The Hermit:

 

The Hermit:

“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

The Hermit ATU corresponds to the letter Yod and connects Chesed to Tiphareth, the card is associated with Virgo and is attributed to the 20^th path on the Tree of Life. This path symbolizes creativity at its peak manifestation. This creativity is the result of Chokmah’s influence on Chesed, the influence of which is carried to Tiphareth and reflected into the Astral Triad. Thus, it is from Chesed’s influence that the force of the Logos may be brought into balance and its influence manifested as creativity. Crowley writes: “the letter Yod is the highest form of Mercury”. The Mercurial nature of Yod is in this card representative of the Azoth, another term for the Astral Light and the source of The Great Work. We can think of the Astral Light as Jung’s Collective Unconscious, wherein we find the archetypes that manifested with humanity's first creative impulses as symbols, symbols that will keep evolving until the end of time. I like to think of it as the realm of the Gods, that influences the course of human evolution, thus the creative potential for the entire human race. This also indicates the card’s relationship to the Logos, which is a term describing the procreative force in the universe. Crowley writes: “The highest symbolism of this card is, therefore, Fertility in its most exalted sense.” Without quoting Crowley again, he goes on to state that, Virgo is associated with corn and thus Persephone, who in Greek mythology is the Goddess of Earth and Fertility. Virgo is also ruled by Mercury and Mercury is exalted in the sign of Virgo, so the influence of Mercury is very great along this path and therefore, a card indicating divine inspiration, it is that state of being when creativity flows naturally, the work becomes easy, and one is at his most productive. Not hindered by influences from the world at large, but rather making a baby, in perfect harmony with one’s surroundings. Another name for this card is The Magus of the Voice of Power, in this name, the Voice of Power expresses the creative influence of the Logos upon the Adept, who then becomes the Word, which serves to inspire the lower. It is also said that The Hermit brings the Light to the College of Adepts, again drawing attention to the card's distinct connection with the Astral Light, as representing an Adept’s office, or as his work with the Azoth. The rebirth that is necessitated by The Hanged Man ATU is in need of the Universal Solvent to establish union between the three worlds and it is via this path that this union may be affected, hence the saying, The Hermit brings the Light to the College of Adepts. So, it is a multifaceted path in this respect, that not only is the Adept inspired here. But it is the path wherein the essential nature of the work in the Ethical Triad is established, and the Adept is raised to perfect union with his Angel.

Virgo is associated with the myth of Persephone who was the goddess of the underworld, vegetation and fertility. One day she was abducted by Hades and taken to the underworld, while she was there, she had eaten a pomegranate and as a result of eating food from Hades, she was unable to go back to the world. This made her sad and she wept unconsolably for which Zeus took pity on her and said that she would be allowed out of Hades for six months a year. Her release from Hades became celebrated as the first day of spring and she became synonymous with the spirit of fertility symbolized by the changing of the seasons. Crowley writes: “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.”

“Love is the law, love under will.”