The Martyr-Savior trap and the gift of High Priestess

When we begin to identify with being highly ‘good,’ deeply ‘caring,’ and above all, intensely ‘self-sacrificing for others,’ it is time to admit that we have fallen into a major shadow trap. We know this because if it were genuinely true, we wouldn’t be forcing others to do what we believe is ‘best’ for them. Much less would we allow ourselves to act like a provincial kindergarten teacher, wagging a finger at a disobedient child and taking away their meatball soup as punishment (always accompanied by a patronizing lecture).

Over time, this violence takes on an increasingly grotesque form, behind which the control over others can no longer be hidden, as it becomes all-consuming and progressively darker. If we are honest with ourselves, we will have to admit that the more these ‘others’ (husband, children, parents, employees, etc.) ‘fail to appreciate’ what we have done for them, the more our resentment grows, and the faster we sink into the illusion of superiority. Once we get there, it is time to face some inevitable truths. Coming face-to-face with this powerful shadow is, in fact, the bridge to our gold. This is the gift of intuitive wisdom that many women carry within themselves, hidden in Arcanum II of the Tarot system — The High Priestess.

The Shadow of the Martyr-Savior

Whenever we encounter the ‘ideal’ mother and wife, or when we believe that we ourselves are her absolute embodiment (and thus want the whole world to see and acknowledge it!), most of us can deeply sense that this is a mask. Behind it bubbles a sense of repressed rage. Yes, I know that most people catch onto this immediately, and some even see that behind the artificial, welcoming, shy, and submissive smile lies the exact opposite. The more someone strives to demonstrate how ‘good,’ capable, and knowledgeable they are, the more powerfully their opposite is triggered, residing in the unconscious. The more we suppress this shadow, the more insistently it manifests as exhausting chaos in the external world, and the higher the chances that we will reach the truth about ourselves. Eventually.

“I’d rather be whole than good.”

Carl Jung, from his interview for the BBC documentary Face to Face, 1959

Jung warns that an overly strong identification with the persona of a ‘good’ or ‘suffering’ person creates moral blindness. To avoid becoming possessed by these Shadow dynamics, it is vital to integrate our dark side — by acknowledging our own hidden longings for control, the repressed need to express anger in an appropriate form, and the manipulations of our unhealthy ego.

All aspects accompanying the figure of the martyr-savior are projected outward. She then begins to see all around her precisely what she cannot, refuses to, or fiercely resists recognizing in the mirror of her own soul.

The trap

In most cases, the woman voluntarily becomes a hostage to people who refuse to grow up because somewhere in the past, she believed this would save her from rejection and abandonment. This past, however, continues to be her present. Consequently, here we can observe and trace the Karpman Drama Triangle (victim, savior, persecutor) the exact same vicious circle. The Hermetic principles show us the same: correspondence. As above, so below; as within, so without.

The individual (regardless of whether they are a man or a woman) perceives helplessness (or, for example, faux spirituality) in others and is deeply convinced that it is their ‘duty’ to provide them with ‘direction in life’ in order to ‘fix them.’ But of course, no one has ever changed simply because someone else wished it upon them. Other people are not a reconstruction ‘project’ or an arrangement of flowers in a garden. This is precisely where the narcissistic arrogance of the weak, terrified ego and spirit comes to light; the more the actions of others slip out of their control, the more aggressively they employ manipulation through domestic control. This is what they call ‘caring’ instead of violence.

The lack of respect for the choices and boundaries of others is what they call ‘self-sacrifice.’ The lack of maturity is replaced with self-sabotage, behind which they hide their refusal to make mature choices for their own lives. They label the ‘disobedience’ of others as an ‘injustice’ that they seek to punish, rather than uncovering the lawlessness within their own souls.

Their shadow whispers that it is easier to control the lives of others so they don’t have to make choices and take true responsibility, hiding behind the powerful symbol of the womb — that warm, nurturing, and loving Mother Earth who shelters all those in need. And at its core, this is true regarding the nature of the feminine principle.

However, when it manifests in its shadow form, the woman embodies the shadow of the Devouring Mother, clinging to ‘serving others.’ She trades her vertical connection with the Divine (The Priestess) for the horizontal bondage of daily life. Thus, she pays the ultimate price — she loses her connection to the mystical, to intuitive wisdom, and to natural (Cosmic) laws. These are precisely what the High Priestess keeps hidden behind the veil of Mystery. And behind this veil lies the path of the unknown, trust in a higher power, and the vast world of the Noumenon.

Tarot as a Path of Self-Discovery

Nowadays, Tarot cards are used as a form of entertainment, where some people attempt to read the future. The Initiates of antiquity, who created the Tarot, embedded a significant part of their science into these arcana in the form of symbols. Those who possess the skill to interpret these symbols see vast horizons for reflection and discovery unfold before them.

Tarot is a geometric and symbolic map of Creation. At its core, Tarot is the purest reflection of the relationship between God, Man, and the Universe (the Cosmos), mirroring the interconnectedness between the world of ideas, human consciousness, and the physical world.

