The card of The Hierophant is ruled by Taurus and is also referred to as the Magus of the Eternal Gods. Taurus represents tangible materialism and the beauty and longevity of material things. This is the card of shared ethics and beliefs, institutions that transcend the individual and preserve society and are built with permanence and multitudes of generations in mind. It is representative of rituals and rites of passage that humanity take as part of belonging to a society and that bestow comfort by emphasising the sameness and continuity of experience. It can represent a spiritual mentor who comes into your life to encourage the deeper questions and a journey along the path of personal growth and enlightenment. He can help you to shine the light of consciousness on inner sacred experiences and give meaning to the deeper parts of our psyche that we are normally unaware of. By participating in the student's enlightenment, the master also experiences enlightenment. The darker side of The Hierophant is control and hoarding of power, as well as exerting power indiscriminately and loving power for its own sake, but more generally it is personified in a spiritual and respected teacher, someone who is held in high esteem in your community and acts as a teacher or guide to help you navigate the waters of faith and spirit. It can refer, not to a person, but to institutions such as universities, hospitals or large organisations - often when you are required to follow the guidelines and rules of these institutions in order to get ahead. Depending on your character, this will be easy or difficult, and can represent the need to navigate bureaucracy and red tape. This is a card of tradition, stability, and certainty, and the comfort provided by society and its structures that are in existence to support you. A more highly evolved meaning of this card is that you are on a spiritual path to find your own truth, and yet you must start with what is known about faith and following the inner call, which is why it may be appropriate for you to seek the teachings of someone who is further along this path than you are.
Image from "Epilogue Tarot Project" © Ken McCracken