Two of Wands
A Look at the Wise
We see an old man standing in a cold and snowy mountainous landscape. He wears earth colours: a brown cassock and a green gown. Around his neck, he wears an anchor-shaped pendant. He holds a tall staff with a lantern hooked at the top. Nestled under his elbow is a red book. Some ancient Celtic, Hebrew, Buddhist, Wiccan or even Christian book perhaps. Or maybe a book of spells, possibly a journal, maybe just his favourite book of fiction.
What gives this image a magical quality is that where he opens his cloak the wintry elements are defied. A fire burns*, the snow melts and, in its place, grass grows, a stream flows, clover sprouts, a butterfly flies, and a rabbit leaps up at his staff, down by his bare feet. How old he may be is not quite clear. He has white/grey hair with a thick beard, but he is hooded by his clock and it is hard to define.
Reflection
This appears to me to be a man who has learnt a few tricks in his time! He has experienced life, both its joys and its hardships, and he’s learnt a lot along the way. He has learnt to face things, get on with them and not complain. This is symbolised by his bare feet in the cold elements. Trivial things no longer phase him; he has mastered the art of ignoring life’s irritations. He is knowledgeable and has learnt a great deal, which is symbolised by the book. He may be a guide for others if they seek him out, symbolised by the lantern (guide) and the rabbit (seeker).
He knows how to survive and work with nature in order to make it work for him. He shows a mastery of the elements: within the confines of his cloak are the four elements at play: melting snow and stream: water, butterfly: air, flame: fire*, clover: earth.
Habitually, he has withdrawn from society, and spirited himself away into the mountains; he is not a threat to anyone and lives in peace within the landscape and hand-in-hand with nature.
* Fiery Comparison
It is interesting to note the flame in this card and compare it to others with a similar image within the deck. Take out The Fool and The Magician, and place them along side The Hermit. Each depicts a similar sized flame. This could be useful in exploring and defining The Fool’s Journey. It could read as follows: the innocent, curious, and naïve Fool is drawn towards the excitement of the flames without knowing its dangers or learning to respect its power. The Magician experiments and plays with fire, enjoying the superficial mastery he has developed over it. The Wise One does not play or experiment with it; he knows its dangers and he respects it. He uses it for practical purposes: to keep warm in the cold climate he has chosen to reside in. He relies upon its uses, but no longer tempts or abuses it.
His Place in the Deck
It occurs to me that The Hermit is the last of the “human” characters, although we do have The Lone (Hanged) Man to come. He is the old man who has tried the different paths we see the Fool setting out on. He’s learnt a few tricks of the trade from the Magician. He has benefited from the wisdom and guidance of the High Priest and Priestess, grown under the parentage and leadership of the Empress and Emperor, gone on to lead others, mastered his control of the elements and nurtured and developed his many strengths. He is now living out the end of his days in seclusion. Unlike the High Priest, he does not seek to preach, and may not even welcome company, or those seeking advice, gladly. Shown the right respect however, he may open your mind to new ways of thinking and set you upon a path where you can find the answers for yourself. He’s out of the game, but others would do well to seek and feed off what knowledge or guidance he is prepared to give before it’s too late!
Defining this “One”
There are three main types of Hermit:
1. The Retreat: The Hermit who withdraws to seek solitude, and get in touch with his inner self or a higher plane of reasoning. This Hermit probably intends to return to society in good time, refreshed and enlightened by their time away. This Hermit is unlikely to want to be disturbed during their time in solitude and will not want to be dispensing advice to others.
2. The Embittered One: The Hermit who is so hurt or disillusioned by society that they shut themselves away from it completely. This Hermit would be the hardest to penetrate, and indeed they may be so embittered that there is nothing left to learn from them.
3. The Retired One: The Hermit who takes himself/herself away and chooses to end their days alone. This Hermit still retains wisdom and experience and may well be willing to share these with those who come looking, and are prepared to open their mind to what they might have to say.
The Wise One in this card fits more with the third type of Hermit, which is suggested by the name ‘Wise One’. Notice also that while an old man is depicted on the card, the Wise One could just as easily be a woman, and the none defining term ‘one’ has definitely been used for this very purpose.
Meanings
The good side of The Wise One suggests to me someone who has mastered the art of being alone, someone who enjoys society and the company of others but can be equally self sufficient, relaxed and entertained in their own company.
The bad side of The Wise One suggests to me loneliness, bitterness, shyness, lack of self esteem, laziness and possible emotional loss.
Ending by the Book!
Finally, I want to quote directly from The Old Path book. I make sure that I do not refer to the book before I have taken all I can from the card, it just helps me approach it with an open mind, hence, the above was written before I read this:
“This is an expression of one who is following the path that leads to a higher consciousness and the perfection of the soul. He walks alone, away from the material world, where he can lead a basic existence in solitude. Thus he may find the truth in the revelations of his psyche.
He is so far advanced along the way that most find him difficult to comprehend. However, he is willing to light the path for those who sincerely follow his guidance.”
