Cancer in the tarot... ruled by the Moon: the High Priestess

The ruler of Cancer is the Moon, so I thought it might be fun to have a quick look at the card in the tarot that’s associated with it. It’s not the Moon card, as you might imagine - that corresponds to Pisces - but the High Priestess. 

When we think of the High Priestess, we think of mystery, the unconscious, wisdom, intuition, inner guides – all of which come under the auspices of the Moon.  In many depictions of the Priestess, we see a crescent Moon – something new starting to grow deep in the unconscious, that we may not be fully aware of at a conscious level, the New Moon representing unrealized potential.  That depth of feeling feeds into all of the cards associated with the sign of Cancer.

The High Priestess (trimmed):

© Universal Waite Tarot

Traditional depictions of the High Priestess show her sitting between two pillars, often – but not always – black and white, symbolizing her role as bringing together opposites. She carries the number ‘2’ in the Major Arcana, reminding us not only of the early stages, the newness of the Fool’s Journey, but also that duality.  She acts as a conduit between the conscious and unconscious – the creativity and intuition that can link the two realms.

She sits in front of a curtain or veil, behind which can sometimes be seen water, symbolizing the unknown – the mystery.  The High Priestess represents our intuition, something long linked with the Moon – the need to trust our instincts, to look inwards for answers, rather than to the outer world.  The Moon has come to symbolize the feminine, as well as psychic energy.  Through the Moon’s rulership of Cancer, a water sign, we see the links between the formlessness of water and the shapeless unconscious.

The Priestess (trimmed):

© Thoth Tarot

The High Priestess often holds a scroll, which in some decks carries the letters ‘TORA’.  Unlike the Jewish Torah, which is unrolled every Sabbath in order to read its wisdom, the High Priestess’ scroll remains rolled up, keeping its secrets.  To uncover them, we have to reach within; we have to learn to listen to our intuition in order to unearth the truth.

In both the Thoth and the Haindl decks, we see the Hebrew letter ‘gimel’, meaning camel – in fact, at the bottom of the Thoth’s High Priestess, a camel appears. This represents the idea of emotional self-sufficiency, the Moon being all about our emotional needs.  Like the camel, which can go long distances without additional water, we contain the resources – the ‘fertile oases’ depicted at the bottom of the card - within us that are needed to sustain us on an emotional level.

The High Priestess (trimmed):

© Haindl Tarot

The Haindl’s version of the High Priestess also shows us the rune ‘Ur’, meaning ‘aurochs’ as well as ‘rain’.  The aurochs, an extinct European bison, reminds us that both the buffalo and the cow have been symbols for the goddess in many cultures – the feminine...bringing us back to the Moon again.  The crescent Moon is often seen reflected in the shape of the horns.

‘Ur’ is also known as the rune of secret passage – the flow of intuition between those two pillars seen in the more traditional images of the High Priestess – and can also mean ancient, primal. Again, the High Priestess takes us deeper, to an instinctive level, leaving the conditioning of the conscious world on the other side of the veil.

Haindl Tarot, created by Hermann Haindl, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Thoth Tarot created by Aleister Crowley, illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Universal Waite Tarot created by Mary Hanson-Roberts & Pamela Colman-Smith, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Margarete Petersen’s High Priestess

Let’s have a look at the Major Arcana today. Given that we’re still in the watery sign of Cancer, I’ve chosen to look at the High Priestess, which is linked astrologically to the Moon, the ruler of Cancer.

When we think of the High Priestess, we think of mystery, the unconscious, wisdom, intuition, inner guides – all of which come under the auspices of the Moon.  In many depictions of the Priestess, we see a crescent Moon – something new starting to grow deep in the unconscious, that we may not be fully aware of at a conscious level, the New Moon representing unrealized potential.  That depth of feeling feeds into all of the cards associated with the sign of Cancer.

