The Hierophant Tarot Card: Teaching Through Pain
What does the Hierophant tarot card mean? In the traditional sense, it means a teacher. Maybe a teacher of some kind is coming into our life, or maybe we ourselves are the teachers for others. In life, may lessons are to are to be learned. These lessons shape us and point us in the direction of our Personal Enlightenment. Sometimes, these lessons are learned through pain, and sometimes we must be the ones to inflict such pain on others that they will learn. It is our job, and what we signed on to do.
We set ourselves up to be unpopular in the eyes of those who will learn from us. This is neither fortunate nor unfortunate. It is simply what we signed up to be, signed up to do. We are the light workers, their hierophants, the teachers, and the way showers. Sometimes there is glory in what we do. Sometimes there is not. This matters only to the ego. Intrinsically, it makes no difference. We do it because this is who we are and what our mission is.
Often, this is a mission we grow into. We must go through our own trials and tribulations in order to arrive at this point. Once we arrive, the lessons we offer to others come fast and furious. One after another, sometimes occurring several simultaneously. This has an effect on us. It is an effect that we must teach ourselves to handle and to accept. It can feel like an energy drain at times. We have to go through a variety of emotions in order to facilitate these lessons for these others. These emotions, are sometimes joyous, and often painful.
We must learn to disassociate ourselves from this. We must do our best to remain disattached to our students, and to not identify with the pain we will feel on their behalf. We must remind ourselves, this is for them. We agreed to help. We agreed to facilitate this growth for them. It is okay to feel what we feel. We are so very 100 percent supported in our role. We mustn’t shirk from our responsibilities, for many are depending on us to do this for them. This is their growth and their karma. It is not something to take lightly, therefore the weak are not called for this role.
What does this say about who and what we are? This tells us that we are infinitely strong. What else could we possibly be? Can the weak put themselves through the continued hell that we go through? We are unique entities on the earth, and our purpose is strong. We are powerful. We are the ones providing growth and strength for our others.
Our star qualities must shine bright, for what else do we have that is ours alone? Our students may not be on the level of ego awareness to know who we truly are to them. They may see us as undesirable and detestable. This is okay. This just means the lesson is integrating. This means we are to them who we are needed to be. Somewhere in the negativity need for us, what they are meant to get from us is being gotten. Mission accomplished. Who’s next? Who else can I help? Who else can I help along the path to enlightenment? To recognize our role as Hieropahant is to embrace it fully even when it is difficult to do. — Jim Larsen