Atu II - The High Priestess - Thoth Tarot - Aleister Crowley 1943

Lady Frieda Harris made this tarot card, called ‘The High Priestess’, with paint, probably gouache, and ink, for Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot deck. I imagine her, brush in hand, carefully plotting the intricate geometry that supports the figure, the cool blues and greens evoking a sense of mystery and serenity. I feel a kinship with Harris, another painter trying to make sense of the world through symbols and color. The paint is thin and translucent, layered to create depth and luminosity. See how the grid-like structure both imprisons and elevates the High Priestess, suggesting the tension between order and chaos? The swirling forms above her head give a sense of cosmic energy. This feels like a conversation between painting, mysticism, and personal expression. Like Hilma af Klint, Harris was exploring spiritual themes through abstraction, pushing the boundaries of what painting could represent. The conversation between artists continues, each of us building on the work of those who came before, finding new ways to express the inexpressible.