Each card of the Major Arcana represents a specific stage in the evolution of the human spirit — from initial chaos to full integration. Tarot reveals the path of consciousness development because it acts as a cosmic mirror: it translates eternal cosmic laws into the language of symbols, guiding us through the Shadow and returning us back to our primordial center, which Jung calls the archetype of the Self.

An Encounter with the High Priestess

The High Priestess is the second Major Arcanum in the Tarot. The analytical psychology views her symbolically and, above all, archetypally — through the archetype of the Anima (or the Great Mother) and her wisdom, which resides in the collective unconscious. The High Priestess embodies the Primordial Womb of Consciousness, the Hidden Gnosis, and the Cosmic Magnet that draws the Spirit into Matter. She is the bridge between the conscious and the Unconscious.

Examining the iconography of the card closely, we discover that among other notable details, her head is crowned with a tiara, at the top of which sits a crescent moon shaped in a form resembling scales, and that she is seated between two columns with a veil stretched between them. These two columns symbolize the twin pillars in the Temple of Solomon: Jachin and Boaz. Jachin rises on the right, and Boaz on the left. One is blue, the other red — this reveals the divergence in their very nature.

This is the counterweight between the feminine and masculine principles. We find this exact same idea in the Tree of the Sephiroth, with its two Pillars (of Mercy and Severity) on either side of the Central Pillar — the Pillar of Equilibrium. For this reason, the High Priestess corresponds to the number 2, about which much can be said, but the most important thing to grasp now is that it symbolizes polarity—the existence of two Principles — positive (electric, radiating) and negative (magnetic, receptive) — Masculine and Feminine.

The Cosmos was created by these two Principles, and therefore it will continue to exist, just as humanity will continue to exist and evolve, solely thanks to the operation of these two Principles. They are at the very foundation of life, and we encounter them over and over again in all life phenomena, whether physical, psychological, or spiritual.

The High Priestess rests her right hand upon a half-open book (by the way, this is the only Tarot card in which a book appears), and in her left hand, she holds 2 keys. These symbols signify that we must undergo a certain initiation or training to acquire the keys that allow us to part the veil and gain access to the Mysteries. The book represents the number 2, and the keys are also 2. The number 2 symbolizes the entrance to the Sanctuary. Passing through this doorway, we find ourselves upon an extraordinary and mysterious path. One cannot know what they will encounter along this path, but it is certain that they will reach profound discoveries.

Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey

While researching the present topic, I discovered yet another exceptional literary gem — the book Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey by Sallie Nichols. Examining the Major Arcana through the lens of Jungian archetypes confirms the universality and inexhaustible treasures of this Knowledge.

At the intersection between the High Priestess and the shadow of the Martyr-Savior, a key psychological dynamic can be observed:

Loss of Connection to the Inner Voice

In her pure manifestation, the High Priestess is the master of her own power. She embodies sacred stillness, absolute boundaries, and the ability to hermetically preserve one’s vital energy. The Priestess does not explain, she does not scream, and she speaks without words. However, when this sovereignty is undiscovered within, the individual abdicates their throne and commits self-betrayal, falling into the trap of codependency and self-effacement.

The Mechanism: When the individual refuses to follow their innate intuition and spiritual sensitivity in order to ground them in real creativity (home, garden, business), they dissipate their power. Unable to maintain their mystical veil (their energetic boundaries) they lose the Mystery of wisdom. Instead of reaching the Temple, their vital and creative force (libido) withers. The person sacrifices their own wholeness to take on ‘the suffering of others,’ which instantly unlocks the destructive dynamic of the Martyr.

We help others only when we have helped ourselves. Everything else is an illusion that laughs mockingly in our faces. That is why the Shadow is our bridge to the hidden gold in the unconscious. The polarities of good and evil work through us in a single direction, and their projections outward only deepen the collective madness.

Covert and Overt Superiority

When we identify with the social mask (the Persona) of the martyr-savior, we lose connection with the sacred stillness of the High Priestess, and the Savior complex is activated. Instead of the Priestess ruling from her throne through silence, our frightened Ego attempts to usurp her scroll of knowledge. The Messianic complex is, in fact, the perfect gateway to this Shadow of the Priestess. Pride stemming from ‘special knowledge’ is the first step, and manipulation through omission is its practical manifestation.

Another aspect of the shadow side of the Anima, symbolizing the High Priestess, manifests through a passivity that leads to paralysis, or through a secretiveness that turns into manipulation (covert superiority). When she refuses to speak or miserly withholds what she knows, her wisdom isolates rather than guides. Instead of the veil preserving sacred stillness, it is used as a smokescreen behind which the Ego hides its true intentions to keep others checked and in the dark.

