The Hierophant
This card depicts the god Forseti, son of Balder, seated on a stone throne with a halo and stone tablet, gesturing to two kneeling Vikings while a dog holds a sword at his side. The Raidhô Rune appears above Forseti and ornamental pillars with later Viking patterns frame the scene, highlighting themes of judgment, mediation, cultural stewardship, and the bringing of order from chaos. Upright, the card encourages making good decisions, awakening to understanding, teaching, religion, and caretaking of cultural knowledge. Reversed, it warns of turning away from the light, challenging or ignoring authority, being unable to handle change well, and becoming detached from life.
Keywords
Description
The god Forseti, son of Balder, sits on a throne of stone. He wears a long red and white robe. The hair is long and falls from a topknot over his shoulder. A halo appears behind the god and a stone tablet rests in his lap. He makes a gesture out to two kneeling Vikings. The Viking on the left has long, braided, red hair that blends into their red fur robe. The Viking on the right has shorter hair and a grey tunic. They look at the mediating god, in eager anticipation of his judgment. A dog sits eagerly at his side, and it holds a sword between its teeth. The Raidhô Rune appears above Forseti. Ornamental decorations featuring patterns from later Viking ages decorate the two stone pillars.
Upright
make good decisions, awaken to understanding, teaching, religion, caretaker of cultural knowledge.
Reversed
turn away from the light, challenge authority, ignore advice, unable to handle change well, detached from life.
Rune
Raidhô. Journey, travel, bring order from chaos.
Visual Description
A robed, bearded man sits on a stone throne beneath an arch, a bright golden halo encircling his head. He wears layered white and crimson garments and holds a carved tablet or scroll in one hand while the other arm is outstretched. Two fur-clad supplicants kneel before the steps of the throne, their backs to the viewer, and a dog-like animal sits at the side of the seat. Above the arch is a Roman numeral V within an ornate roundel, and the words "THE HIEROPHANT" appear along the bottom edge of the image.
Runic tarot
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