The Hermit as God??

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Oct 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

XLCR	14 Oct 2003
I did a reading for a friend of mine who seems to be going thru some difficulties spiritually - I used the circle spread fromt he Sacred circle tarot I asked "What is going on with "BLANK" ? In position 3 Relationships I got The Devil Position 4 Creative inspirations I got The Hermit and Position 5 I got 9 of wands Usually I get The Hermit representing him in a reading but this time I looked at it and it seemed to "glow" and my intuition said "God" - so I pulled out my trusty little white book (I used tarot of the Ages BTW) and the first sentance said "Wandering face of the Divine" which I had never paid much attention to before.... So I'm wondering if anyone familiar with the Hermit card has ever related the Hermit to God or can anyone see the fit here ??? ...oh I did another reading and the Hermit appeared again without the "glow" and I knew it represented my friend once again...

Thirteen	14 Oct 2003
We can argue that all the majors, especially qabalisticly speaking, represent aspects of the divine. But what I think you're really asking is if this card represents "God" as a creative inspiration. And I'd say "not per se," only because that would be a pretty obvious answer to someone who's having spiritual troubles. Of COURSE he's going to find his way out of such troubles through "god." "God" is the answer to all spiritual troubles, isn't it? The REAL question that's really being asked, however, and really being answered by the Hermit is "In what way will he find god's inspiration/divine light?" And the answer is wonderfully clear in this card: the Hermit is a search for the divine within, a time of solitude, meditation, reflection. A time to walk the world and peer at things by the light of one's intellect--and so see things that you may have missed. Some people find the Divine by helping others. Some find the Divine by building or making things, some in the arts. These won't work for your friend. The Devil in relationship certainly suggests that he's become too attatched to things and people, too obsessed with the material world. This would explain the 9/Wands which suggests that he's tried a lot of different things, worked hard, feels it's all been for not, and is thinking of giving up. He shouldn't. You can tell him he's very close to finding what's right for him spiritually. But to do this, he must separate himself from the world! The Hermit indicates that your friend would do well going on retreat--and if he's inclined, to a retreat at a monestary (of any denomination) that take in guests for a few weeks peace and reflection and no material world. Or he could just as easily escape to a cabin in the woods--or pack himself into a winabego and go on a long, solitary trip. What's important is that he stop fixating on people and things, that he find the light within himself and use it to take a good look at what inside him, and what really matters in the world around him. The glow of the Hermit is the light we all have within. Divine, certainly, but also a way to discover the divine elsewhere and everywhere.

matfav	14 Oct 2003
Be careful not to define any one person as a card that fixes their growth and stops inspiration. The hermit indicated that he had to seek his own inner wisdon and connect to the divine himself.

Kiama	15 Oct 2003
When I read this I immediately thought of the Qabalistic version of the Hermit: Qabalistically, the Hermit represents spermatazoa, and the 'building bloks' of life and all endeavors, because (I think) the letter it is attributed to is thye building block for all the other letters in the Hebrew alphabet. So, to me having the Hermit in the 'Creative Inspirations' position would say 'go back to the source' or go back to the beginnings of one's self to find creative inspiration. But aswell as this, to me the Hermit is the Bodhisattva, the person who is highly spiritually developed yet instead of choosing to reach what Buddhists would call Nirvana, chooses to stay where they are in order to help and guide others towards spiritual enlightenment. So in this case the Hermit in the Creative Inspirations position would indicate a person who the querent could gain insight and spiritual inspiration from. Just a few ideas to add to what Thirteen said. :D Kiama

jmd	15 Oct 2003
Kiama's Kabalistic comment is for those who link the Hebrew letter with a value of ten (Yod) to the ninth card. Others who make Kabalistic connections connect the ninth letter (Teth) to this card, at times even depicting what is implied by the letter (a snake) by including one upon the Hermit's walking staff. Not associating Yod with this card, I personally do not accept its spermatozoa connection with the venerable older figure who holds his own light, possibly providing light for others, but more importantly shining outwards from his habit. If one takes the sequence as a progressive science - ie, a sequence of steps into ever deeper knowledge, understanding and wisdom - then the Hermit may very well depict a state which one has reached whereby one may commune with the Divine, and bringing that ever small voice to shine outwards in his acts and guidance. The creative inspiration which Kiama points out, and with which I agree with, may be connected with this card arises also out of the deep meditations which the Hermit has undertaken in times past. With Thirteen I also agree that here may be indicated that some form of spiritual retreat is called for - in whatever form this takes (even by camping in semi-deserted places) - for the inner reflection and Wisdom which may arise will provide the light of Understanding to shine upon one's knowledge...

