The RWS Hermit is an archetype of the wise, old man. This archetype represents the inner self, or spirit, and the concept that spiritual wisdom is accumulated over considerable time and through work and sacrifice. This idea does not meld easily with our modern ‘McDonald’s’ world and some of those who face the challenge of the Hermit may opt instead to return to the world of ego gratification and material concerns.
In the figure of the Hermit, we see the Emperor accomplishing his spiritual quest and faced the loneliness that comes with it. The Hermit represents the contemplative silence that gestates inspiration. The path of the Buddha mirrored this path of the Emperor to the Hermit. Siddhartha left his wife and child to pursue the life of a mystic and in doing so, became the Enlightened One, the Buddha.
In some earlier decks, the Hermit was shown as Chronos, or Father Time. In mythology we connect sages like Merlin to this card. The Roman goddess Vesta, whose eternal flame is tended by her Vestal Virgins, reminds us to attend to our own inner flame through meditation. This is how we find the Hermit’s path.
The Hermit surveys his inner world with his head bowed and eyes. He demonstrates is beginning of the union of individual will, Divine Will. At this point there is no turning back on the journey begun in The Fool and destined to be completed in The World.
The Hermit’s lamp represents both ‘a light in the darkness’ and his own inner spiritual light. It points to the Hermit’s heart centre, the centre of the human physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is a reminder to ‘follow your heart’. The Heart Chakra is the balance point between the human and the divine. The Heart Chakra is also linked to compassion and healing and we are reminded to have compassion for ourselves as well as others.
As the 9th card in the Major Arcana journey, the Hermit indicates that we have reached a point of enlightenment, but there is still more to come. The path leading back is closed and we can only go forward.
The Hermit reminds that ancient wisdoms are always re-invented for a new age. Just look at books like The Secret - they don’t contain anything new, just a new way of looking at something, presented in the right way at the right time. 2007 is a Hermit year, so it doesn’t surprise me to see such an uproar around a book like this.
The Hermit reminds us that on our Fool’s journey through life the most important possessions are the experiences leading to our emotional and spiritual growth. The Hermit helps us to learn the lessons that span both the mundane and mystical worlds.
The appearance of the Hermit in a reading would suggest a need for some soul searching, solitude and spiritual guidance, whether through a spiritual advisor or regular meditation.
If the card is describing a person, it is someone who is a loner, happy in their own company. As the querant in a reading, the Hermit reminds that the answers we seek are all within, we just need to ’switch on’ our inner light through meditation and contemplation - to enter the silence - to find them.
The Hermit’s Hebrew letter is Yod, which translates as ‘hand’ or ‘open hand’. The hand is the key creative instrument of the human and Yod is the primary Hebrew letter. All the other letters are considered to be variations upon it. It is the first letter of God’s name in the Tetragrammaton - Yod Heh Vau Heh. Yod represents divine grace and healing, so we could use this letter in spells, charms or sigils of healing.
Its astrological correspondence is Virgo, the 6th sign of the Zodiac. It rules August 23 to September 23. Its element is the Yin, or female, Earth. Ruled by the planet Mercury, the Hermit promises change and transformation. Any card associated with the earth sign of Virgo would have in its essence analytic skills and perfectionism. Virgo is the sign of service and work and has the qualities of modesty, purity, domesticity and dedication. It represents teachers, mentors and adults who influence children. Virgo is also associated with the Virgin Mary and in earlier mythology, Demeter/Ceres the grain goddess. An ill dignified Virgo could be seen as being unclean, unhygienic, slovenly, critical, having fanatical beliefs or having sexual issues.
9 is the number of the Hermit and the number of the Greek Muses. This suggests that the Hermit is about the gestation of creativity and inspiration, as well as wisdom and enlightenment, and that we can find it by embracing his silence.
Posted: May 17th, 2007 under Uncategorized.
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