Verdi
21 steps step 20
I looked at 4 decks:
The Quest, the Old English, the DruidCraft and the Mythic
The Quest: A naked person stands in a very dark cave (I will assume it’s a man), with his back towards us. The lower half of the body is covered by rocks. His right arm is outstretched and a strong glowing bulb shines whitely at his had. Nine sparks fly from the globe. There is an owl in the foreground, a beetle with jin/jang patterns on its back and a spider hanging from the roof. The card is very dark. (It lights up a bit when scanned!).
The Old English: An old man stands in cape/mantel. We see his eyes and head. He has a lantern in right hand outstretched, and in his left a walking stick. The lantern has a white light. The grass he stands on is green. The background is a lightly patterned motif.
The DruidCraft: An old man stands on a path at cliffs edge. In the valley below a river winds its way. His eyes are totally covered by hood of mantel he is wearing. His right hand holds a lantern with yellow light in it. His left hand holds a very long stave. He has a wolf standing besides him on the left side. There is a half morn and sunrise/set.
The Mythic: An old man stands on a dried out plain. Mountains are in the background. The sky is dark with clouds. A sunset is yellow. He holds up a glowing white and yellow lantern. I his left hand he hold a long handled scythe. His eyes are half covered by hood of mantel he is wearing. A crow sits on his left shoulder.
Similarities and differences:
I would just like to point out the most interesting differences.
The Quest Hermits is naked and young, we see his back, he has no stave or lantern.
There are animals in all pictures apart from The Old English.
The Mythic Hermit has a scythe, not a stave
All the backgrounds are different
Only one shows his eyes, Old English
Only one shows the moon, DruidCraft
Only the Mythic does not have number
New meanings:
The patience and exactness of the spider in Quest reminds us that it take time and detailed inner reflection to change ourselves.
The scythe of the Mythic tells us that reflections can wax and wane, ebb and flow, that is not a straight line to inner wisdom
The Old English lets us see that openness and light is also a path towards self reflection.
The three most important words I believe are: Self reflection, inner journey, guidance.
Which card expresses the best advice you would give yourself:
In looking towards the inner journey of self reflection and guidance I believe the DruiCraft gives the better rendition. His light, the path, the edge of cliff, all build up under a journey, though a little risky for those who choose to take this journey. The Wolf, a companion that underscores the role of guidance, as does the lamp.
Design of own card:
I would have a more middle-aged Hermit. The landscape would be varied, to reflect the journey. It would be sunrise and a moon evident in the sky, indicating renewal and change. I would have an owl and dog, to reflect wisdom and guidance. The light would be a candle, that also shows the way, does not blow out despite a breeze showing in the Hermits robes. The Hermit would also have a stave made of spindly wood to reflect a spiral into the unknown. The robes would be of fine woven cloth, reflecting the richness of wisdom. His head would be free and eye clear and piercing.
Verdi
I looked at 4 decks:
The Quest, the Old English, the DruidCraft and the Mythic
The Quest: A naked person stands in a very dark cave (I will assume it’s a man), with his back towards us. The lower half of the body is covered by rocks. His right arm is outstretched and a strong glowing bulb shines whitely at his had. Nine sparks fly from the globe. There is an owl in the foreground, a beetle with jin/jang patterns on its back and a spider hanging from the roof. The card is very dark. (It lights up a bit when scanned!).
The Old English: An old man stands in cape/mantel. We see his eyes and head. He has a lantern in right hand outstretched, and in his left a walking stick. The lantern has a white light. The grass he stands on is green. The background is a lightly patterned motif.
The DruidCraft: An old man stands on a path at cliffs edge. In the valley below a river winds its way. His eyes are totally covered by hood of mantel he is wearing. His right hand holds a lantern with yellow light in it. His left hand holds a very long stave. He has a wolf standing besides him on the left side. There is a half morn and sunrise/set.
The Mythic: An old man stands on a dried out plain. Mountains are in the background. The sky is dark with clouds. A sunset is yellow. He holds up a glowing white and yellow lantern. I his left hand he hold a long handled scythe. His eyes are half covered by hood of mantel he is wearing. A crow sits on his left shoulder.
Similarities and differences:
I would just like to point out the most interesting differences.
The Quest Hermits is naked and young, we see his back, he has no stave or lantern.
There are animals in all pictures apart from The Old English.
The Mythic Hermit has a scythe, not a stave
All the backgrounds are different
Only one shows his eyes, Old English
Only one shows the moon, DruidCraft
Only the Mythic does not have number
New meanings:
The patience and exactness of the spider in Quest reminds us that it take time and detailed inner reflection to change ourselves.
The scythe of the Mythic tells us that reflections can wax and wane, ebb and flow, that is not a straight line to inner wisdom
The Old English lets us see that openness and light is also a path towards self reflection.
The three most important words I believe are: Self reflection, inner journey, guidance.
Which card expresses the best advice you would give yourself:
In looking towards the inner journey of self reflection and guidance I believe the DruiCraft gives the better rendition. His light, the path, the edge of cliff, all build up under a journey, though a little risky for those who choose to take this journey. The Wolf, a companion that underscores the role of guidance, as does the lamp.
Design of own card:
I would have a more middle-aged Hermit. The landscape would be varied, to reflect the journey. It would be sunrise and a moon evident in the sky, indicating renewal and change. I would have an owl and dog, to reflect wisdom and guidance. The light would be a candle, that also shows the way, does not blow out despite a breeze showing in the Hermits robes. The Hermit would also have a stave made of spindly wood to reflect a spiral into the unknown. The robes would be of fine woven cloth, reflecting the richness of wisdom. His head would be free and eye clear and piercing.
Verdi