The Hierophant

There once was a bull named Hierophant. Known for his endless wisdom, Hierophant was mysterious, but also known to be trustworthy by nature. He spent his days in service to those in need of his wisdom and yet had of recent been starting to feel he lacked the perception needed to ameliorate his own internal conflict. There was a great Emperor who ruled over the kingdom, of whom Hierophant had not yet had the pleasure of meeting and felt he must do so in order to obtain knowledge of the self. He decided in his great wisdom that he must bring a gift with him. There was nothing more valuable than knowledge in Hierophant’s opinion, so he decided to visit some old friends.

Setting off on his journey, he called upon The Lovers. A man and a woman they were, whom lived by a tree. “Lovers!” Hierophant called to them. “What knowledge have you for me to bring to the Emperor?” But The Lovers did not respond, only locked in each other’s embrace. Hierophant asked again but was met with the same silence. In his wisdom, he moved on.

Next, he tracked down Chariot, a particularly fast-moving crab. He raced up beside the crab, trying to catch him. “Chariot, what knowledge have you for me to bring to the Emperor?” he asked. Chariot did not respond, seeming only to gain speed as Hierophant waited in patience. When the crab continued to say nothing, in his wisdom, the bull moved on.

Hierophant next found his friend Strength, a rather radiant looking and powerful lion. “Strength, what knowledge have you for me to bring to the Emperor?” But like The Lovers and Chariot, Strength had nothing to share. Hierophant knew better to press with a lion, and instead in his wisdom, moved on.

A maiden was not far by and was known to Hierophant as being somewhat of a Hermit. He felt in her nature she would be the most reluctant to share but asked her anyway if she had any knowledge for him to bring to the Emperor. His efforts proved futile, and in his wisdom he moved on.

After having no luck with four of his elemental friends, he decided to visit a great library, of which sat inside a large set of golden scales. The scales of Justice, they were named. Hierophant approached the scales and spoke. “Justice, please show me the imbalance of which I feel and give me the knowledge to rectify it.” But the scales did not move, they simply remained balanced, and Hierophant although disappointed, in his wisdom moved on.

Soon after he came upon a Scorpion who was lying face up on the ground. The bull used his hoof to gently push against the large insect. Whether the scorpion was dead or simply pretending, he could not tell and decided in his wisdom that there was no knowledge here to be gained.

Hierophant then sought out Temperance, a man who lived by the river; his bow and arrow resting against a large tree. The man appeared to be in good spirits. “Temperance, what knowledge have you for me to bring to the Emperor.” The man was humming to himself but seemed not to notice the Bull beside him. Hierophant asked a second time but was again met with no adequate response. He decided in his wisdom to move on.

In the same river, a water goat appeared, his tail flipping wildly and his horns sharp. Hierophant was familiar with the water goat, who was named Devil. He called out from the side of the bank, asking if Devil had any knowledge to share for the Emperor’s gift. When Devil ducked under the surface and did not submerge, Hierophant in his wisdom, moved on.

Daylight had faded, and night had now fallen. The first star of the evening, the star of the water bearer had appeared, and Hierophant looked at it longingly. “Star,” he called. “What knowledge have you for me to bring to the Emperor?” The star sparkled brilliantly yet remained silent in the darkened sky. He could see a great castle below, where the Emperor lived and decided in his wisdom to move on.

By the time he reached the castle, the moon was high in the sky and Hierophant paused at a small pool just outside of the castle gates where two fish circled each other and unison. He looked at the moon in her full beauty. “Moon, what knowledge have you for me to bring to the Emperor?” The Moon, just like The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Justice, Death, Temperance, The Devil and The Star; had nothing to say at all. In his wisdom, Hierophant decided to enter the castle.

The Emperor was inside, a great and powerful ram. Hierophant felt slightly intimidated. He trotted up to the throne and spoke. “Emperor, I have come seeking wisdom for myself, but I have no new wisdom to share with you.” The Emperor only laughed at the bull.

“Great Hierophant, it is not I who can share this wisdom with you, but it is I who seeks your council instead.” The bull looked confused. The ram spoke again. “Your knowledge and wisdom is so revered and because you have deepened the lives of all others with it, you feel as though you now lack your own wisdom.” Hierophant felt that this made sense.

“I require your knowledge, like the others you reside over in this journey do, and if you would like to share it, I am all ears.” Hierophant was delighted within himself. He had never been without his own wisdom, he just needed another to share his wisdom with.