The Hierophant V: The Rider Deck and The Pope V: The Tarot of Marseilles also differ in rather interesting ways.
5.jpg Visual Oracle - Ultimate Edition Lite 16.3.28 (Lifetime License). The Hierophant V The Hierophant V is often considered a spiritual teacher. With his delicate facial features his appearance is youthful and even feminine. However, The Hierophant V's eyes tell a different story as they hold his steady, determined gaze over the heads of those who gather before and beneath him. His manner and expression signify a clear, unwavering focus and direction. His arms are open wide in salutation and symbolising himself as the bridge between Heaven and Earth. The Hierophant V's hands appear small, graceful and effeminate. His right hand, is raised towards heaven, shows two fingers pointing skyward and two pointing downward signifying a gesture of blessing or benediction. The Hierophant V sits between 2 large grey pillars indicating the existence but perhaps the insignificance of the duality of our sentient world to traditional dogma. The colour pale grey is a feminine colour that provides a contrast to the masculine red of his ceremonial gown. Grey signifies the potential for growth through uncertainty and change; it symbolises that fertile 'space' of unlimited potential and for the process of manifesting.
The Hierophant V. B.P. Grimaud. 1969, Tarot of Marseilles, Ets J.-M. Simon, Paris France The Pope V is God’s representative on Earth and a man in his senior years with a thick grey-white beard and long hair. He has an experienced, worldly face. The Pope’s gaze seems softer and more contemplative; focused on those gathering around him to receive his teaching and blessing. The Pope’s left hand is not raised towards heaven; rather it directs attention to the golden glove on his right hand showing a Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is said to symbolise the traits of truth, repentance, faith, humility, justice and mercy. The Pope V sits before two royal-blue pillars that give an appearance of being a considerable distance in the background. The dark blue suggests honour, nobility and truth and frames The Pope’s head and face. The Pope V sits before two royal-blue pillars that give an appearance of being a considerable distance in the background. The dark blue suggests honour, nobility and truth and frames The Pope’s head and face.. While pillars indicate limitations within which we live they also provide the framework for daily living. It is within these boundaries.
The Pope V and The Hierophant V each express through their teachings what is important morally, culturally, socially, and spiritually, to a daily life: how to feel, think and act. The Hierophant V has the Keys to Heaven at his feet, granting him the authority to direct the spiritual growth in others and, as with The Pope V, the advance of dogma in his Church.
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