juliecucciawatts
The Hermit
Full Moon Cycle Capricorn
Ra with his divine light hovers over Luxor Temple. Isis has fashioned a cobra out of the dust of the earth and Ra’s own bodily fluids and it lies in wait, regularly taking a bite out of Ra until he gives Isis his secret name. Ra has taken the form of a Ram-headed god in Amon-Ra Karnak just a mile or so away from Luxor Temple these two temples are connected by an avenue of sphinxes and were the ceremonial hub and heart of the ancient city of Thebes. The goat-headed god Khnum, one of the most ancient pre-dynastic gods of Egypt, merges with the cult of Ra (or Re) during the "pyramid age" when Khufu, proposed builder of the great pyramid of Giza, added Khnum to his name, while his (Khufu's) son and grandson (Khaf-Re and Menkau-Re) were named for Ra adding the names of gods to the pharaonic names shows what gods held important roles in specific dynasties.
The symbolism found in Capricorn and the Egyptian god Khnum-Ra is associated with Nun (the primeval waters) and given the name Hap-ur ("Great Nile" or "Nile of Heaven") hinting at his connection to the Milky Way and the Duat. Besides referring to a soul, the ba can also mean "ram" and as part of the beloved pun Khnum is sometimes considered the "ba" (soul) of the ram-headed Ra. The “ba” is the soul the part of us that is with us from one incarnation to the next the ba resides in the "ab" (heart) more word play as the words are a mirror image of each other. The heart (ab) where all wisdom is stays with the body only organ left in the body after death, like the soul stays with the person from one incarnation to the next. The heart is thought to be the place where wisdom is stored and that idea still lingers in our modern language as we “listen to our hearts” to find true wisdom. The heart of the deceased is weighed against a feather in the halls of Ma’at, thus being “light hearted” is also still in our vocabulary. Spells invoking the Khnum’s help are found in the Book of the Dead and he protects the dead, helping them on their journey through the Duat. The idea that the heart can be stolen during one’s passage through the duat is misinterpreted in modern times with ideas that someone’s soul could be stolen by a devil. We are souls we don’t just have souls. The soul is the permanent immortal part where as the heart is the wisdom a reflection of that soul. We can have our hearts stolen not our souls.
Khnum's cult center is the island of Elephantine and he was originally considered a water god who ruled over water, including those in the Duat. He is associated with the source of the Nile, as well as the inundation and its consequent deposition of fertile silt. This silt also forms the clay used to make pottery. Khnum is closely associated with the art of pottery (see the creation myth in the Wheel of Fortune). Khnum creates everything on his potter’s wheel, including people and other gods. Khnum is also responsible for making the body and the "ka" (spirit) of each newborn child. The “ka” is represented by two upright arms, symbolizing an embrace symbolic of the connection we all have to every other living thing.
Khnum’s as Protector of the Dead can be seen in his association with the time of new moon, when the moon disappears from view as it conjuncts with the sun. Khnum is one of the gods that helped Ra, as well as Osiris, on their journeys through the Duat or Far World. The Duat, a place symbolized by the body of the sky goddess Nut, is also representative of an internal journey. The Sun God is swallowed by Nut in the west and journeys through her body at night and reborn in the east. Khnum’s close association with water also includes the celestial waters of the Milky Way, a reflection of the terrestrial Nile, a classic “As above so below” philosophy. Khnum is also creator of the boat that carries Ra and he defends the Sun God against the serpent Apep (Apothis). The job of defending Ra against Apep has also been assigned to Set, another goat-like god, after his defeat by Horus.
The ram or goat associated with Khnum is an early breed with corkscrew horns, which extend horizontally and may symbolize the water as well. The mouflon is considered to be the ancestor of domesticated breeds of sheep and the breed associated with Khnum is likely one of the earliest crossover breeds. The goat is considered a potent, virile animal and consequently Khnum is associated with fertility. Occasionally he is depicted with four ram heads (representing sun god Ra, the air god Shu, the earth god Geb, and Osiris the god of the Underworld). In this particular form he is known as Sheft-hat.
The traditional Hermit lives alone, usually in a remote cave in an isolated mountaintop. Carrying only a staff and a lantern he heads out at dusk, traveling across the landscape. During these meditative walks he looks at what he has accomplished in his life before his retreat from mainstream society. The Hermit's staff gives him support, becoming the three-legged being in the riddle of the Sphinx: What walks on 4 legs at dawn, two legs at noon, and 3 legs at dusk? In some tarot images the Hermit carries a lantern/hour glass emulating Father Time. The Hermit, like the lantern, is self-illuminated. He also represents the wise sage or teacher who brings illumination to the seeker. Like Khnum and Ra, he lights the way through the dark and perilous unknown helping us reach our own hearts, finding transformation, abundance, and enlightenment in the solitary journey within.
Card meaning: In a reading the Hermit represents a person who can shine light on a situation; someone who stands out and stands alone. This card can also suggest finding some alone time to focus and shine light on a situation. The card is a symbol of the wisdom of old age, as well as the wisdom of stepping away from the crowd and looking at things from a higher perspective. The addition of the Egyptian symbolism gives the Hermit a creative side; he is the maker of new containers; his power of fertility ensures new life and triumph over waste and decay. Connect with the Hermit, alone, by taking time to create something; see a project through from beginning to end, like the sun journeying across the sky.
