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The Hermit: The 20th Path
ALLIES OF VIRGO
"Who is that old man, Mr. M? I can't see his face clearly."
“You are seeing a man who has climbed to a great height, who has overcome monumental difficulties. He is not showing off, however; in fact, he is wearing a gray robe with a hood that makes him anonymous, an ‘every man.’ His walking stick is a wand, which symbolizes the element of fire and the power of spiritual will. He is old, not much to look at perhaps, but he carries a lamp that holds the cosmic powers of the elements and the planets and the zodiac, and with his will, he harmonizes and manifests those energies through the higher self. His spiritual achievements have led to isolation, but he still leads the way on the path from Beauty to Mercy, helping others to evolve, because we are all connected in our evolution. You see the higher self leading the way, following spiritual principle, and refusing to turn back no matter how hard or how dark the way becomes.”
"Is he a like some kind of hero, but nobody knows it, Mr. M?" Claire asks.
"Yes, very much so," Mr. M replies.
"Why is a star the light in his lantern?"
“He is leading the way with a lantern containing a six-pointed star, or hexagram, which is also known as the Star of David. Most people don't realize that the star balances the archetypal energies of the Tree of Life. For instance, the upward-pointing triangle represents masculine energy, and the downward pointing triangle represents feminine energy, the active and passive energies of creation interlocked in balance. The two interlocked triangles also represent the four basic elements, Air, Fire, Water and Earth, in balance.
"The Star of David is actually an ancient symbol suggesting balance of the elements, but you can also fix the signs of the planets at the points of the star, with Saturn at the top and the Moon at the bottom, to echo the position of the planets on the Tree of Life. Descending from Saturn, which is associated with Binah, the Great Celestial Mother, we see Jupiter, associated with Mercy, then Mars, associated with Severity, then Venus, associated with Victory, then Mercury, associated with Splendor, then the Moon, associated with The Foundation. In the symbolic arrangement of the seven planets in classical astrology, the Sun is positioned in the center of the star. Lastly, the star also represents the twelve zodiac signs, one sign at each inward and outward point."
"Oh, I think I get it, Mr. M. The star represents the main energies of creation. Is that right?" Claire asks.
“Exactly. Also, don't forget that an astrological sign or elemental symbol, a Hebrew letter, and a God-name, among other things, are associated with each path that we travel. Together, all the symbols combine to reveal the forces of the path.
“First, on this path the astrological sign is Virgo, an Earth sign associated with the planet Mercury. Virgos are exacting, methodical, and have a love for precision, balance and justice. In Greek mythology Astraea was the virgin-goddess of justice. During the Golden Age she lived among us but was driven away by the lawlessness of humanity. Zeus placed her among the stars as the constellation Virgo. The emphasis on justice here suggests a heightened awareness of spiritual principle.
“Virgo is associated with the maiden, the virgin. The association of virginity with an old hermit might seem a little odd. Virginity, of course, suggests innocence, the ability to gaze with fresh eyes upon the world, but it also suggests the immaculate conception of the Christ by the Virgin Mother. The immaculate conception associated with this path, however, leads to the birth of the higher self. Remember that the Christ is a force, not a man. Each person can manifest that force of regeneration, sacrifice, harmony and love in his or her personal life. In manifesting the Christ-force, a person is ‘twice-born,’ reborn with the innocence of the eternal child, no matter how old a person might be.”
“The hand holding the lantern actually echoes the shape of the Hebrew letter Yod, which means ‘fist.' The letter Yod is the first in the God-name Yahweh, or Jehovah, the Yod Heh Vav Heh of the Tetragrammaton, and the letter is associated with the element of fire, the spark from which manifestation springs. The ‘fist’ encloses the hidden divine spark as though around a seed about to be planted.
"The fist can also demonstrate power. Fire, of course, is associated with the power of spiritual will. Notice that the hand of the hermit in the shape of a Yod is holding a lantern where the Star of David shines, and you can see the energies of manifestation as we know it reflected in this symbol. In other words, the higher self through the power of will harmoniously manifests these energies and becomes a light for the world.
