All the confusion, fear, and bewilderment of the classic Moon card is gone for me with this serene card. I find this hard to interpret based on the name and image alone. The Hierophant is often interpreted through the lens of organized religion, and I have come to understand the traditional card as one about spirituality, education, conforming, or become part of a group. This card feels like it leans heavily into the spirituality—like some window opening into a mysterious universe. But I would like to go deeper! The Minor Arcana suits each have a small précis which describes astrological, elemental, and directional correspondences as well as the nature of the suit. Individual cards are given both an upright and reversed meaning but no further information about the card is provided.

I can't let this go... why is his hand clutching the blade!?! I think of the classic Ace of Swords as getting ready to take on a challenge with the help of sword qualities or cutting through BS, but it's hard to envision that with this hand positioning. I am probably being too literal. For me, this card really loses the sense of domesticity and convention that the original card has because it's just one guy in the doorway.In the guidebook Hughes states that he is influenced by Art Nouveau, Pre-Raphaelite art, and the symbolist movement which the Ethereal Visions tarot readily reflects. His style is predominantly Art Nouveau, featuring sinuous, stylised lines and serene facial expressions; the characters range from Alphonse Mucha’s somnambulistic women gazing out at the viewer from beneath heavy lids, to the idealised mediaeval romanticism of the Pre-Raphaelites. This card is pretty awesome and I just wanted to include it because it differs so much from the traditional Seven of Cups. I do think the imagery is great here -- the card is still about illusions and getting lost in the imagination. When you can imagine anything, you feel like you have many options or the possibilities are unlimited but that's not nec true. If anyone has other ideas feel free to throw them in!