The Contract Tarot 9: The Hermit

“Take up the cloak The lantern and the staff Put on the mantle Of the great I am Choose the unfamiliar path Of introspection and isolation Meditate on the meaning Of your quest for inspiration. The Hermit you become When you travel alone Searching for truth and justice. Experience has brought you this far Open your soul To the wisdom you know Speaks to your heart Iam, you are.”

What do you see in this card? Let’s take a closer look.

The environment is rather stark and barren. The white mountains echo the white hair and beard many people associate with the Hermit as the wizened sage. The yellow and purple sky represent the divine inspiration also associated with the Hermit.

The staff is plain and yellow (again, inspiration and intuition); the cloak is woolen and gray (again, indicating the experience of the Hermit tied to age); the lantern is lit by a star (hope, peace, inspiration) and is waiting to light the way in the darkest of places. The orphic egg represents aspiration and creation and knowing.

The idea behind this card is that we don’t need to bog ourselves down with loads of information to be able to find inspiration and trust our intuition. These are simple things that only require us to find some alone time to meditate and look inward. Like the orphic egg, everything we need is within us.

The symbols on the scroll (from left to right) are: Yod (fist), the elemental symbol for Earth and the zodiacal symbol for Virgo. The path on the Tree of Life goes from Chesed (Mercy) to Tiphareth (Beauty).

Be led by your inner/higher self. Aspire to the find the wisdom you possess. Make some time for meditation and introspection. This card is all about your inner being and about trusting your intuition. The Hermit, when encountered, offers self-assurance and peace. Any words spoken are words well chosen and few. The power of language, of the spoken word, is not lost on the Hermit. Words manifest thought and every word is a gem.

What do you see in this card? How would you interpret it?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

Tarot Symbolism: The Thoth Tarot – the 3 Magi

In this post, I am exploring the symbolism of the 3 Magi. Did you know there were 3 Magi in the Thoth Tarot?

They are: I – The Magus, also known as The Magus of Power; V – The Hierophant, also known as The Magus of the Eternal; and IX – The Hermit, also known as The Magus of the Voice of Power.

Let’s look at the common definition of Magus. From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magus we find:

Definition of MAGUS

1a: a member of a hereditary priestly class among the ancient Medes and Persians
1b: often capitalized: one of the traditionally three wise men from the East paying homage to the infant Jesus

2: magician, sorcerer

of Magician we find:

Definition of MAGICIAN

1: one skilled in magic; especially: sorcerer

2: one who performs tricks of illusion and sleight of hand

and, of sorcerer, we find:

Definition of SORCERER

a person who practices sorcery: wizard

and finally, of sorcery, we find:

Definition of SORCERY

1: the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining: necromancy

2: magic 2a

So, we have come full circle and can find the common theme to be: one skilled in magic.

The three magi in the Thoth Tarot are all quite powerful. They are in control of their skill and they each demonstrate mastery in their own unique ways. Let’s look a little more closely at them.

I – The Magus (The Magus of Power): This  young androgynous figure is the only one identified openly as Magus. He is so into himself isn’t he… all glorious and golden! On the Tree of Life, he joins Kether – the Crown to Understanding – Binah. His planetary trump is Mercury and he displays Mercurial properties magnificently! He looks like Mercury with wings on his feet. He is yellow and gray, Mercury in Atzilut (Emanation) and Yetzirah (Formation). He juggles eight tools which he uses to bring about his will. These eight tools are: the disk, censer, Wand of Double Power, the stylus/pen, the scroll, the Winged Egg, the cup and the dagger. Four of these represent the elemental weapons of the Magus. They are the disk, censer, cup and dagger. The Winged Egg represents Spirit. The Wand of Double Power is the symbol of energy and its function is to unite opposites under one will. The stylus/pen and scroll are instruments of Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing, wisdom and magick. His magick can be seen in the tools, the caduceus, the serpents, the infinity symbol, the blue dove, the winged sandals and the ape. Interpretation in a reading is around creative force of directed will, education, communication, change, messages, travel, commerce and business.

