James Dean; The Rohrig Hermit

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Little Baron	24 Jun 2004
I have always looked at this card as James Dean but could never find the exact photo to back it up. Just wondering why Dean was chosen as the Hermit; maybe his character in Rebel Without A Cause is the connection. Here's the link to the still; it is on the main page of this website. Can you see the comparison? http://www.jamesdeangallery.com/ Ans here is a scan of the card in a reveiw of the deck by Lee Bursten. http://www.tarotpassages.com/bursten11.htm Best wishes Yaboot

Kissa	24 Jun 2004
yep you are definitely right! the very same picture. i must give a little reflexion about how james dean fits the hermit... i'd say james dean was very lonely inside and was looking for answers and the meaning of his life after the trauma of his beloved mother's death. somehow though i think the hermit's quest ends up more joyfully than jimmy's. there is a knight of wands in james dean, i think and a page of cups as well. as with everyone of us, we are many cards depending on the moment, the situation etc... i never liked the rohrig tarot but suddenly you gave it a new chance!! Kissa also known as the reincarnation of Pier Angeli...

tao51	24 Jun 2004
James Dean was a loner in the movie. He was bleakly philosophical. He was befriended by Nathalie Wood's charecter. Sal Mineo's charecter was protected by him. Sadly, all three died a tragic death. (In real life) I could easily see him as the hermit. He prefered to be alone and absorbed information around him. He was an individualist. I think he was a perfect choice.--Tao

Little Baron	24 Jun 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kissa i never liked the rohrig tarot but suddenly you gave it a new chance!! When I first saw the card, it kind of disappointed me that it was based on Dean (a reason why I never liked the Cosmic Tarot being built around famous faces) but now, when i come to study this card, I quite like the reference; I always liked James Dean and his films and I am quite into looking at reasons why he was turned into the Hermit for the Rohrig. I thought, initially, since he is not mentioned in either the LWB or the Bluestar book, that it was just his face that was being used by the artist and not his life/presonality and that was why I was disappointed. Maybe it was something he put in there as a kind of 'hidden' thing, waiting to be noticed. Like both your interpretations. Yaboot Pier Angeli, eh! ... the only woman they say he ever reallyloved (aside from his mother of course, which is different, and I do agree that that loss, which affected him for the rest of his life, could contribute to why he would make a good Hermit - "My mother died on me when I was nine years old. What does she expect me to do? Do it all by myself? - James Dean.

Moonbow*	24 Jun 2004
I never noticed this Yaboot but I too think that using James Dean is very apt as the Hermit. Apart from the usual meanings for the Hermit eg solitude, comtemplation etc.... it can also portray someone who leads a solitary life and is very private in more of a psychological way - much like Dean despite his stardom.

Jewel-ry	24 Jun 2004
Yes! I have always thought that the hermit looks like James Dean. Great minds think alike I guess? I don't know enough about James Dean to know if the meaning of the card portrays him well but I definately see the likeness. I wonder if any of the other cards have similarities to real-life people? :)

Little Baron	24 Jun 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel-ry I wonder if any of the other cards have similarities to real-life people? :) I wondered that as well. I only made this comparison because I had seen Deans films, read a few books about him, and in particular, recognised the actual photograph that the picture has been taken from. Havn't seen any others as yet but will keep my eyes open.

zorya	24 Jun 2004
james dean was an outsider in real life as well as in the films. he came from a very small, 'nothing to do' kind of town, in indiana. as another who was born and raised in indiana, (and am now a hermit in indiana) i completely understand the feeling! :laugh:

tao51	24 Jun 2004
My original interpretation of the Hermit was a person of great thought, who seeks not to be a leader but is followed nonetheless. This was the case for James Dean in his short life. Okay, I thought he was cool when I was in my younger days! --Tao

tao51	07 Jul 2004
Is it just me or does the Devil card resemble Prince--the rock singer from the 80"s? Then the Magus looks somewhat like Leonard Nimoy. Both would have been good selections for these cards.--Tao

Little Baron	07 Jul 2004
They would have been good skeletons for the cards. I don't see Prince in the Devil card though; he reminds me a little of Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride/Crush/Men in Tights). I wish Carl W. Rohrig had a website; that would be a real help. Best wishes Yaboot

tao51	07 Jul 2004
had a website, also. I think there is so much to explore in the cards.--Tao

The James Dean; The Rohrig Hermit thread was originally posted on 24 Jun 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.