THE HERMIT: THE EVOLVED PERSONALITY

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

The ninth major arcana represents the personality at the pinnacle of development.  Ascending the heights of the mountain of the Great Work has not always been easy, but all of the tools gained during progression through the realms of earlier triumphs are now at hand as the Happy Traveler arrives to take up the Light at the summit.  Wrapped in a gray cloak of Wisdom and offering the illumination of Truth to others on the same path, The Hermit commands all of the powers of The Magician, as evidenced by the glowing wand that creates a direct channel between Heaven and Earth.

Tarot de Marseilles

Unlike some of the other major arcana, symbolism in the The Hermit is minimal, limited primarily to the Wand, lantern, robe and mountain.  A symbol, in relation to the Tarot, is an image that defines a particular kind of energy.  When we talk about symbolism, therefore, we are discussing energies, rather than abstract ideas.  The energy described in The Hermit is that of a learned person who has withdrawn from the material world and its petty preoccupations, but is still eager to share with other seekers.  Spiritual retreat is also suggested.

Jungian Tarot

In numerology, 9 is the number of completion.  In Tarot,  major arcana 0 through 9 outline the qualities of a healthy personality, culminating in The Hermit.  With the introduction of the tenth triumph, The Wheel of Fortune, the eye of Tarot turns from personal development to broader cosmic influences.  The Hermit, then, is the conclusion of a very personal series of cards, each of which represents a different state of mind.  The psychologically fit Traveler is someone who has integrated all of these qualities into the personality.  Remember, however, that there are three possible types of expression for the energies that are described in the triumphs:  Integration, Equilibrium, and Disintegration.

Jean Dodal Tarot

In its most positive expression, The Hermit represents a state of mind where personal and universal consciousness merge, resulting in a sense of profound meaning.  The
Traveler transcends the normal trappings of human consciousness and becomes One With All That Is.  Race, gender, status, politics and dogma are meaningless in this state of mind, part of a world the Traveler has moved beyond.

Thoth

Practical application associates a strong sense of self-reliance with The Hermit.  A person represented by this card in a reading will be unselfish, unassuming, helpful and dependable.  This is a calm and precise person, possibly a scientist or researcher.  Other people look to this person for guidance.  A mentor might be indicated.  In some situations a Spirit-renewing retreat or vacation may be encouraged. 

Deviant Moon Tarot

Other times this card can suggest a sense of isolation.  If ill-dignified or reversed, The Hermit might refer to bad advice, excessive solitude, or denial.

In its finest expression, however, the energies found in The Hermit are full of joy and satisfaction, even mystical experience.  The Hermit is the goal of the journey that began in The Fool.  Both represent the same Higher Source.  In The Hermit, we find the Traveler with great meaning at hand and a youthful Spirit in heart. 

STRENGTH: LOVE TRANSFORMS THE BEAST WITHIN

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

Ruled by fiery Leo and assigned the Hebrew letter Teth, meaning “snake”, Strength is the energetic eighth major arcana in the Rider-Waite pack.  Qabalists assign the sense of taste and the function of digestion to the letter Teth, while Leo governs the side, back, heart and spinal column.  Paul Case writes in relation to this card that “Regulation of diet is at the bottom of practical magic”.  Many modern health practitioners say the same is true for healing, as well.

The implication of serpent-power links Strength directly to The Magician.  In the Layout of Three Worlds, major arcana 1-21 are laid out in three horizontal rows of seven cards.  In this layout Strength rests immediately below The Magician, forming a connection between the first set, the World of the Higher Mind, and the material realm of the second set.  The second set addresses ways in which to bring the higher qualities of the first set into our daily lives.  Notice that The Magician’s belt is a serpent biting its own tail, signifying endless transformation.  The aspects found in The Magician carry over into Strength.

The energy of Serpent-power is vast.  Meanings include astral light, cosmic electricity, universal life principle, conscious energy, secrecy, subtlety, wisdom, redemption, salvation, reincarnation, regeneration, immortality, illusion, and endless transformation and conversion.  Did I miss anything?

Notice also the Infinity symbol over the heads of The Magician and the woman in Strength.  The meaning of the Strength card is made clear by the mutual figure eights and the association of the serpent.  The state of mind expressed in Strength is one where the personality faces the world with all of the forces of The Magician in hand, as the attention of the Tarot begins to turn to the manifestation of Spirit in the material realm.

The background in this version shows an open plain, suggesting conditions of nature rather than those of human construction.  The mountain carries the same meaning it did the first time it appeared in The Lovers, a reference to the Great Work.  The woman’s yellow hair identifies her with The Empress, ultimately Venus, and therefore with creative imagination.  The crown of flowers on her head signifies life in the organic form, while her white robe suggests a pure state of mind.  The chain of roses around her waist represents the artistic adaptation of desire, one of the most important qualities of this triumph.  “When we learn how to weave our desires together into a chain, rejecting all desires which are incompatible with our main purpose, and co-ordinating those we do decide upon as fitting to our purpose, we shall be able to make wonderful applications of creative imagination to the control and direction of the serpent-power”.  –Paul Foster Case. 

