Tarot Card Comparisons: The Thoth Tarot-Key 9-The Hermit & The Legends Tarot-Key 9- The Hermit

The Thoth Tarot Hermit-Key 9, and the Legends Tarot-Key 9-The Hermit.

The zodiacal attribution to this card is the sign of Virgo. Virgo is an earthly sign that represents the most receptive feminine form of earth. Virgo is ruled by Mercury and Mercury is exalted in Virgo as well.  One might say that the most receptive form of Earth forms a crust over Hades;  Mercury, a form of Hades, is also the fiery messenger of Spirit, that has descended into matter, signaling the reintegration by Spirit (a phallic symbol) into being. This is known as the "Formula of the Princess", the mode of fulfillment of the Great Work.Thus, the fertility generated by this event and that of Virgo itself is shown as the Green Wheat background of the Thoth Deck Card.

The Hermit is a solitary figure, often displaying great aptitude for meditation and contemplation, and this is implied by the lone hermit figure of the Thoth Deck Card and the Legends Tarot key 9. The Thoth Tarot shows and elderly man symbolizing the wisdom of the ages.

The LegendsTarot just shows a solitary faerie with peacock like purple wings.She is accompanied by dragon flies, that imply illusion, and the faerie kingdom.

The Thoth  Hermit  carries a lantern, implying intuitive knowledge; However, in the center of the Hermits lantern is the sigil of the Great King of Fire, who is also represented by the Hebrew word Yod-the secret fire, which is the letter of this Thoth Tarot card.The Hebrew word, yod, also means Hand. Hence, the hand of the Hermit is displayed as the center of the card.The image of the Thoth Deck Hermit is also bent into the shape of the letter Yod while being cloaked in the red robes of Binah, the Great Mother in whom he gestates.

The Legends Tarot-the Hermit, has no arcane symbols. It seems to just be a pretty piece of fantasy art, that implies introspection brought on by being alone.Insuch a solitary state, one often is able to hear the wisdom of the Spirit/Mind by tuning out the babble of the brain. This is also called in magic, listening to the loud silence.

As I have said, the Thoth Deck Hermit symbolizes the Hebrew Letter Yod, meaning hand, and all letters of the Hebrew alphabet are combinations of this foundational letter.  Yod is the first letter of the name Tetragrammaton symbolizing the Farther who is Wisdom, and the highest form of Mercury. Thus, he is the Logos; the Creator of all worlds, accordingly his representative in the physical world is the spermatozoon which is illustrated on the Thoth Tarot card. The figure of the Hermit seems to be staring at the Orphic egg which is conterminous with the Universe, and is wrapped in the iridescent many-colored serpentine energy of Mercury. 

The Thoth Tarot card, with its domesticated three headed dog Cerberus that guards the gates of Hell, brings to mind The Legend of Persephone, and I would suggest that the student read this legend to further understand this card. In this Trump, is illustrated the secret of life and all its workings. For instance, Yod=Phallus=Spermatozoon-Hand=Logos=Virgin. Crowley says in his book of Thoth, "There is perfect identity, not merely Equivalence, of the Extremes, the Manifestation, and the Method."

As you may note, in both Decks, Key 9 , is about the solitary person who walks the path that leads to the Higher Self and perfection of the soul. It is the image of the Adept-Magus and their detachment from the material world of man. S/He's often so far advanced in psyche,that most people find him/her difficult to comprehend. However, this does not deter their willingness to light the path for those who sincerely wish to know the depths of self.

If reversed:

Thank you for your interest, comments and supportive donations. May you live long and prosper. And for all you patrons out there; Thank you and many blessings.

Also doing business as: elitarotstrickingly.com