IX - The Hermit

Description:

An old man with a long white beard stands before us, his left hand holding a long staff and his right hand raised and open.  There appears to be a hole in the palm of his right hand.  The Hermit wears a long robe covering his head and entire body.  The robe is yellow on the upper part of the body, and gray on the lower part.  A red sash in the shape of the Hebrew letter Yod is at his waist.  The Hermit is barefooted, and a small red Yod is also in front of his left foot.  By his right foot is the astrological figure of Virgo. 

The staff in the Hermit’s left hand extends the length of the card, the bottom extending onto the path in front of the Hermit, and the top extending into the yellow aura above him.  The path that the Hermit is on is gray and black on the sides, and watery blue/green and white in the middle. 

Behind the Hermit is a black and gray shadow, like a ghost behind him.  On the top of the shadow above the Hermit’s head is a white crescent moon. 

Symbology:

The Hermit is the mysterious Wise Old Man emerging from the dark to guide one on the path.  The dark shadow behind the Hermit is the outline of the Wise Old Woman, the Crone, the Mother of Mothers, who has been cast into the background by current patriarchal systems.  Yet she is the source which birthed the Hermit, and to which he must return. 

The supporting staff is the Staff of Power.  The staff’s extension from upper right to the middle of the card indicates the direction of the Twentieth path on the Tree of Life that is attributed to the Hermit, from Chesed (Will, Production) to Tiphareth (Truth, Light Manifested). 

The fiery red sash at the Hermit’s waist is the Hebrew letter Yod, which means “hand”.  This is the creative hand (“the kingdom of heaven is at hand”).  The hole in his right hand indicates that he has the power to receive all, to channel it within.  The path of the Hermit ends in Tiphareth, the sphere of God incarnated, the Christ.  This hole in the Hermit’s hand is reminiscent of the nails in Christ’s palms.  He has experienced the travails of existence, and now lives to show the path to the Light. 

Divinatory Meaning:
(from "Tarot of the Spirit" companion book, by Pamela Eakins) 

•  In your own heart, you carry the light and love you have often sought outside of yourself

•  Each one of us holds the power to fulfill ourselves

• You must always return to yourself.   Accept yourself and celebrate.

• You are beautiful, you are worthy, you are a wholly unique and wonderful individual

• You are completely independent and yet you will always remain indivisibly connected to the great stream of humanity

• You may feel alone, but you are not.  Alone does not necessarily mean lonely.

•  Raise up your inner light and place it on a hilltop where everyone can see it

•  As a guide, you can aid the seekers who come your way.  Remember, a lamp is not made to hide under a bowl

Personal Reflections:

The Hermit is the guide to the Light within us all.  He is the beacon in the darkness.  The Hermit shows that the path to wisdom and enlightenment is one we must travel alone, for enlightenment is found within.  The Light within was always there to begin with; we only need to rediscover it.  The Creator has placed this spark of Light at the core of all creatures.  It is our Great Work and Joy to discover and join with the Light Within.