While the allusion to the serpent is a sign of connection to higher power, the presence of the King of Beasts represents not only human base instinct, but the consciousness of the animal kingdom.  In the Rider-Waite version it appears that the woman may be pressing the mouth of the lion closed, but the idea of suppression is far off-track from the true meaning of Strength.  In all older decks and many modern versions, the woman is opening the mouth of the beast, an action that suggests giving voice and conscious human direction to these forces.  The message of the eighth triumph celebrates a coalition between higher consciousness, raw instinct, and the natural world. It is Love that is the ruling force in Strength, for love is always triumphant, not only over hate, but over indifference as well!

In a reading, this triumph might refer to a healer or benevolent leader.  A person represented by Strength will be an excellent judge of character and realistic in their expectations of others, not easily fooled.  This is someone with high standards and a sense of determination.  Other traits are self-assurance, sincerity, warmth, affection and protectiveness.  This is an expressive personality, someone who is cultured, refined and artistic.  Other meanings might include a situation that calls for a compassionate approach, or one that requires the seeker to draw from deep inner resources.

I’ll leave you today with another quote on the forces of Strength from Paul Case:  “When we assimilate the hostile, destructive, dangerous, wild forces in nature to the use of mankind, we add to those forces the quality of human consciousness…What matters, therefore, is the kind of patterns we set.  Our mental patterns are determined by self-conscious interpretation of experience.  Let observation and attention (the Magician) be faulty, superficial, negative or fearful and the resulting sequence of subconscious reactions is bound to be destructive.  Thus the spoken word and unuttered speech of thought (the Chariot) will be vehicles for a destructive pattern, and we shall set wild beasts at our own vitals.  Change the pattern, and you change the result.  Make it accurate, profound, courageous, positive.  Then you tame the lion, and he becomes your servant.”

THE CHARIOT: PURSUIT OF THE GREAT WORK

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2012

The triumphant seventh trump in the Rider-Waite deck is packed with symbolism representing a personality actively engaged in pursuit of the Great Work.  The attributes of the previous six major arcana have been integrated, and the seeker has gained awareness of the personality as a sort of fenced-in area where Universal forces are in motion.  Terrestrial and celestial energies are working together to bring about the manifestation of ideas from the subconscious mind.  The power of Synergy, defined as the cooperation of two agents to produce a combined effect that is greater than the sum of their separate efforts, resonates in The Chariot. 

Tarot de Marseilles

The powers of Speech and Language are also closely associated with this card.  The buildings and fence in the background represent human adaptation of the natural world, and the fence is a specific reference to language and speech.  These constructions suggest accomplishment through a high level of communication.  The correct choice of words can be a matter of consideration when The Chariot appears, as can matters of control, safety and refuge.

Thoth 

A person represented by The Chariot in a reading is a caring individual, sensitive to feelings and understanding of all types of human conditions.  Psychic ability may also be suggested.  This is a dynamic personality with the ability to hold a family or group together.

Tarot of the Siddhe

Often The Chariot will refer to a situation in a reading, rather than to a personality.  At times this card will mark an accomplishment, refer to a possibility for advancement, or cast a favorable light on moving ahead with a project or idea.  The astrological sign associated with The Chariot is Cancer, ruled by the Moon.  Accordingly, it is the Warrior Goddesses Athena, Artemis, Diana and Dike who accompany The Chariot, indicating, if well-dignified, a time for great confidence! 

But what if the cards surrounding The Chariot are troubled or reversed?  A struggle or conflict might be suggested, possibly involving personal safety.  There are almost certainly power and control issues in play.  There may be momentum working against you.  The worst possible scenario is a Chariot careening out of balance and out of control, a life held hostage to movement lacking in direction and devoid of meaning.

Dragon Tarot

Although I didn’t realize it until recently, The Chariot has been my personal card for almost a year.  The more I think about it, the more sense it makes.  This has been a year of motion for forces both around me and within.  My job environment, health, finances, happiness, creativity and relationships have all gone through changes and gained momentum in this past year.  Some of that has been wonderful and some difficult, but when I look back, it all adds up to one of the most profound years of my life.  Tarot has been an anchor of positive energy throughout, a navigational tool of sorts, helping me to remain calm and maintain perspective along the way. 

Herbal Tarot

The words of Holly Near, singer/songwriter and political activist, succinctly sum up the spirit of The Chariot, no matter what your age.  Addressing a crowd of Baby Boomers earlier this year, referring to a police action on an Occupy! movement encampment, Near issued this stirring challenge to her aging audience:  “Get out your canes and your walkers.  Get your wheelchairs rolling!  Get yourselves out there and put yourselves in between our young people and harms way!”  It turned out, as Near tells it, that the police cancelled the 11 p.m. raid that night for fear of inciting a riot, but as one young Occupy! organizer put it, “At 10:45 all these old people showed up.  It was awesome!”  Apparently some of those folks haven’t been the same since.  The Chariot, whether it be about the strength of your personality or a metaphor for a placard-wielding wheelchair warrior, is a card about forces in motion and a sense of purpose.  It heralds energetic movement in an enlightened direction, and celebrates the triumph of civilization over savagery.

It’s easy to figure out your card for the year, by the way, you simply add up all the numbers in your birthday plus the year.  The sum of 01-01-2012, in my case, is seven, hence The Chariot.  You can figure out your life card the same way, using your year of birth instead of the current year.  If your birth number is double-digit, reduce it again.  21, for example, becomes 3.  A birth number that corresponds to two major arcana like that means you have an inner and an outer life.  You show one face to the world but wear another at home.

Meditate on The Chariot to summon the idea of Success.