Illumination from within, secret impulse from within; practical plans derived accordingly. Retirement from participation in current events.
י
ATU IX
ATU IX The Hermit
The Prophet of the Eternal,
the Magus of the Voice of Power
The Hermit
The Prophet of the Eternal,
the Magus of the Voice of Power
This card is attributed to the letter Yod, which means the Hand. Hence, the hand, which is the tool or instrument par excellence, is in the centre of the picture. The letter Yod is the foundation of all the other letters of the Hebrew alphabet, which are merely combinations of it in various ways.
The letter Yod is the first letter of the name Tetragrammaton, and this symbolizes the Father, who is Wisdom; he is the highest form of Mercury, and the Logos, the Creator of all worlds. Accordingly, his representative in physical life is the spermatozoon; this is why the card is called The Hermit.
The figure of the Hermit himself recalls the shape of the letter Yod, and the colour of his cloak is the colour of Binah, in whom he gestates. In his hand he holds a Lamp whose centre is the Sun, portrayed in the likeness of the Sigil of the great King of Fire (Yod is the secret Fire). It seems that he is contemplating---in a certain sense, adoring---the Orphic egg (greenish in colour) because it is conterminous with the Universe, while the snake which surrounds it is many-coloured to signify the iridescence of Mercury. For he is not only creative, but is the fluidic essence of Light, which is the life of the Universe.
The highest symbolism of this card is, therefore, Fertility in its most exalted sense, and this is reflected in the attribution of the card to the sign of Virgo, which is another aspect of the same quality. Virgo is an earthy sign, and is referred especially to Corn, so that the background of the card is a field of wheat.
Virgo represents the lowest, most receptive, most feminine form of earth, and forms the crust over Hades. Yet not only is Virgo ruled by Mercury, but Mercury is exalted therein. Compare the Ten of Disks, and the general doctrine that the climax of the Descent into Matter is the signal for the reintegration by Spirit. It is the Formula of the Princess, the mode of fulfilment of the Great Work.
This card recalls the Legend of Persephone, and herein is a dogma. Concealed within Mercury is a light which pervades all parts of the Universe equally; one of his titles is Psychopompos, the guide of the soul through the lower regions. These symbols are indicated by his Serpent Wand, which is actually growing out of the Abyss, and is the spermatozoon developed as a poison, and manifesting the foetus. Following him is Cerberus, the three-headed Hound of Hell whom he has tamed. In this Trump is shewn the entire mystery of Life in its most secret workings. Yod Phallus Spermatozoon Hand Logos Virgin. There is perfect Identity, not merely Equivalence, of the Extremes, the Manifestation, and the Method.
The letter Yod is the first letter of the name Tetragrammaton, and this symbolizes the Father, who is Wisdom; he is the highest form of Mercury, and the Logos, the Creator of all worlds. Accordingly, his representative in physical life is the spermatozoon; this is why the card is called The Hermit.
The figure of the Hermit himself recalls the shape of the letter Yod, and the colour of his cloak is the colour of Binah, in whom he gestates. In his hand he holds a Lamp whose centre is the Sun, portrayed in the likeness of the Sigil of the great King of Fire (Yod is the secret Fire). It seems that he is contemplating---in a certain sense, adoring---the Orphic egg (greenish in colour) because it is conterminous with the Universe, while the snake which surrounds it is many-coloured to signify the iridescence of Mercury. For he is not only creative, but is the fluidic essence of Light, which is the life of the Universe.
The highest symbolism of this card is, therefore, Fertility in its most exalted sense, and this is reflected in the attribution of the card to the sign of Virgo, which is another aspect of the same quality. Virgo is an earthy sign, and is referred especially to Corn, so that the background of the card is a field of wheat.
Virgo represents the lowest, most receptive, most feminine form of earth, and forms the crust over Hades. Yet not only is Virgo ruled by Mercury, but Mercury is exalted therein. Compare the Ten of Disks, and the general doctrine that the climax of the Descent into Matter is the signal for the reintegration by Spirit. It is the Formula of the Princess, the mode of fulfilment of the Great Work.
This card recalls the Legend of Persephone, and herein is a dogma. Concealed within Mercury is a light which pervades all parts of the Universe equally; one of his titles is Psychopompos, the guide of the soul through the lower regions. These symbols are indicated by his Serpent Wand, which is actually growing out of the Abyss, and is the spermatozoon developed as a poison, and manifesting the foetus. Following him is Cerberus, the three-headed Hound of Hell whom he has tamed. In this Trump is shewn the entire mystery of Life in its most secret workings. Yod Phallus Spermatozoon Hand Logos Virgin. There is perfect Identity, not merely Equivalence, of the Extremes, the Manifestation, and the Method.