We see an old man standing in a cold and snowy mountainous landscape. He wears earth colours: a brown cassock and a green gown. Around his neck, he wears an anchor-shaped pendant. He holds a tall staff with a lantern hooked at the top. Nestled under his elbow is a red book. Some ancient Celtic, Hebrew, Buddhist, Wiccan or even Christian book perhaps. Or maybe a book of spells, possibly a journal, maybe just his favourite book of fiction.
What gives this image a magical quality is that where he opens his cloak the wintry elements are defied. A fire burns*, the snow melts and, in its place, grass grows, a stream flows, clover sprouts, a butterfly flies, and a rabbit leaps up at his staff, down by his bare feet. How old he may be is not quite clear. He has white/grey hair with a thick beard, but he is hooded by his clock and it is hard to define.
Reflection
This appears to me to be a man who has learnt a few tricks in his time! He has experienced life, both its joys and its hardships, and he’s learnt a lot along the way. He has learnt to face things, get on with them and not complain. This is symbolised by his bare feet in the cold elements. Trivial things no longer phase him; he has mastered the art of ignoring life’s irritations. He is knowledgeable and has learnt a great deal, which is symbolised by the book. He may be a guide for others if they seek him out, symbolised by the lantern (guide) and the rabbit (seeker).
He knows how to survive and work with nature in order to make it work for him. He shows a mastery of the elements: within the confines of his cloak are the four elements at play: melting snow and stream: water, butterfly: air, flame: fire*, clover: earth.
Habitually, he has withdrawn from society, and spirited himself away into the mountains; he is not a threat to anyone and lives in peace within the landscape and hand-in-hand with nature.
* Fiery Comparison
It is interesting to note the flame in this card and compare it to others with a similar image within the deck. Take out The Fool and The Magician, and place them along side The Hermit. Each depicts a similar sized flame. This could be useful in exploring and defining The Fool’s Journey. It could read as follows: the innocent, curious, and naïve Fool is drawn towards the excitement of the flames without knowing its dangers or learning to respect its power. The Magician experiments and plays with fire, enjoying the superficial mastery he has developed over it. The Wise One does not play or experiment with it; he knows its dangers and he respects it. He uses it for practical purposes: to keep warm in the cold climate he has chosen to reside in. He relies upon its uses, but no longer tempts or abuses it.
His Place in the Deck
It occurs to me that The Hermit is the last of the “human” characters, although we do have The Lone (Hanged) Man to come. He is the old man who has tried the different paths we see the Fool setting out on. He’s learnt a few tricks of the trade from the Magician. He has benefited from the wisdom and guidance of the High Priest and Priestess, grown under the parentage and leadership of the Empress and Emperor, gone on to lead others, mastered his control of the elements and nurtured and developed his many strengths. He is now living out the end of his days in seclusion. Unlike the High Priest, he does not seek to preach, and may not even welcome company, or those seeking advice, gladly. Shown the right respect however, he may open your mind to new ways of thinking and set you upon a path where you can find the answers for yourself. He’s out of the game, but others would do well to seek and feed off what knowledge or guidance he is prepared to give before it’s too late!
Defining this “One”
There are three main types of Hermit:
1. The Retreat: The Hermit who withdraws to seek solitude, and get in touch with his inner self or a higher plane of reasoning. This Hermit probably intends to return to society in good time, refreshed and enlightened by their time away. This Hermit is unlikely to want to be disturbed during their time in solitude and will not want to be dispensing advice to others.
2. The Embittered One: The Hermit who is so hurt or disillusioned by society that they shut themselves away from it completely. This Hermit would be the hardest to penetrate, and indeed they may be so embittered that there is nothing left to learn from them.
3. The Retired One: The Hermit who takes himself/herself away and chooses to end their days alone. This Hermit still retains wisdom and experience and may well be willing to share these with those who come looking, and are prepared to open their mind to what they might have to say.
The Wise One in this card fits more with the third type of Hermit, which is suggested by the name ‘Wise One’. Notice also that while an old man is depicted on the card, the Wise One could just as easily be a woman, and the none defining term ‘one’ has definitely been used for this very purpose.
Meanings
The good side of The Wise One suggests to me someone who has mastered the art of being alone, someone who enjoys society and the company of others but can be equally self sufficient, relaxed and entertained in their own company.
The bad side of The Wise One suggests to me loneliness, bitterness, shyness, lack of self esteem, laziness and possible emotional loss.
Ending by the Book!
Finally, I want to quote directly from The Old Path book. I make sure that I do not refer to the book before I have taken all I can from the card, it just helps me approach it with an open mind, hence, the above was written before I read this:
“This is an expression of one who is following the path that leads to a higher consciousness and the perfection of the soul. He walks alone, away from the material world, where he can lead a basic existence in solitude. Thus he may find the truth in the revelations of his psyche.
He is so far advanced along the way that most find him difficult to comprehend. However, he is willing to light the path for those who sincerely follow his guidance.”
