The history and practice of tarot cards is now of interest to many in Russia. Brought from the West, this tradition appealed to the people, and its popularity is growing every day. All the new decks, developed and published already in Russia and countless circulations of thematic literature, both translated and out of the hands of domestic specialists, are not tired of witnessing. In this article, we will touch upon only one aspect of this deep tradition, namely the map, which bears the intriguing and mysterious name “The Hermit”.
About the appearance of maps
We begin our review of the card, which in the tradition of the tarot itself is called lasso (that is, secrets, riddles, if translated from Latin), with a description of its appearance. I must say right away that today there are several thousand tarot decks. The designs of some of them are so unique and original that in principle there is no way to select a description of the Hermit card that would suit everyone. Therefore, we restrict ourselves to the traditional, classical way, which serves as the basis not only for the oldest, but also for the most popular decks today.
Description of the Hermit Card
So, the lasso, known as the Hermit, is a map that depicts a gray-haired old man, dressed in a hoodie and a long gray cloak. A hood was thrown over his head, and he himself was walking along an impassable mountain road. His path is accomplished at night, and therefore he illuminates his path with a lantern, which he holds in his left hand. A six-pointed star burns in a lantern with bright fire. The old man is supported by a long wooden staff. Sometimes an animal accompanies him. Most often this happens to be a snake, but there are also wolves, turtles, monkeys and other representatives of the fauna.
Symbols of the Hermit Card
The old man, clothed in rags, is a representation of the archetype of a monk, that is, a hermit, in a broader sense. It is separated from society and its life, from everyday life and goes its own way - difficult and thorny, it is emphasized by the mountains. However, the mountains themselves are also a symbol of the spiritual height of the hermit, his wisdom, insight, a high level of development, the heavenly, divine sphere to which he is involved. Being the image of a mediator between heaven and earth, the Hermit is also a lasso depicting a prophet whose task, on behalf of and on behalf of higher powers, is to tell people the truth about themselves and exercise supreme leadership in human evolution. The "Hermit", thus, being separated from society, is its spiritual leader, moral, religious, ethical guideline, which is symbolically expressed in the lantern that the old man holds in his right hand. Being a pioneer in the mountain world, he goes through spiritual darkness and ignorance to the heights of spiritual revelations, illuminating himself and others with the help of this very lamp, whose light is the light of divine guidance and revelation, which is emphasized by a six-pointed star. The Hermit is an old man, because in order to achieve his level of development, to conquer the top of the mountain, it is necessary to overcome the difficult, long-term path of daily practice of development and ascent. Experience and wisdom acquired over many years are expressed in the gray hair of an old man and his stoop, fatigue. This means that the development path, the ascent path requires considerable effort, is fraught with many dangers and difficulties. To pass it requires strength of mind, faith in yourself, as well as freedom from all human passions and weaknesses. The latter is expressed in a cloak and a thrown hood, which means that the Hermit is completely separated from the world, is independent of anyone and does not spray its eyes around, does not turn back, longing for the abandoned glory, wealth and other joys of human life.
The Hermit's gaze is fixed at his feet, on the road, because he is attentive and prudent, and his attention is fully focused on the path, the purity of which he is vigilantly watching, so as not to deviate either to the right or to the left. The strength of his spirit, the inner core, the firmness of his convictions, as well as the divine help on the way, are symbolized by the staff on which the elder relies. The hermit's cassock or hoodie testify to the rejection of material wealth, attachments to wealth and the desire to possess something other than truth.
The value of the Hermit card in antiquity
The presented image of an old recluse is the result of the development of the lasso for more than five hundred years - since the appearance of the first tarot decks. Initially, this card was called the “Old Man” and symbolized the inexorable course of time. This was emphasized by the fact that the old man was holding an hourglass in his hands. In such a role, the Hermit personifies the transience of life and can predict a quick death or the end of something.
Interpreting a card in the forward position
Some tarot card experts share the meaning of cards in the upright and upside down. I must say that this tradition is quite new and not practiced by everyone. Nevertheless, for those who adhere to it, the possible value of cards, thanks to it, doubles. Thus, instead of the traditional seventy-two basic (without nuances) values, they have one hundred forty-four. What is the meaning of the "Hermit" in the upright position? A tarot, or rather each of its cards, can be described with a few keywords. For the card that interests us, they will be something like this: renunciation, loneliness, cognition, wisdom, inner growth, introspection, introspection, mentoring, spirituality, disappointment, teacher, teaching, value system and its revaluation, growing up, crisis, liberation from extraneous influence, freedom , self-sufficiency, research spirit, revelation, divinity, old age, patience, expectation, blessing, observation.