| Also see ATU IX: The Hermit according to: | ||||
| Tarot de Marseilles (Gebelin) | Eliphas Levi | Golden Dawn (Regardie) | Aleister Crowley | Frater Achad |
777 for key 20
I
Key Scale 20
II
Hebrew Names of Numbers and Letters Yod
III
English of Col. II. Hand
VI
The Heavens of Assiah Betulah
VII
English of Col. VI. Virgo
VIII
Orders of Qliphoth Tzaphiriron
X
Mystic Numbers of the Sephiroth 210
XI
Elements (with their Planetary Rulers) Mercury Earth Luna
XII
The Tree of Life Pathjoins 4–6
XIII
The Paths of the Sepher Yetzirah I. of Will
XIV
General Attribution of Tarot Hermit
XV
The King Scale of Colour (y) Green, yellowish
XVI
The Queen Scale of Colour (h) Slate grey
XVII
The Emperor Scale of Colour (v) Green grey
XVIII
The Empress Scale of Colour (#) Plum colour
XIX
Selection of Egyptian Gods Isis [as Virgin]
XX
Complete Practical Attribution of Egyptian Gods Heru-pa-Kraath
XXII
Small selection of Hindu Deities The Gopi girls, the Lord of Yoga
XXIII
The Forty Buddhist Meditations Worm-eaten Corpse I
XXXIV
Some Greek Gods [Attis]
XXXV
Some Roman Gods Vulcan)
XXXVIII
Animals, Real and Imaginary. Virgin, Anchorite, any solitary person or animal [[Rhinoceros]]
XXXIX
Plants, Real and Imaginary Snowdrop, Lily, Narcissus [[Mistletoe]]
XL
Precious Stones Peridot
XLI
Magical Weapons reserved), the Bread [[Lotus Wand]] The Sceptre
XLII
Perfumes Narcissus
XLIII
Vegetable Drugs All anaphrodisiacs
XLV
Magical Powers [Western Mysticism] Invisibility, Parthenogenesis, Initiation (?)
XLIX
Lineal Figures of the Planets, &c., and Geomany Conjunctio
LI.II
Numeration of Col. LI. 10
LI.III
English equivalent of Col. LI. I, y, ee
LIII
The Greek Alphabet Ι ι
CXXXVII
Signs of the Zodiac ♍ Virgo
CXXXVIII
Planets ruling Col. CXXXVII. Mercury
CXXXIX
Angel Lords of the Triplicity in the Signs by Day Laslara
CXL
Angel Lords of the Triplicity in the Signs by Night Sasia
CXLI
The Twelve Tribes Napthali
CXLII
Angels ruling Houses Veyel
CXLIII
Twelve Lesser Assistant Angels in the Signs Shelathiel
CXLVI
Angels of the Decantes (Ascendant). Ananaurah
CXLVII
Angels of the Decantes (Succedent). Rayadyah
CXLVIII
Angels of the Decantes (Cadent). Mishpar
CXLIX
Magical Images of the Decans (Ascendant) A virgin clad in linen, with an apple or pomegranate
CL
Magical Images of the Decans (Succedent) Tall, fair, large man, with him a woman holding a large black oil jar
CLI
Magical Images of the Decans (Cadent) An old man leaning on a staff and wrapped in a mantle
CLII
Perfumes (Ascendant) Santal Flav
CLIII
Perfumes (Succedent) Srorus
CLIV
Perfumes (Cadent) Mastick
CLV
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Ascendant) Zepar
CLVI
Magical Images of Col. CLV. A soldier in red apparel and armour.
CLVII
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Succedent) Botis
CLVIII
Magical Images of Col. CLVII. Viper (or) Human, with teeth and 2 horns, and with a sword.
CLIX
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Cadent) Bathin
CLX
Magical Images of Col. CLIX. A strong man with a serpent’s tail, on a pale horse.
CLXI
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Ascendant) Alloces
CLXII
Magical Images of Col. CLXI. Soldier with red leonine face and flaming eyes; rides great horse.
CLXIII
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Succedent) Camio
CLXIV
Magical Images of Col. CLXIII. Beautiful woman, with duchess’ crown tied to her waist, riding great camel.
CLXV
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Cadent) Murmur
CLXVI
Magical Images of Col. CLXV. carries goshawk.
CLXVII
Egyptian Gods of Zodiac (Asc. Decans) Isis
CLXVIII
Egyptian Names of Asc. Decans Thumis
CLXIX
As Col. CLXVII (Succedent) Pi-Osiris
CLXX
As Col. CXVIII (Succendent) Thoptius
CLXXI
As Col. CXLVII (Cadent) Panotragus
CLXXII
As Col. CXLVIII (Cadent) Aphut
CLXXIII
Genii of the Twelve Hours (Levi) Tabris, Susabo, Eirnils, Nitika, Haatan, Hatiphas, Zaren
CLXXV
Hebrew Letters י
CLXXVI
Numerical Value of Col. CLXXV. 10
CLXXVII
Geomantic Intelligences Hamaliel
CLXXIX
Numbers printed on Tarot Trumps 9
CLXXX
Title of Tarot Trumps The Prophet of the Eternal, the Magus of the Voice of Power..
CLXXXI
Correct Design of Tarot Trumps Wrapped in a cloke and cowl, an Ancient walketh, bearing a lamp and staff *
CLXXXII
The Human Body The Back
CLXXXIII
Legendary Orders of Being Mermaids (and l, its Zodiacal Opposite), Banshees
CLXXXIV
Numeration of Arabic Alphabet 10
CLXXXV
Numeration of Greek Alphabet 10
CLXXXVI
Diseases (Typical) Spinal weakness, Paralysis