The Hierophant Isn't About Obedience — It's About Examining Authority

The Hierophant is one of those tarot cards that people often misunderstand. A lot of guidebooks talk about it in terms of tradition, institutions, religion, teachers, rules, and authority.

While that’s not wrong, it doesn’t quite cover the whole picture. The Hierophant isn’t really questioning if authority is there; he’s more focused on what you’re going to do with it.

No one really starts out with their own ideas. As kids, we pick up beliefs from our parents. Then, when we’re in school, we learn from teachers.

When we become adults, we look up to experts, mentors, authors, spiritual leaders, influencers, and podcasts. That’s totally normal; everyone starts by borrowing wisdom from others.

The issue comes up when that borrowed wisdom turns into something we think we can’t question.

Learning opens up your mind, while just going along with what someone says shuts it down. That’s why I think The Hierophant should be seen in a more balanced way than usual.

A good teacher doesn’t just create followers; they help people think for themselves. If someone insists that their way is the only way, they’ve stopped teaching and started controlling.

A big reason people like to follow authority is that it feels safer to have someone else handle the answers. It’s nice to think that all you have to do is stick to the plan, trust the experts, and not ask too many questions.

While that can be pretty comforting, it can also hold you back. Remember, every system, tradition, and teacher is made up of people, and people can mess up just like anyone else.

A lot of discussions get off track here. People often think that if you question something, you must be totally against it. That’s not the case at all. Asking questions doesn’t mean you’re just trying to stir up trouble; it comes from a place of curiosity and wanting to understand better.

You can appreciate someone’s experience while still digging into tough questions. Actually, that’s usually how we learn and grow.

I really connect with The Hierophant reversed. It’s not that I’m against tradition or think every authority figure is off base, but I’ve realized that wisdom can come from life experiences, not just school.

Questioning the usual way of thinking isn’t always about being arrogant; sometimes it just shows you have integrity. The Hierophant reversed reminds me that thinking for yourself can come with a cost.

People might misunderstand or disagree with you, and some might even write you off, but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong.

History has plenty of folks who’ve pushed back against popular beliefs. Some ended up being right, while others weren’t—that’s just part of it. Thinking for yourself doesn’t mean you’ll always get it right; it just shows you’re willing to look at the evidence instead of letting someone else do the thinking for you.

It sounds easier than it is, though, because independent thought comes with its own set of responsibilities. If you’re ready to question authority, you also need to be up for questioning yourself.

One idea in Survival Isn’t a Victory is that tough experiences often make us rethink the stories we’ve accepted without even noticing—like the ones about strength, success, healing, family, identity, and even what it really means to survive.

The Hierophant encourages us to look at these stories, not because every belief is wrong, but because our beliefs should be made intentionally, rather than just handed down to us.

The Hierophant isn’t about blindly following rules, constantly rebelling, or being cynical. Instead, he’s all about:

• Wisdom

• Good judgment

• Traditions that are worth a closer look

• Having the guts to ask important questions

• The humility to keep learning

He reminds us that it’s not about rejecting authority; it’s about engaging with it thoughtfully.

The Hierophant doesn’t just want to know, “Who are you following?” He’s more interested in, “Have you ever asked why?” Because true wisdom isn’t about repeating what we’ve been taught; it’s about being open to finding the truth—even if it means questioning our long-held beliefs.

If you’re into diving deeper into topics beyond traditional tarot—like truth, authority, identity, survival, and the messy complexities in life—check out The Grey Area Unfiltered. I drop new podcast episodes every Tuesday at 12 PM ET. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can say isn’t, “I know.” It’s, “I’m ready to question what I think I know.”