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V – The Hierophant (The Magus of the Eternal): For a bearded old guy, he really looks rather smug and a know-it-all! He connects Chokmah – wisdom with mercy – Chesed. He wears the Crown of Osiris and radiates maturity and fatherly power. He is rather bullish and this is Taurus in Atzilut (Emanation). His tools are the three-ringed wand symbolising the Thelemic (will) Aeons – Horus, Osiris and Isis. His magick can be seen in this card as the woman with the sword, the child Horus, the unification in the hexagram-pentagram symbol, the sandal strap, the oriel and Kerubim. Interpretation in a reading is around instruction, learning new things (like a child), intuitive understanding, esoteric knowledge, endurance, patience and physical labor.

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IX – The Hermit (The Magus of the Voice of Power): He reminds me of a homeless figure being followed by his dog and, creepily, just a bit voyeuristic. Who knew? On the Tree of Life, he connects Chesed – mercy with beauty – Tipareth. He carries the Sun in his lamp and wears the white hair and beard of the Ancient of Days and the head of the ibis of Thoth/Mercury. His magick can be seen everywhere in this card from the Sun lamp to Cerberus to the Serpent Wand and finally, to the Orphic Egg. Interpretation in a reading is around illumination and isolation.

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I hope this has given you a beginning to understanding the symbolism of the 3 Magi in the Thoth Tarot. I have been studying using Lon Milo DuQuette’s book, Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, Michael Osiris Snuffin’s book, The Thoth Companion and various resources from the internet. I would encourage you to look into these texts as well as The Book of Thoth, The Book of Law and the Liber 777, all atributed to Aleister Crowley, which can be found on the internet as free pdf downloads.

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

16: Pathfinding… choosing to allow

I woke up this morning in a bit of anxiety. I had a doctor’s appointment at the hospital and it was early. So, initially, I was anxious that I didn’t have enough time to get up, have a cuppa and some brekkie, shower and dress before we had to leave earlier than usual due to the traffic congestion that inevitably awaited. All that anxiety was for nought. We left later than planned and arrived with a few minutes to spare. Now my anxiety was focused on managing to ambulate to the reception, then to the waiting area, then in to see the doctor. All the while, I was careful to keep my hands to myself, not touching surfaces and trying to avoid any physical contact with door handles, surfaces, textiles, etc. It isn’t easy. Of course, I ran into someone I used to work with and a hug and pleasant conversation briefly enhanced my visit. In to see the doctor, which was pleasant, informative and reassuring, then out again to call my husband to return to the hospital to pick me up, followed by a trip to the loo and back to the front of the hospital (in the crisp morning air) to await his arrival. Briefly, as my husband arrived, an old friend arrived to catch-up with the hows, the whys, the whats and the hope all goes well for you exchange before my husband bundled me into the car and we drove home.

Now, I’m exhausted. I realised that choosing to allow was a very large portion of my morning. I chose to allow people into my life again, albeit briefly, to support the need for human exchange and mutual support, caring and encouragement. Of  course, this negated my mission to remain free of touching anything or anyone during my visit. This mission may seem bizarre to some. I’ve noticed, however, that every time I venture into a public domain, I end up ‘catching’ whatever may be the cold or infection of the day. My immunity isn’t as strong as it used to be and this may be part of my health issues. So, I strive – with all good intentions – to maintain my mission.

Does choosing to allow always result in negative consequences? I wonder. Choosing to allow almost suggests a willing tolerance to something that doesn’t always agree or come easily to me. What do you ‘choose to allow’ in your life? What are the results? Is ‘choosing to allow’ necessary for growth?

Today, I have drawn The Lovers, VI. I am using the Thoth Tarot illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris.

This card seems to be one that keeps turning up for me. What is it saying to me today?

