Thoth Hermit Tarot Card Tutorial
My new YouTube channel is : Thoth Tarot Videos. The major arcana videos are yet to be remade.
(ii) Thoth Hermit Tarot Card
(iii) Rider Waite Hermit Tarot Card
This has a more sedentary feel than the Thoth Hermit Tarot Card although the principle is the same in both.
(iv) Thoth Hermit Tarot Card and The Tree of Life
The Hermit connects Chesed to Tiphareth, the 20th path. Chesed is on the pillar of Mercy which is the masculine pillar and Tiphareth is associated with Christ or sacrificial Gods. Tiphareth is also ruled by the Sun which is also masculine. There is the idea of GROWTH contained in the Hermit as Chesed is constructive and Geburah destructive.
(v) Thoth Hermit Tarot Card Hebrew and Elemental Attribution
The Thoth Hermit Tarot Card is attributed to the letter Yod, which means the Hand. which 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.
Crowley states in the Book of Thoth :
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.
In this sense the Hermit is Masculine although in terms of its astrological attribution VIRGO, it also has a feminine side. Virgo is associated with the body, health, personal development. It is ruled by Mercury which is also EXALTED in Virgo.
Mercury = the LOGOS = the word or will of God which implies CREATIVITY attributes to the Hermit.
Mercury the God was said to guide the souls of the dead through the underworld. He is a mediator between the living and the dead. This relates to the legend of Persephone (see 3 of cups tutorial). Persephone is trapped in Hades which is in darkness and is led back into the world of the living by the God Mercury.
In practical terms the Hermit is the Will of our higher consciousness which work silently within us to take us out of the ignorance of Hades (or lower consciousness). It is encouraging us to take a step back and analyse/introspect/contemplate (Virgo with Mercury influence) our life
Virgo is also associated with Prudence (see 8 of disks tutorial) and prudence has been associated with wisdom
Wisdom = also connected with Chockmah, the 2nd sephiroth of the Tree of Life and Chockmah is known as the Father which is the same name as Yod is given in the Tetragrammaton.
(vi) Thoth Hermit Tarot Card Symbolism
Hermit = implies solitude and independence. This wisdom imparted through the connection with ones higher self happens silently in this card not outwardly. Like we see in the 8 of disks (Prudence) and agriculture it is like planting the seed and letting it bear fruit. So this wisdom grows within us over time.
Yod shape of Hermit = Yod is the seed of the tetragrammaton and therefore the Hermit is the seed of wisdom within man.
Wheat = in background links in agriculture, Virgo , Persephone. Growth of wheat = growth of inner wisdom so we are surrounded by the wisdom of our insights gained by inner contemplation
Ibis Head of Hermit = Ibis was associated with Thoth in Egyptian mythology. Thoth is the God of the written word
Diamond lantern = a symbol once again of Kether. Tiphareth is the direct descended or highest expression of Kether within us. This is where Christ being the Word of God manifested is derived from.
Sun = mentioned above, but is also in the lantern covering the genitals like in the Fool card suggesting the Hermit uses the Light of spirit in creative ways to learn more about himself and his place in the world. The Sun has 8 wavy and 8 straight rays emanating from it. The number 8 links it with Hod the 8th sephiroth on the Tree, which is ruled by Mercury
Yellow rays from lantern = one energizes the spermatozoon in the lower left corner, another the apex of the pyramid, the third illuminates Cerberus or the lower nature indicating the dead phallus after ejaculation. The fourth ray points to the Orphic Egg a fertilized egg with all the potential of life inside and thus we have a completed cycle
spermatozoon = the wand of the Hermit representing the potential of life.
foetus in sperm cell = goes back to old beliefs that a sperm cell contained a tiny complete human called a homunculus.
diamond in spermatozoon = link to KETHER , spirit, purity :
Kether also connects to Tiphareth on the middle pillar and the Sun.
Cerberus = the three headed dog looking in all different directions. They represent three qualities of the lower self.He has been tamed by the Hermit
Head looking forward with mouth open = speech
Middle head = thought (is higher than the other two) and thought is above action and speech.
Head looking back = action
The whole idea about the inclusion of Cerberus in this card is the taming of the lower self and raising it to be a vehicle for expression of the higher self so that we are an effective channel for spirituality into the world.
Orphic Egg = is a symbol of the manifested universe but in this case is the subjective universe of the individual. The Hermit is looking straight into it to learn more about himself. The egg is green the colour of Venus which rules the 7th sephiroth, Netzach, the opposite of Mercury and Hod, the 8th Sephiroth.
Two rays of Light at top of card = do not emanate from the lamp. These are white compared to the yellow rays of the lamp
Pyramid = formed by top white ray. The pyramid stands for the phallus and each corner is energised by rays of the lantern indicating the energization of the phallus from the creative potential of the sun.
Lower white ray = the horizon
(viii) The Hermit and Numberology
The Hermit is the ninth card or key of wisdom and the number 9 is significant to the meaning of this card and is the number that always returns to itself :
3 x 3 = 9
9 x 2 = 18 , 1 + 8 = 9
9 x 3 = 27 , 2 + 7 = 9
9 x 4 = 36 , 3 + 6 = 9
Translated into the meaning of the Hermit we have the axiom that there is only the self to return to for all answers. There is nothing that lies outside of the self and yet that is where we tend to look for completion.
(ix) The Adjustment to The Hermit Transition
Adjustment is the balance and harmony that results from the actions of the charioteer. In the process he has had the vision to cut away all that does not serve him to make room for that which does.
The Hermit is all about withdrawing within in doing this the Fool forms a bridge between his outer an inner world. In the previous card Adjustment he has removed from his external world what is not serving him and in the Hermit he goes to connect within and has tamed his lower nature (Cerberus) so he can be a better expression for spirituality in the world.
(x) Thoth Hermit Tarot Card Divinatory Meanings
Thoth Hermit Upright
Getting away from a situation in order to get better insight into it.
Getting illumination(lamp) and insight into a situation in which you were previously in the dark.
Spending time on your own, withdrawing to your still inner centre to gain insight into yourself. A time perhaps for soul searching as to what may give your life most meaning.
The need to get in touch with your untapped wisdom.
Thoth Hermit Reversed
The need to get out more into the world as you have become too isolated and introspective. Following on from this is being so self absorbed that you may be ignoring other people’s needs.
Not in touch with your inner guide
Too much secrecy and not being open about yourself.
Being single but desiring a relationship , or being in a relationship and not having enough space to be on your own for personal reflection.
(xi) Thoth Hermit Tarot Card in the Celtic Cross Spread
1: Heart of the Situation = a calling for much soul searching within to discover what has most meaning for you
2: Possible obstacle = too much going on in your life so you have little time to spend along connecting with yourself
3: Unconscious Influences = frightened of being on ones own
4: Recent Past = spent a lot of time on your own introspecting, perhaps feeling isolated at the same time
5: Hopes and goals = to be connected with your inner wisdom and to love yourself more
6: Short Term Future = need time out to re-evaluate life
7: Our Self Image in this situation = you feel the need to spend more time on your own.
8: Environment = isolated at the moment. Isolated from others and our inner voice
9: Guidance & Warning = if you don’t create space and find some down time it may have consequences for your health
10: Overall Outcome = being connected with our inner wisdom and feeling far more independent and self sufficient without having to rely on others
(xiii) Thoth Hermit Tarot Card Links.
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I think this piece is very informative. It bridged gaps in my understanding of “things” as a whole. I throughly enjoyed this read. Thank You so very much for making my day!
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