©2013 Julie Cuccia-Watts
Full Moon Cycle Capricorn
Ra with his divine light hovers over Luxor Temple. Isis has fashioned a cobra out of the dust of the earth and Ra’s own bodily fluids and it lies in wait, regularly taking a bite out of Ra until he gives Isis his secret name. Ra has taken the form of a Ram-headed god in Amon-Ra Karnak just a mile or so away from Luxor Temple these two temples are connected by an avenue of sphinxes and were the ceremonial hub and heart of the ancient city of Thebes. The goat-headed god Khnum, one of the most ancient pre-dynastic gods of Egypt, merges with the cult of Ra (or Re) during the "pyramid age" when Khufu, proposed builder of the great pyramid of Giza, added Khnum to his name, while his (Khufu's) son and grandson (Khaf-Re and Menkau-Re) were named for Ra adding the names of gods to the pharaonic names shows what gods held important roles in specific dynasties.
The symbolism found in Capricorn and the Egyptian god Khnum-Ra is associated with Nun (the primeval waters) and given the name Hap-ur ("Great Nile" or "Nile of Heaven") hinting at his connection to the Milky Way and the Duat. Besides referring to a soul, the ba can also mean "ram" and as part of the beloved pun Khnum is sometimes considered the "ba" (soul) of the ram-headed Ra. The “ba” is the soul the part of us that is with us from one incarnation to the next the ba resides in the "ab" (heart) more word play as the words are a mirror image of each other. The heart (ab) where all wisdom is stays with the body only organ left in the body after death, like the soul stays with the person from one incarnation to the next. The heart is thought to be the place where wisdom is stored and that idea still lingers in our modern language as we “listen to our hearts” to find true wisdom. The heart of the deceased is weighed against a feather in the halls of Ma’at, thus being “light hearted” is also still in our vocabulary. Spells invoking the Khnum’s help are found in the Book of the Dead and he protects the dead, helping them on their journey through the Duat. The idea that the heart can be stolen during one’s passage through the duat is misinterpreted in modern times with ideas that someone’s soul could be stolen by a devil. We are souls we don’t just have souls. The soul is the permanent immortal part where as the heart is the wisdom a reflection of that soul. We can have our hearts stolen not our souls.
Khnum's cult center is the island of Elephantine and he was originally considered a water god who ruled over water, including those in the Duat. He is associated with the source of the Nile, as well as the inundation and its consequent deposition of fertile silt. This silt also forms the clay used to make pottery. Khnum is closely associated with the art of pottery (see the creation myth in the Wheel of Fortune). Khnum creates everything on his potter’s wheel, including people and other gods. Khnum is also responsible for making the body and the "ka" (spirit) of each newborn child. The “ka” is represented by two upright arms, symbolizing an embrace symbolic of the connection we all have to every other living thing.
Khnum’s as Protector of the Dead can be seen in his association with the time of new moon, when the moon disappears from view as it conjuncts with the sun. Khnum is one of the gods that helped Ra, as well as Osiris, on their journeys through the Duat or Far World. The Duat, a place symbolized by the body of the sky goddess Nut, is also representative of an internal journey. The Sun God is swallowed by Nut in the west and journeys through her body at night and reborn in the east. Khnum’s close association with water also includes the celestial waters of the Milky Way, a reflection of the terrestrial Nile, a classic “As above so below” philosophy. Khnum is also creator of the boat that carries Ra and he defends the Sun God against the serpent Apep (Apothis). The job of defending Ra against Apep has also been assigned to Set, another goat-like god, after his defeat by Horus.
The ram or goat associated with Khnum is an early breed with corkscrew horns, which extend horizontally and may symbolize the water as well. The mouflon is considered to be the ancestor of domesticated breeds of sheep and the breed associated with Khnum is likely one of the earliest crossover breeds. The goat is considered a potent, virile animal and consequently Khnum is associated with fertility. Occasionally he is depicted with four ram heads (representing sun god Ra, the air god Shu, the earth god Geb, and Osiris the god of the Underworld). In this particular form he is known as Sheft-hat.
The traditional Hermit lives alone, usually in a remote cave in an isolated mountaintop. Carrying only a staff and a lantern he heads out at dusk, traveling across the landscape. During these meditative walks he looks at what he has accomplished in his life before his retreat from mainstream society. The Hermit's staff gives him support, becoming the three-legged being in the riddle of the Sphinx: What walks on 4 legs at dawn, two legs at noon, and 3 legs at dusk? In some tarot images the Hermit carries a lantern/hour glass emulating Father Time. The Hermit, like the lantern, is self-illuminated. He also represents the wise sage or teacher who brings illumination to the seeker. Like Khnum and Ra, he lights the way through the dark and perilous unknown helping us reach our own hearts, finding transformation, abundance, and enlightenment in the solitary journey within.
Card meaning: In a reading the Hermit represents a person who can shine light on a situation; someone who stands out and stands alone. This card can also suggest finding some alone time to focus and shine light on a situation. The card is a symbol of the wisdom of old age, as well as the wisdom of stepping away from the crowd and looking at things from a higher perspective. The addition of the Egyptian symbolism gives the Hermit a creative side; he is the maker of new containers; his power of fertility ensures new life and triumph over waste and decay. Connect with the Hermit, alone, by taking time to create something; see a project through from beginning to end, like the sun journeying across the sky.
©2013 Julie Cuccia-Watts