Let me first tell you what I see in this card. It is full of symbols and hidden representations. The overwhelming character is the Hermit who is standing behind the King and Queen. He is officiating at their union. His cloak forms a ‘Mobius Strip’ around his outstretched arms. A blindfolded Cupid is in flight just at the top of the Hermit’s hooded head. This Cupid will be ineffective as his arrow is pointing in a direction that will not pierce any of the individuals on this card. At either side of the Hermit, resting on either of his shoulders, are two women. In front of the Hermit are the King and the Queen. The black King wears a golden crown – the Sun, the white Empress wears a silver crown – the Moon. The black King holds a lance and the white Queen holds a cup with the symbol of a dove on the front. White rays emanate from this cup and, together with the dove, indicate Spirit. The King and Queen are assisted by complementary twins – Gemini. The white child stands in front of the black King and assists the white Queen. The black child stands in front of the white Queen and assists the black King. Behind the King is a golden lion (Leo) and behind the Queen is an eagle (Scorpio). The twins are standing on the wings of the Orphic Egg. They are surrounding by a white light which indicates they are part of the Orphic Egg inasmuch as they indicate the impending union of the King and Queen. The Orphic Egg represented here signifies the Universe. It is surrounded by a serpent and has wings.

More information about the symbols seen in the Thoth Tarot can be found in The Thoth Companion: the Key to the True Symbolic Meaning of the Thoth Tarot by Michael Osiris Snuffin through Amazon. I just found this resource today <happy dance> and it is quite complete.

This card is about choice in relationships. It is about coming together and it is most importantly about the product of union. Within the context of my life, it feels that this is about the choice I am making about the product I am creating through the union of knowledge, intuition and physical enterprise. It is about honouring the choices we make and nurturing them to their full potential. It is about exchange and interchange, about examining the layers and realising there is more than may first be evident. It is about looking at the Universe you have created and examining the purpose for and potientiality of your decisions. Is there change, generosity, analysis, planning, disruption and joy in your decision making? Is there balance and solidity?

Until tomorrow…. Love, light and blessings!

10: Pathfinding… next steps

I have finished fleshing out nearly 100 characters for the book I am writing and it is now time for the next steps. How do I determine the interactions between these characters? Are there common threads that would pull these individuals together? Geography? Occupation? Occasion? Genealogy? Circumstance?

There are times in our lives when we are thrust into situations where we inevitably connect with someone. This can be through celebration or tragedy, a purpose, an interest, a person or just as a matter of serendipitous consequence. How do you interact with others in your life? Is your connection due to something in particular or just out of serendipitous consequence? Is your connection through someone else? How has your story evolved over time and how have the people in your story evolved over time? What brings people together?

To write a book about relationships is not an undertaking for the fainthearted. To be credible, it must be done with great care and consideration. So, to write a book that brings nearly 100 people together is a daunting task. I have my characters, each have their own lives, their own families, their own quirks and these characters have to mesh with the others in a realistic and plausible manner. Perhaps the card I have drawn today is quite fitting.

Today, I have drawn the Hermit IX. I am using the Thoth Tarot illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris.

This is quite the card! It is full of hidden details. The hermit himself is depicted as an ancient ibis (look at his head). The only other body part on the card is his hand which is holding a lamp that, at its centre, houses the Sun. He is surrounded by heavy-headed wheat ripe to harvest and these heavy-heads shafts suggest sperm. You can see the orphic egg wrapped by the serpent and you can also see the sperm (a Homunculus) with the fetus appearing in its head coiled up in a fetal position. The three-headed dog Cerberus also makes an appearance here and he is associated with Mercury/Hermes who tamed him to rescue Persephone from Hades. Cerberus guarded the gates of Hades.

The Hermit is about practical planning, searching within and reconnecting to Source. He is a solitary and withdrawn figure who ponders life’s mysteries and searches for inner understanding of deeper truths. This is a time to be introspective and think about how to proceed, to plan next steps and be truly considered in thought and decision. It is about looking for inspired spirit and seeing clearly how to proceed. It is about looking forward to what is on the horizon, much as the Hermit is looking at the orphic egg. I take heart as this card suggests that the savage beast of confusion has been tamed and, though still on my heels, I choose to stay clear and level-headed as I progress.

With that my good friends, I bid you a productive and clear day. Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!