This leads to an immediate Ego-inflation — the ego swells to ‘undiscovered heights,’ thereby revealing the Messianic complex. Such an individual begins to believe they hold an absolute monopoly over the ‘Divine and only’ truth. From this arrogant position, they attempt to covertly orchestrate the lives of those around them in order to ‘save’ them, because they know ‘best.’ If not caught in time, this destructive shadow turns into a pathology that manifests differently depending on gender:

In the martyr-woman, the shadow Animus is activated. She becomes hyper-aggressive in her opinions — always right, knowing everything, and dismissing any alternative perspective. Paradoxically, this ‘knowledge’ remains confined entirely to her mind, while in the real world, she is passive in constructive actions yet controls the household through nagging and guilt-tripping.

In the martyr-man, the distorted Anima is activated. When a man takes on the role of Savior and begins to ‘carry everything on his back,’ his Anima transforms him into a moody, passive-aggressive, emotionally closed individual who, instead of sovereign stillness, radiates quiet resentment and controls those around him through coldness.

Psychic Differentiation

When you lose the Pillar of the Priestess, you begin to absorb the energy of others like a sponge. You enter a labyrinth where you feel yourself drifting further away from who you are. Your energetic vessel overflows with external chaos until, at some point, it becomes difficult to distinguish where you end and others begin.

If you then ask yourself the honest question: ‘, the answer will not be others. You are sacrificing your own wholeness. The panicked desire to control the lives and salvation of those around you signifies only one thing — you are terrified that you cannot govern yourself. The illusion of ‘goodness’ comes to light as a pure escape from your own inner emptiness.

All of this is directly linked to the process of individuation — understanding who you are so that you can connect with people in a new, mature, and fruitful way. Others are often the crutches we use to avoid embarking on the unknown path of our own lives. Today, however, even these crutches can no longer ‘stabilize’ the situation. We must learn to walk independently. Not alone — independently.

The High Priestess: A Path to the Inner Temple and Wisdom

The imagery of the High Priestess originates from the deepest mystical traditions of humanity — from the ancient Egyptian mysteries of Isis to the Gnostic Sophia, who personifies the Hidden Divine Knowledge. She is that eternal, silent, and intuitive feminine power that guards the Key to Creation. But to reach her Temple, one must first walk the path through their own Shadow and shed the rags of the Martyr.

In esoteric philosophy, the great goddess Isis — the embodiment of magic, motherhood, and healing — is the primordial archetype behind Arcanum II. Her veil symbolizes the shroud of cosmic illusion (known in Indian philosophy as Maya), which covers the true essence of things and separates the visible from the invisible world. The lifting of this veil is a symbol of the quest for Light and the overcoming of the darkness of ignorance. The Priestess sits at the threshold of this Mystery, calling us to look beyond the obvious.

In mythology and Jungian archetypal psychology, the connection between Isis and Ma’at is profound and organic, representing the gradual unfolding of the feminine principle (the Anima). While in Ancient Egypt they often fused into a unified cult, researchers of ancient knowledge and mythology discover two distinct stages of the exact same archetype.

You can read more about Ma’at and the modern Themis in the article The Psychology of Law: Archetypes and Themis Unveiled.

The Sacred Symbol of the Veil

In a modern world where everything is a subject to mass exposure and ironically labeled as ‘vulnerability’ and ‘heroism,’ the mysterious and the mystical are becoming a vanishing luxury. Have you noticed how a woman who elegantly covers her hair with a beautiful scarf commands everyone’s attention? People follow her with their eyes because they cannot penetrate her depth. She radiates personal power, mystery, and dignity that follow her like a magnetic perfume.

This veil creates an aura of inaccessibility and sophistication, demanding respect rather than superficial curiosity. The woman demonstrates that she is the one who decides what to reveal of herself and what to keep as a personal secret.

This is why in Arcanum II, although only one curtain is visually drawn, a symbolic interpretation reveals that there are actually two veils. The first (the outer one) is the veil of illusion in the material world. One lifts it when they stop looking at the superficial and turn toward the Invisible. Crossing it brings you face-to-face with the High Priestess herself. The second veil is the curtain with pomegranates in front of which she sits. She is its guardian. To pass through this one as well, you must learn to read the Secrets of the Book of Nature, inscribed in the TORA scroll that she holds in her lap.

While living in Dubai for nearly two years, I had the opportunity to wear an abaya on multiple occasions, surrounded by women dressed in the same garment. The sense of inviolability and inner strength I described above is something truly alive and real. I was captivated by this magic the moment I landed at the airport back in 2013. That is why, to this day, I find wearing a beautiful scarf and long, stylish dresses to be exceptionally elegant. I highly recommend that any woman who hasn’t tried this recently and give it a chance — to feel how her personal geometry shifts.

So, are you ready to stand before the High Priestess to discover what awaits you behind the veil of the Temple?

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References
Aïvanhov, O. M. The Cosmic Scales: The Number 2. Prosveta Publishing, France.
Ouspensky, P. D. (1913). The Symbolism of the Tarot.
He, W. (2025). The Duality Of Archetypes In Tarot Cards. International Journal of Psychoanalysis and Education: Subject, Action & Society, 5(1), 100–122. https://doi.org/10.32111/SAS.2025.5.1.6