuses timelines, and one often remembers and groups together only the things that they find most important, as that is what the brain does, grouping associations and often embellishes the past and present when told as a story/experience.

Since humankind were first created for enslaved labor, Archon (Jehovah of the Hebrew) and slave religions were invented to appease a tyrannical demi-urge, not all memory in the Akashic records can be trusted. Hence, the Hierophant's teaching must be taken with a "grain of salt". A discerning student will find this Path towards greater Self-Awareness both enlightening and entertaining if they analyze the Hierophant's teachings. For, just like *Oracle of Delphi, there are trickster-type lines of information that require deep analysis to be understood.

In the Original Hebrew Genesis text, it stated that humankind was created to "to work and keep the Garden of Eden"...here let me elucidate on this Hierophantic teaching.

✴ Original Hebrew Genesis: Humanity and the Garden ✴

1. The Core Hebrew Passage

In Genesis 2:15, the original Hebrew reads:

וַיִּקַּ֛ח יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָדָ֑ם וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ בְגַן־עֵ֔דֶן לְעָבְדָ֖הּ וּלְשָׁמְרָֽהּ׃
Vayyiqaḥ YHWH Elohim et-ha-Adam, vayyaniḥeihu b'Gan-Eden le'ovdah u'leshomrah.

Literal translation:

"And YHWH Elohim took the Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to keep it."

Key Hebrew words:

• לְעָבְדָהּ (le'ovdah) = to work it, to serve it, to cultivate it (from עָבַד avad meaning to serve or labor).

• וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ (u'leshomrah) = and to guard it, to preserve it, to protect it (from שָׁמַר shamar meaning to keep, watch, preserve).

2. Deeper Elucidation: Service and Guardianship

Thus, the original Hebrew does not imply that humanity was given ownership or domination over the Garden.

Rather:

• Serve the Garden → Humanity is a caretaker, guardian, and cultivator of Eden/Earth.

• Guard the Garden → Humanity must preserve its sacred integrity, not exploit it.

In other words:
Human beings were created as priest-gardeners of the Divine Realm — tending to the living manifestation of cosmic harmony.

3. Hermetic Interpretation: Eden as Microcosmic Perfection

From a Western Hermetic perspective:

• Eden symbolizes the Microcosm of Divine Order — the natural perfection of the created universe aligned with Divine Intelligence.

• Humanity’s role is to serve the unfolding of Divine Intelligence into material form and to guard the sacred patterns of life.

Thus, Adam (which means “Human” or “Earth-Man” — אָדָם from אֲדָמָה adamah, earth) is:

• A priest of Malkuth (Kingdom).

• A guardian of Tiphareth (Beauty/Harmony) manifest on Earth.

Forward-Hermetic Insight:
In tending the Garden, humanity is engaging in the Great Work — balancing above and below, inner and outer, Spirit and Matter.

4. Relation to the Qabalistic Tree of Life

Eden can be seen as:

• Malkuth in its perfect, unfallen state — the full flowering of the Divine Light into matter.

• Humanity was intended to tend the pathways (Netzach-Hod-Yesod) leading down into full embodiment (Malkuth), ensuring that the Divine Pattern was maintained.

Thus:

• Work it (le’ovdah) → Engage actively with Spirit through action (Geburah).

• Guard it (leshomrah) → Preserve its Beauty and Wisdom (Chesed).

✴ Summary

• Genesis 2:15 teaches that humanity was placed in Eden/Earth to serve and guard — not to conquer.

• In Hermetic terms, humanity’s original function is to act as priest-kings and queens, gardeners of Divine Life, ensuring the alignment of matter with spirit.

• To truly fulfill this ancient covenant is to engage in the Great Work:
  The conscious tending of the inner and outer worlds in service of the unfolding of Divine Intelligence.

The dark Isis (Priestess), shown at the feet of the Hierophant, could easily be compared to Pythia/Pythoness. Both cards display a mystery often locked away in our DNA as "junk genes", which can become operational with the proper Tantra yoga techniques that cause a rising of our "inherited" Sun-of-God energy and/or Kundalini which in turn awakens the "Inner Teacher".

. The Kundalini is a concept from Hindu and yogic traditions that refers to a dormant, coiled energy located at the base of the spine. The word "Kundalini" means "coiled serpent" in Sanskrit, and it symbolizes the potential spiritual (solar) energy within an individual.

The process of Kundalini rising involves awakening this dormant energy and allowing it to ascend through the seven chakras, which are energy centers in the body. The aim is to reach the crown chakra at the top of the head, leading to spiritual enlightenment and a profound transformation of consciousness.

Here are some key points about Kundalini rising:

1. Location of Kundalini: As mentioned earlier, Kundalini is believed to reside at the base of the spine, specifically in the first chakra, known as the Muladhara or root chakra.