firemaiden	15 Oct 2003
I like that -- the wandering face of God -- like Wotan, the wanderer. Is there not something about the wanderer however that is deprived of his god-like potency? He is the sky-god grown old and in his grief for the failings of the world, taken to wandering the earth, old and half blind ... God in disguise, God out of his element ... In this guise he could suggest creative potential being hidden under a bushel.

Thirteen	16 Oct 2003
An interesting point, Firemaiden, and a good one. Certainly there's an element of weariness and even cynicism associated with the Hermit--the potential to be that cranky old master, cutting himself off from the world, or Diogenies with his lantern fruitlessly searching for an honest man. There's a thought, and I believe it, that the "wisdom" you gain as you get older is just experience--seeing the same thing over and over again. I think of the Hermit, sometimes, as a man who views most people as immature kids dramatically responding to his experienced advice with a petulent, "You don't understand!" And the Hermit thinks: Been there, done that, seen it over and over again. Tired of watching it, tired of not being listened to. To hell with ya all! Being that aware of how things are going to go down can quickly make a person jaded and impatient with the world. Similarly, I'm reminded of certain geniuses, an Archimedes or Tesla, with minds so advanced that they can only keep company with themselves--few other people understand them, and still fewer can challenge them. They end up having to challenge and amuse themselves. Which is all to say, yes, I agree, our Hermit is hiding his creative potential, his wisdom and experience, but it's his choice to do so. It may be that for right now, his own company is the most enlightened and stimulating companionship he can find. When/if someone proves to him that they're equally worthy of his attention, that they're willing to listen, hear and understand (that they're an honest man?), maybe he'll share his light with them as well.

firemaiden	16 Oct 2003
Thanks Thirteen! That was fascinating.

Kiama	17 Oct 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Thirteen Which is all to say, yes, I agree, our Hermit is hiding his creative potential, his wisdom and experience, but it's his choice to do so. I agree with this aswell, because I note how the Hermit is clothed mostly in grey, sombre colours (at least in the RWS based decks) and doesn't look like somebody who holds within himself deep, profound wisdom. He looks like a lowly beggar, a poor wandering man, a lost man, a decrepit man. This to me says 'Boddhisattva' again, since the Boddhisattva does not boast about his/her understanding, and instead is very modest and humble. (I also see the Hermit as this for some reason.) Kiama

lark	17 Oct 2003
Like Yoda

XLCR	18 Oct 2003
"...to me the Hermit is the Bodhisattva, the person who is highly spiritually developed yet instead of choosing to reach what Buddhists would call Nirvana, chooses to stay where they are in order to help and guide others towards spiritual enlightenment." I'd have agree with Kiama's statement here...I'd say that this statement fits (and leave it at that) As well as Thirteen's depiction of a "cranky old wise guy" Yes I'd imagine that being spiritually advanced and surrounded by less aware individuals would cause one to become cranky. Actually all of your comments fit this individual and situation quite well... Thanks for enlightening me....

Cerulean	18 Oct 2003
...Father Time, not even knowing what minutes are, but only that he must shed light in the night or step on serpents crawling in the dark. (Di Gumppenberg Neoclassical, 1806) ...a pilgrim soul finding his way, hunched over because he can only find a small cave to retreat to in the night (Dotti, 1865; Prediction 1985). ...Old Filippo Maria, hunchback, cranky, suspicious and hiding in his towers and library from his fears and his vital son-in-law that is poised to overtake Milan...(Visconti of the 1400s) ...steady strength as you stride in the night, light beaming all around, even if the hounds of hell are at your side (Thoth, 1945) Just my Westernized take, Mari Hoshizaki

The The Hermit as God?? thread was originally posted on 14 Oct 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.