„Some have chuckled over it, some were outraged.“
Such a reaction for itself proves the effect Tarot cards have on our subconsciousness. It only shows that the meaning of the card, with all themes it involves, hits the essence of their personal theme.
The High Priest - Hierophant, embodies spiritual and the drive toward perfection. He is intolerant of the failings of the flesh and neglectful of the earthly needs.
As he is rigid and unforgiving, he needs his co-workers who rule with him, the Empress, Emperor and High Priestess, in order to soften his severity.
„When a man recognizes his anima, a triad is created: he is the masculine conscious subject (Emperor) who relates to the immanent feminine conscious subject (Empress) and the transcendent feminine anima (High Priestess). This structure becomes a complete quaternity through the emergence of the transcendent masculine, the Wise Old Man (High Priest). Likewise, when a woman recognizes her animus, a triad is created: she is the feminine conscious subject (Empress) who relates to the immanent masculine conscious subject (Emperor) and the transcendent masculine animus (High Priest). This structure becomes a complete quaternity through the emergence of the transcendent feminine, the Chthonic Mother (High Priestess). In both cases the result is a "marriage quaternio" which is half masculine and half feminine, half immanent and half transcendent.“ Jung