Of course, this is just an example list of keys that should not be taken as an exact list. The basic meanings of the cards are only indications that serve the purpose of interpretation during the session. But the real, actual meaning of the Hermit (the tarot as a whole, to be more precise) is established by the master himself during practice. A true understanding of maps comes from within, not from books, reference books, or articles. All this only helps to indicate the beginner the road and direction. So you need to relate to the listed values, and to those that will be given below.
Inverted map interpretation
There are several options for what the "Hermit" inverted may mean. The tarot, the meaning of the cards of which is quite multifaceted in itself, has three interpretations upside down: inversion, eigenvalue, underline.
As for inversion, it’s just giving the card exactly the opposite meaning to the one that it has in the upright position. Thus, it is easy enough to establish what the Hermit means (the tarot, however, as already mentioned, does not provide any inverse card values in its traditional system) inverted. This is the end of loneliness, communion, stupidity, infantility, pride, mediocrity, earthliness, lack of spirituality, extraspecification, internal regression, spiritual and cultural decline, secularism, loss of freedom, pressure, fussiness, immorality, materialism, rest, the end of expectations.
The second approach to inverted cards is to give them their own values, not dependent on their direct meaning. Here, each tarrologer independently, on the basis of his own associations, comes up with and establishes what this or that card will mean. Here's what, for example, the Hermit can mean (the tarot, or rather, its interpretation, also depends on the characteristics of a particular deck and its cultural and symbolic code. So the keys offered are just a few of the many possible options): depression, despair, failure, loss of self, new job, end of financial crisis, confrontation, lies, illness, unexpected trip.
Finally, the third way of interpreting inverted lasso is not built on giving them special significance, but on emphasizing the importance of the card, which fell upside down, in the context of the whole layout. Sometimes this situation is considered as underlining the most negative meanings of the card. Thus, in the first case, the interpretation will remain generally the same as with respect to the direct position of the card. As for the second, then painful loneliness, exile, isolation, excessive self-confidence, selfishness, suspicion, arrogance, self-pity, breakdown - all this can mean an upturned "Hermit". A tarot, the meaning of which cards is multivariate, with respect to the Hermit can, as you see, include both positive and negative meanings. Which one is relevant in each particular scenario will help establish the context of the scenario itself and, of course, the master’s experience.
Love meaning. The Hermit (tarot) in love
Regarding the topic of gender relations , as a rule, this lasso is understood in the following vein. It is very important to note that isolation and loneliness are the basic meaning of the Hermit card. The tarot, the meaning in the love of the cards of which is determined not only by its own interpretation of the card, but also by the context of the alignment, provides for the Hermit a number of additional interpretations. Firstly, this is an indication of a breakdown. Secondly, temporary separation, checking relationships by distance. Also, the search for the ideal and ideal relationships is one of the options for what the Hermit can mean. Tarot value in the relations of this card also combines with such qualities as self-doubt and feelings. In addition, it is a sign of alienation and coldness, as well as resentment and cooling of passion. In rare cases, the map indicates betrayal, or, conversely, to devotion and overcoming one's own egoism in order to maintain and deepen relations. Another aspect is the rejection of the object of passion.
The Hermit (tarot) - importance in finance
As for the sphere of material values, this lasso postulates a rejection of the desire to possess them. In other cases - the need to neglect them in order to achieve the goal. In addition, forced poverty and poverty are also the things that the Hermit may mean. Tarot sets the meaning and interpretation of their lasso on an associative series. Therefore, this card can also mean debt, the collapse of a business, the severance of partnerships, contracts, job loss and stagnation of career growth.
The value of the card in questions on "yes-no"
Now, two words about what the Hermit card (tarot) means in questions requiring monosyllabic answers. The value of "yes-no" arcana acquire depending on the context. Therefore, the answer depends on what question is asked. For example, with regard to questions about money, career and love, this lasso will mean, rather, "no." But he will get the answer “yes” in questions about academic success, research, internal growth and health.
Astrological attribution
Many people associate the tarot arcana with astrological categories, planets, zodiac signs and so on. The "Hermit" in this case is most often correlated with Mercury and the constellation Virgo.
The Hermit Card Tip
If this lasso fell out as a tarot advice, then it should be understood as the need to look inside yourself, do introspection and take time for your spiritual and personal growth. It is also a tip to rethink values and reassess priorities.