The Hierophant as a Child offers a unique perspective on the card's energy, focusing on the curiosity and openness of young minds towards tradition, learning, and community. Just as The Hierophant represents the pursuit of knowledge and the sharing of wisdom, children can embody these qualities in their own way, acting as little seekers who are fascinated by how things work and why traditions exist.

Here are some key qualities and reflections to consider when thinking about The Hierophant as a child:

Natural Curiosity About Traditions

The Hierophant as a child loves understanding the "why" behind rituals, family traditions, and why things happen the way they do. They are the ones who ask why we say certain things at family gatherings, why we celebrate certain holidays, or why specific customs matter to the family. This kind of curiosity is an early form of seeking knowledge, and it’s important to recognize and nurture it by providing thoughtful answers or exploring these questions together.

Exploring different cultures can be a fun activity shared with your family as you not only learn about various traditions around the world but re-emphasise the importance of culture and tradition in our lives, something that everyone on Earth takes part in.

Additionally, the meaning behind traditions evolves as children grow. Take, for example, the tradition of Santa Claus at Christmas. Eventually, children learn the truth behind Santa; that tradition and the concept of Santa can then be morphed into a reason for giving, where they now, too, can be Santa for others. This can then begin a new tradition for them that they can pass on to their own family one day.

A Little Mentor

Children embodying The Hierophant energy often like to share what they learn. Once they grasp a concept, they enjoy teaching others—be it a younger sibling, a friend, or even a parent. This isn’t just about showing off what they know; it’s a way for them to connect with others and feel valued in their role as a teacher. They might even make up their own "classes" or play school, creating a space where they can pass on their knowledge, albeit in less formal (or even accurate) ways.

Mentoring, just as it is with adults, is a way to reinforce the understanding of a concept. When our son was in 4th grade, we took the opportunity to enroll him as a student mentor/tutor who would help 1st and 2nd graders who were struggling with math and reading. In his journey to obtain his blackbelt, he has to have 30 hours of "leadership" training where he mentors the younger students and helps encourage them to refine their own practice.

Did he love doing this? Initially, no. But once he finished, he always came back and said how much he enjoyed it and that he could see the value in what he'd done. Even if there isn't a direct opportunity to be a mentor, you could take the time and ask them to teach you how to play their favorite video game, not only reinforcing your own connection but giving them a chance to share something they enjoy and (hopefully) explain it. Their sense of self-confidence will grow as they share, and they will, like our son, begin to see the value in both learning and teaching.

Respect for Structure, Order, and Routine

The Hierophant is also about respecting the rules and structures that guide us. Children don't often understand the reason why things are the way they are. It can be difficult for a child to understand (or appreciate) that consistent bedtimes are healthy for brain development. A child who is introduced to routine and structure will begin to find comfort in routines like having set times for meals, bedtime stories, or family activities. They often feel secure when they know what to expect and begin to understand the reasoning behind those structures.

We adopted our son from foster care. He came to us at 21 months, homeless and, ultimately, abandoned. Having regular meals, bedtimes, or even knowing where he was or who he was with was not his norm. Because of these situations, his brain adapted and put survival first over other forms of cognitive development. We were taught as foster parents, that a strict routine would be beneficial in our foster kids' development, and they were not joking. Particularly given that he also has extreme ADHD, having a sense of routine helped put things in motion and ease distraction (though not eliminate, unfortunately). Yes, it took time, and in the beginning, he resisted. However, eventually, it became a cornerstone in his life with us, and he has shown incredible growth. The routines we have set in place now provide a framework to help him manage his day and time and set his own expectations.

Now that he is older, we are able to talk to him more about his routines and get his input on how things need to be modified so he can be successful in school and athletics, as well as still maintain a (mostly) positive relationship with us as parents.

Balancing Tradition with Individuality

While The Hierophant is deeply connected with tradition, children naturally grow into their own individual identities. A Hierophant-like child might struggle at times with balancing their desire to fit in and honor traditions with their own growing sense of uniqueness. Children go through phases of wanting to do everything "by the book," followed by questioning or wanting to break away from those very traditions. As adults, they will continue to build on their own sense of identity and may continue to engage in and pass on established traditions, or they may remove them if they find they no longer serve them.

Understanding that there is reason for tradition but having a choice in embracing the tradition is important, particularly for older kids. They will find more meaning and emotional fulfilment if they feel like their participation is of their own choice. Being forced into something they don't see the importance of can establish negative associations with the tradition and ultimately push them away.

A Connection to Spirituality

Children embodying The Hierophant energy may have a natural curiosity about spiritual matters, even if they don’t fully understand them yet. They might ask about why people pray, what happens during certain ceremonies, or express an interest in learning about different religions or belief systems. They are trying to make sense of the bigger picture of life and the unseen forces that guide us.

This has been more of a challenge for us with our son. He has a very specific way of seeing the world, very black and white, and evidence/truth-supported. Grasping truths unseen is a very difficult thing for him. He has been very critical of all organized religion as it has been presented to him through events or from friends because, logically, it doesn't make sense to him. We have been very open in explaining things and encouraging open-mindedness with others' beliefs, but it is still often met with visible distaste.

Establishing a sense of spirituality has been something that has not come easily for him. He has beliefs he has shared with us, that he feels like there is something larger than us, although he doesn't know who or what that is. There is a respect for the mysteries of life and a sense of acknowledgement, but he doesn't feel the need to worship or pray.

We are very inclusive in our own spiritual practices, and he also is learning Tarot as a way to help him connect to his inner self. But at the end of the day, we have to remember that kids are kids and learn every day. There will come a time when the search for spiritual answers becomes important for them.

Creating a Sense of Community

The Hierophant is also about community—teaching us how to be part of something bigger. A child with this energy often enjoys being involved in group activities, whether at school, in sports, or during family events. They like knowing they belong and want to contribute to a shared purpose. They might enjoy roles that help organize, guide, or even care for others in a group setting.

Inclusion helps build self-confidence but also reinforces the understanding of what is okay in social situations and what is not, something of a social maturity. This is why it is also important that we, as parents, are a part of our children's social circle so we know what influences are being presented.

While our son has established his own social circle, we have also established a social circle with his friends' parents. We routinely do things as groups and talk regularly so everyone is aware of what is happening. We also celebrate each others' kids' successes and actively build healthy relationships with them as well, encouraging them to do well in school and athletics.

Questions to Reflect The Hierophant's Lessons

To help children reflect on the qualities of The Hierophant, here are a few questions they can ask themselves:

1. What family tradition do you like the most, and why do you think it’s important to us?
2. Is there a rule we have at home that you think is helpful? Why?
3. If you could create a new family tradition, what would it be and how would participate?
4. Have you ever taught someone else something you learned? How did that make you feel? How did they respond to being taught?
5. Why do you think we have certain rules at school or at home?
6. What do you think it means to be part of a community, and how do you like to help others?

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