Tarot Newsletter: Helpful Hints from the Hierophant

Tarot tales from Newtown, Sydney, with a brief mention perhaps, of chai and other fascinating things.

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I thought I'd post this photo of me in Burma from my trip there this time last year. Soon I will doing this again - the meditating that is, not the Burma trip! I'll be doing my annual 10-Day Vipassana meditation course in Blackheath from this Saturday December 20 - 31. My first day back at work will be Sunday January 4.

As of tonight (Sunday) I have just four more days left at work for the year - so if you want to see me for a reading before the end of the year, now is the time! At the time of writing I am fully booked on Monday and Thursday, but I do have one appointment left on Tuesday and a few on Wednesday, so you may be in luck if you contact me tomorrow.

If you want a gift voucher for a Christmas/Solstice/New Year present I can send them via snail mail, either to you or the person receiving the voucher, up until this Friday December 19. Gift vouchers can be paid for online, and I'll give you the banking details when you contact me to purchase. The best way to contact me is either via text on 0402 066 377 or email: sarahthepsychic[AT]gmail[DOT]com :-)

And finally, well it's been a very busy year, I've celebrated one year of being in my very own Tarot office (June), one year of being an Official Chai Wallah (December), travelled (Burma, ah), meditated (every day!) and more. I look forward to keeping on growing and connecting with you along the way - thank you for being a part of my adventure. I wish for you all to have a safe and authentic time as we near this year's end, and beyond.

Read on for the Tarot Card of the Month ~ The Hierophant :-)

Tarot Card of the Month ~ The Hierophant

For those who are reading this newsletter for the first time, every month I talk about the tarot card that appears the most in the month's tarot readings. Even though the cards will always have individual significance, a commonly occurring card can also have a say about what's going on for the whole community.

The Hierophant doesn't always have the best of reputations. Also known as 'The Pope' in some tarot decks, this archetype can come across as conservative, authoritarian and, well, boring.

But a sojourn with The Hierophant doesn't have to be a dull affair. And certainly, the Hierophants I have selected from my tarot deck collection for this newsletter are the more interesting and flamboyant of the lot. I will get to them in a moment.

Firstly I think the Hierophant can be helpful in helping us identify where we stand in the world and what it is that we want to do. Sure, we can get lost with him in the rules and mainstream expectations that have come before us, but we can also allow him to help us understand more about our own strength and capacity for self-assertion.

The Hierophant really believes in himself and what he is here to do in the world. If the Hierophant starts to say things that are restricting in some way then yes, that is when we get the sad faces and the not-so-good reputation starting to spread.

When the Hierophant is in a more aligned mood however, he may appear to be somewhat stubborn, but there is a flexibility in this stubbornness.

And really, is knowing oneself and one's path and having a willingness to stand by that REALLY being stubborn?

(Am I just coming across as a Taurean trying to defend 'stubbornness'?! Yes, everyone, I am Taurean. Very much so. And goodness knows a full-time psychic tarot reader needs a lot of earth in her chart!)

The Hierophant is also a spiritual leader - one who can teach us and guide us along the path. From day to day, this aspect of the Hierophant helps us follow our hearts and listen to the powerful source of wisdom that dwells within each and every one of us.

And now to the voices of the Hierophant images I have selected:

The Hierophant from Alchemical Tarot: Renewed by Robert M. Place says "Read books that encourage you to look at the world around you with fresh eyes and encourage you to think outside the square."

[I think Ursula Le Guin was being rather 'Hierophant' when she gave this acceptance speech when receiving National Book Foundation's Medal]

Tradition (The Hierophant) from Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince says "Come and join the party, little ones. When following the path of tradition, do not forget all the ancient wisdom that came before you. There are stories in this world that modern minds choose to ignore. Turn to those older stories my dears - the ones that help you love yourselves more."

The High Priest (The Hierophant) from Tarot of the Cat People by Karen Kuykendall says "Well! I have a fancy gown and a marvellous staff and my goodness if you can't command presence while wearing this then you'd better sit down for a while and let someone show you how to work a room. Take up space and be proud, people!"

And finally, The Ringmaster (The Hierophant) from Tarot of the Zirkus Mägi by Douglas Thornsjo says "This life can be busy and hectic but you need to learn how to wow people at a fast pace while keeping your cool and looking fabulous, all at the same time. Don't let others tell you what to do - you run your own show!"

Well that's it for the year dear readers. I hope you have fun with the Hierophant and I'll see you all next year.

Cheerio & best wishes,
Sarah Barry (Psychic Sarah)

P.S Want more tarot stories? I post a Tarot Reading for the Collective on my website every month.

The deck for this month's reading is a circus-themed deck called the Tarot of the Zirkus Mägi by Douglas Thornsjo. Read on for some death-defying wonders to inspire you to finish this year well and start the new year with a bang! (this month sees The Hierophant turn up for the Collective reading as well so check it out to discover more helpful hierophant hints!)

[I generally post the Tarot Reading for the Collective in the first week (or so) of every month.]

The Hierophant from Alchemical Tarot: Renewed by Robert M. Place

Tradition (The Hierophant) from Tarot of the Crone by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

The High Priest (The Hierophant) from Tarot of the Cat People by Karen Kuykendall

The Ringmaster (The Hierophant) from Tarot of the Zirkus Mägi by Douglas Thornsjo.

I make and sell my very own delicious blend of chai tea - Psychic Sarah's Queen of Cups Chai. I personally select, grind and blend the spices and package every single packet of chai.

1 packet of 220g chai costs AUD$20, and will make you at least 48 large cups of delicious authentic chai tea. (That's 16 litres of chai - have a party!) Read a review about it here.

You can drink a pot of my chai in-house and/or purchase a packet to take home with you at Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher, Newtown, and Petty Cash Cafe, Marrickville. Or you can order it online - I ship all over the world!