The Hierophant by The Natural Array




 * Alchemical Correspondence: Fixation
 * Astrological Correspondence: Gemini (Mutable Air)
 * Hebrew Correspondence: Zayin
 * Psychological Correspondence: The Conscience

In A Reading
As the synthesizer of the Empress & Emperor archetypes, the Hierophant is non-binary in the Natural Array. As an ideal, they represent authority that is drawn from a pure, non-polarized divinity that is strong but merciful, subtle but incorruptible. Upright, the Hierophant can represent a religious or secular organization (or person), typically a powerful but non-partisan one who promotes virtue and acts virtuously. They are revered and given authority because their adherents (or children or followers on Twitter) trust and respect them. The Hierophant is established and held to a high standard of conduct even by those who chafe under the restrictions it imposes upon their behavior. We all have an Inner Hierophant and that is best known as our conscience.

Reversed, the Hierophant has lost its impartiality, its austerity, its virtue. All the defects of normal human character or corporate culture or organized religion are present. When this is the case, more than the querent is being affected: everyone who is a member of the Heirophant's family, congregation, or organization is either feeding or suffering from the hypocrisy.

In the Natural Array
I attribute Gemini (mutable air) to The Hierophant. This provides non-binary Mercury as a planetary ruler. The astrological third house which is in natural position in Gemini is our "People": our family, our community, our church. The Hierophant is that part of us which is most connected to our Third House because it is the system of ethical and moral principles which direct what we say, do, and expect from Our People- and those who are not Us by Them. Of course, when the Heirophant is fully actualized, it sees all people as its people and has their best interests at heart. But because the Heirophant has those mutable air/Gemini qualities? This is a very challenging path to work with on the array, especially when you think of what our Inner Empress & Inner Emperor bring to the table.

In Daily Life
People like Anthony Fauci, Pope Francis, Golda Meir and Oprah Winfrey play out the role of Heirophant to the rest of us. Organizations like Doctors Without Borders, The Red Cross, Save The Children, and Direct Relief do as well.

The real trick is to not simply admire such Hierophants but to think very hard what it is we admire them for and to do the same for our own family/community.