“Each path contains complex symbolism, and at this point I am choosing to focus primarily on the symbolism relating to the higher self. The God-name is Adonai, or ADNI, the God-name for the Kingdom, Malkuth, which is essentially the physical plane that we know and love. This is especially appropriate since both Virgo and Adonai correspond to the element of earth. Aleph, the letter A in Hebrew, means ‘ox,’ and suggests, besides great strength, the incredible potency of the life-force. Daleth, the letter D in Hebrew, means ‘door,’ and suggests the doorway into form through which the life-force enters. Nun, the letter N in Hebrew, means ‘fish,’ and suggests death, a cold form without breath hidden beneath the waters. The letter Nun is associated with Scorpio, with radical change and transformation, and is therefore associated with the path known as ‘Death,’ which we have already encountered. Yod, the letter I in Hebrew, as I mentioned, suggests the spark or seed of new beginnings held within the hand. In other words contained within the God-name ADNI is the process of birth, life, death, and rebirth. So you can see how the symbolism works together: The higher self harmonizes the energies of manifestation within the great cycles of life, death, and rebirth.”
"You are so smart, Mr. M, but this is so complicated. But I think I like that old man, Mr. M. He looks a little like my grandfather."
Eight of Pentacles: The Sun in Virgo
"I've met this man before. He creates magical golden pentacles. I touched one once and felt the energies of the cosmos!" Claire exclaims.
"Yes, our friend is a magical artisan. His attitude reveals the dignity and worth of labor, the honor that comes with being a workman, and the significance attached to a life of service for the good of others. In addition to his knowledge of the basic archetypal energies, which he imbues in his creations, he also has a deep knowledge of the value of prudence, which suggests foresight and knowledge of the self and the world. As he carves the five-pointed star with his mallet and chisel under the influence of the Sun in Virgo, he reveals a single-pointed focus. His work suggests the sacrifice and discipline necessary to create and maintain harmony, for each pentacle symbolically represents the unity of the subtle elements of Air, Fire, Aether, Water and Earth. Besides representing the harmony and unity of the elements, each pentacle here also literally represents the Christ-force: the Hebrew letters Yod, Heh, Shin, Vav, Heh are associated with the five points of the Star and together spell Yeheshuah, one translation of which is "Jesus." So, each pentacle, made of incorruptible gold, can on a symbolic level represent any work of harmonizing love and sacrifice. A road in the distance extends from the town to the space where our friend labors. He knows that any work of harmony and balance, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, needs to remain connected to the community to be meaningful."
"I love his work, Mr. M!"
"Me too!"
Nine of Pentacles: Venus in Virgo
"Why does that bird have a hood over its head?" Claire asks.
"Our friend gazes lovingly at a hooded falcon, as if she knows the meaning of success, not just in the material realm, but as a person who has created her own stable realm full of sweetness and quiet joy. She can allow the falcon, like her mind, to soar, but she realizes that at times it must remain hooded, subject to restrictions and discipline. Like the bushes and vines, her life is productive and beautiful, which requires self-awareness, sacrifice, and effort. In addition to the flowers on her dress, which resemble symbols of Venus, she has the mark of an evolved person who is aware of what matters and what needs to be done to create and maintain a world of loveliness and abundance."
Ten of Pentacles: Mercury in Virgo
"That old man petting the dog looks like a magician for some reason, Mr. M," Claire states.
"Oddly, no one near the old man seems to notice him or the golden coins floating above the street, arranged like the Emanations of the Tree of Life. Only dogs seem attracted to him. Perhaps the old guy is only a street performer, full of cheap tricks. Nevertheless, he has an air of magic about him. We don't know if he created an illusion or if the Tree of Life has always been there. Are we only now seeing it because like him we are paying attention to the ordinary world? Perhaps we have become for a moment like the magician, experiencing the magical energies that manifest in such an orderly fashion that almost everyone takes them for granted. The street is strange and miraculous and full of abundance and potential, yet no one else seems to notice, but in the presence of the Tree of Life, you and I sense the powerful archetypal forces in the every day world. We don’t know if the old man or the Tree of Life has given us this second sight, but as we pass, we should nod at our friend, knowing that our gratitude is understood."
"I will, Mr. M!"
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