V The Hierophant

Qualities: Wisdom, Inner Guide, Teacher

The turtle represents the Hierophant, the teacher who knows that all growth is cyclical, that to grow a tree you must first nurture the seed. The Hierophant knows that the soul moves slowly, that change unfolds gently, while our ego wants it to progress fast. He is a teacher, philosopher, and seer, encouraging action only after deep contemplation, rational debate, and discussions with trustworthy mentors. The Hierophant nudges pupils with guidance as they carve their individual paths. The shadow of this card is the desire for change to unfold fast and/or a search for something greater outside of one’s self. It is imperative to remember that, as we learned with the magician, everything we need is already within. Understanding that the soul leads the way, even though the uncultivated ego relishes narrating our experiences. Remember… change develops as a spiral, slowly unfurling a life that is reflective of the seeds we’ve planted with our body, speech, and mind. Our life is only as sweet as the quality of our thoughts. This is an invitation to slow down, to flow with the Tao.