hi! i love your tarot deck so much and am so inspired by the decisions you've made. could you talk a little bit about the symbolism of your high priestess card? it's one of my favorites!
Thank you so much for taking an interest in my work! I try to put a lot of thought into my design decisions and it’s very fulfilling when someone notices them :)
The High Priestess is a card with a long history of varying symbols and figures attributed to it. Above all she is associated with mystery; a solemn figure guarding the mysteries of the world behind her pomegranate-and-palm veil. I borrowed some of the symbolism directly from the original card, such as the black-and white color scheme, B and J “pillars” as trees (which refer to the Temple of Solomon in the Rider-Waite deck) , the wolf’s crown of stars, and her necklace and scroll.
To me, a female wolf best represents the mystery, power, and authority this figure embodies. She is associated with the moon, just like the High Priestess, and represents a presence in the physical world as well as the incorporeal world of dreams. This card is also often associated with a juxtaposition between feminine and masculine, suggested both by the black-and-white color scheme as well as the maternal and protective instincts of a mother wolf (one of my favorite examples of this in literature is Raksha from The Jungle Books). Her connection to the moon also suggests her feminine power; the moon has been associated with femininity and darkness across many cultures for much of history.
In a broader sense, this card hints at a deep and mysterious wisdom, both seen and unseen, that guides the Querent. It may apply to the Querent themselves or someone they are currently aware of or will soon interact with. Like all cards, this is open to interpretation by the Reader.