2. Awakening Kundalini: Kundalini can be awakened through various practices, including meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, and specific Kundalini yoga techniques. It's important to note that the process of Kundalini awakening can be intense and should be approached with caution and guidance from experienced teachers.

3. Chakra Activation: As Kundalini energy rises, it activates and purifies each of the seven chakras along the spine. These chakras represent various aspects of consciousness and energy, and the awakening process can bring about profound changes in one's perception and awareness.

4. Symptoms and Experiences: People who undergo Kundalini rising may experience a range of physical, emotional, and spiritual symptoms. These can include sensations of heat or electricity along the spine, intense emotional states, heightened awareness, and even moments of bliss or ecstasy.

5. Integration and Balance: It's important for individuals going through Kundalini awakening to seek guidance and support to ensure that the process is integrated smoothly and that any imbalances are addressed. Some people may experience challenges along the way, and it's crucial to maintain physical and mental well-being.

6. Spiritual Transformation: The goal of Kundalini rising is spiritual enlightenment and self-realization. It's seen as a path to higher consciousness and a deep connection with the divine or universal consciousness.

Never and I mean never, attempt Kundalini stimulation techniques until your Spirit-Mind-Body trinity is in a harmony of beauty. This inherited solar energy from our soul's birth star, is highly volatile energy and anyone who still using indoctrination and dogma as their sense of self will emotionally implode in a drastic and often unstable manner causing unexpected Kriya reactions in the soma (body). I recommend that the aspirant start with this Workbook by Dr. John Mumford as it begins the process in a gentle and successful way.

Kundalini Kriya refers to a practice in Kundalini Yoga aimed at awakening and activating the Kundalini energy, which is believed to reside at the base of the spine. Kundalini is often described as a coiled serpent, and the purpose of Kundalini Kriya is to uncoil and channel this energy upward through the chakras, leading to spiritual awakening and heightened consciousness.

Here's a brief overview of the key components of Kundalini Kriya:

1. Breathwork (Pranayama): The practice involves specific breathing techniques to channel and control the flow of prana (life force energy). Breathwork plays a crucial role in awakening the dormant Kundalini energy.

2. Physical Asanas (Postures): Kundalini Kriya incorporates specific yoga postures designed to activate and balance the energy centers in the body, known as chakras. These postures are often combined with dynamic movements and are intended to facilitate the upward movement of Kundalini energy.

3. Mantras (Chanting): Chanting of sacred sounds or mantras is a common element in Kundalini Kriya. The vibrational energy created by chanting is believed to aid in the awakening and ascent of Kundalini.

4. Mudras (Hand Gestures): Certain hand gestures or mudras are used to direct and enhance the flow of energy during the practice. Mudras can help focus the mind and channel energy in specific directions.

5. Visualization: Practitioners often use guided visualization to envision the flow of Kundalini energy rising through the central channel (Sushumna) along the spine, activating each chakra along the way.

It's crucial to approach Kundalini Kriya with caution and under the guidance of an experienced teacher, as the awakening of Kundalini energy is considered a powerful and transformative experience. When practiced correctly, Kundalini Kriya is believed to lead to spiritual growth, expanded consciousness, and a deeper connection with one's inner self. When practiced incorrectly emotional and physical pain will be experienced as well as uncontrolled spasms in the musculature.

If you are experiencing premature kundalini ascension and Kriya reactions, holding Egyptian rods of Shungite (purchasable on Amazon.com) as harmonizers held over the heart chakra and concentrate on normal breathing. I have been by told by respected authority that this helps balance the chakra energy centers throughout the body and stops the spasms of out-of-control Kriya.

When the HIEROPHANT card is thrown during a reading:

• The querent is experiencing the principle of learning and teaching which is a desire for making things tangible.
• The querent may be seeking guidance from a counselor who has knowledge and authority or wishes to.
• There is a choice here, of aligning oneself to a philosophy, religion and/or set of beliefs to which one feels a sense of loyalty.
• Being free to disentangle oneself from any belief system, the querent still chooses to be involved.
• There is an espousing of moral, ethical, and spiritual values which may attribute to oppressing others, especially when espousing orthodoxy.
• There can be an inner sense of obedience to authority, imagined or otherwise, contributing to gullibility.
• Life is the teacher here, as the querent experiences growth through a meditative process of Buddha like philosophy that views every experience as a lesson-learning opportunity.
• Search for the Truth.
• Tradition, community, and teachings.
• Conformity.
• Marriage, or any social commitment.
• Teaching by way of discovery. 
• Connecting to your divine source.

If ill defined by the surrounding cards of the layout:

• Intolerance.
• Presumption.
• Esoteric arrogance.
• Social pressure.
• Doctrines or ideas that have lost meaning.
• Gullibility.

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