 

The High Priestess (trimmed):
© Margarete Petersen Tarot

Traditional depictions of the High Priestess show her sitting between two pillars, often – but not always – black and white, symbolizing her role as bringing together opposites.   Margarete Petersen has followed tradition, in her own way – we have two pillars, one bearing a red flash of fire – a wand perhaps, while the other holds a blue sword; the two Yang symbols. Below her is a cup, above her the earthy Pentagram – the two Yin symbols. So like the Magician she has access to all the elements, but here it’s more about drawing on the intuitive, ‘feminine’ lunar energy. Through the Moon’s rulership of Cancer, the cardinal water sign, we see the links between the formlessness of water and the shapeless unconscious.

No curtain or veil here, but we do see water in the background, symbolizing the unknown – the mystery.  We also see the full and dark moon on either side, as well as a crescent moon to bring in the triple aspect of the goddess. 

The light and dark moons make me think of opposites and of duality – and of course the High Priestess carries the number 2 in the Major Arcana. Light and dark, black and white (the colours of the two pillars in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, for instance), hot and cold, yin and yang…

The High Priestess represents our intuition, something long linked with the Moon – the need to trust our instincts, to look inwards for answers, rather than to the outer world.  Instead of a scroll, Margarete Petersen has chosen to depict an open shell containing a pearl to represent the unconscious, the place of secrets.  To uncover these pearls of wisdom  we have to reach within; we have to learn to listen to our intuition in order to unearth the truth.

Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA, 2004. 

Moving sideways into summer!

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the sun reached its zenith in the sky – its furthest boundary of power, if you like - and as such, its greatest potency,  at 23.24 British Summer Time today (20th June) - and moved into the sign of Cancer, astrologically.

It appears to 'stand still' (the word 'solstice' means 'standing of the sun') For those of us below, it’s time to stop and look back at what we’ve achieved on our journey, since the winter solstice six months ago.  Now we can celebrate what we’ve created, as well as acknowledge what hasn’t worked.  It’s no surprise that this solstice (again, in the northern hemisphere) has been called the ‘Festival of Achievement’.  

And here's something I 'achieved' (not this year!) - part of a mixed-media dodecahedron depicting the signs of the zodiac. Here's the Cancer panel:

'Alchemical Cancer’ © Alison Coals

There’s a shift associated with this point. Different traditions describe it in different ways – be it the Oak King giving way to the Holly King, the Sun King descending into the underworld and succumbing to the Queen of the Night – the Moon.  And of course, the Summer Solstice marks the ingress of the Sun – astrologically speaking – into Cancer, the sign of the crab, ruled by the Moon. And although the Moon card in the tarot is actually associated with Pisces, I often think of the crab, half-in, half-out of the water in the light of the moon at this time!

The Moon (trimmed):
©Sharman-Caselli Tarot

Cancer is the first of the Water signs encountered in the zodiac. Through the Moon’s rulership, it takes us into the ebb and flow of feelings and emotions – what we need to feel safe and secure.  To be safe, we seek protection and nurturing.  Through its affinity to the 4^th house, it’s linked to ancestry, to roots, to tradition, to where we come from – and to the idea of sanctuary, what we’re drawn to...again, the idea of needing protection.  

In Cancer this can come through family – through the emotional security and nurturing.  Think of the phrase ‘blood is thicker than water’, and you might start to see the link to the crab, the image of Cancer.  The shell protects the vulnerable crab, in the same way that family (and it doesn’t have to be blood relatives) protects us in our vulnerability.  In Greek mythology, Hera sends a crab to irritate Hercules while he’s attempting to slay the Hydra. He crushes the crab underfoot, but Hera rewards the crab’s loyalty by placing it in the sky.  Loyal, caring, compassionate, wanting to help  – all Cancerian qualities. 

Cancer is one of the four Cardinal signs.  It will initiate whatever it needs to protect itself, its family, its loved ones.  Willing to take action to help and support others, Cancer doesn’t seek the limelight in the same way that Cardinal Aries might – but it’s just as imaginative!