Spiritual Sunday

IV - THE HERMIT

Key Words: solitude, introspection, perspective, wisdom, guidance

The traditional tarot imagery depicts an old man walking toward the left of the card with a staff in hand. He is dressed in long robes and is generally hooded. Sometimes he holds a lantern to see the surrounding wild, uninhabited landscape and the serpent of wisdom at his feet. In earlier decks, he holds an hourglass rather than a lantern, and he is a figure thought to have evolved from Father Time or Saturn.

The Hermit indicates a need or desire to withdraw from the world. He is a wise old man who has learned much about himself and his world through deep introspection and meditation.

When you see this card in a reading, your soul may be craving a retreat in order to replenish and restore. By taking space and solitude now, you will be ready to engage with and guide others when they most need you later on.

The answers you seek will be found within you, not in any book or on any website.

The Hermit may also be advising you to seek guidance from a wise counselor or mentor.

Personal Note - I have collected several tarot decks over the years. But my favorite is The Gilded Tarot by the talented Italian artist Ciro Marchetti. Unfortunately, the original Gilded Tarot is out of print. But the revised version, The Gilded Tarot Royale, is very similar and available on Amazon, if you like the artwork as much as I do!

NUMEROLOGICALLY, THE HERMIT IS A NINE

Key Words associated with the Number 9: love, compassion, patience, universality, tolerance, selfless service, and endings.

The number nine represents selflessness and compassion. Encompassing a love for all, it desires to apply its energy to universal service. It bestows an impersonal but just view of life, one that is generous, benevolent, and patient. This is the artist and thinker who has developed skills through the preceding cycles and is now ready to share his or her knowledge with the rest of the world.

Nine is ready to give back to the universe some measure of what it has learned through the eight previous steps in the cycle.

If you’d like to explore spirituality, the tarot, numerology, their history, and more, I invite you to visit my spirituality site: Seersie.com