IX - The Hermit

Titles: The Prophet of the Eternal, The Magus of the Voice of Power
Hebrew letter: י (Yod = hand = 10) [Single Letter = Zodiacal Trump]
Element: Earth
Astrology: Virgo ♍ - Mutable Earth - The maiden (ruler: Mercury, exaltation: Mercury; detriment: Jupiter/Neptune, fall: Venus/Neptune)
Time: 23 August - 22 September
Path on the Tree of Life: 20th Path (Chesed ↔ Tiphareth; 4 ↔ 6)

Symbols/Colours:

the hand, which is the tool or instrument par excellence, is in the centre of the picture;
the figure of the Hermit himself recalls the shape of the letter Yod, and the colour of his cloak is the colour of Binah, in whom he gestates;
in his hand he holds a Lamp whose centre is the Sun, portrayed in the likeness of the Sigil of the great King of Fire (Yod is the secret Fire);
it seems that he is contemplating - in a certain sense, adoring - the Orphic egg (greenish in colour) because it is conterminous with the Universe, while the snake which surrounds it is many-coloured to signify the iridescence of Mercury; for he is not only creative, but is the fluidic essence of Light, which is the life of the Universe;
Virgo is an earthy sign, and is referred especially to Corn, so that the background of the card is a field of wheat;
Serpent Wand [of Mercury/Hermes], which is actually growing out of the Abyss, and is the spermatozoon developed as a poison, and manifesting the foetus; following him is Cerberus, the three-headed Hound of Hell whom he has tamed; in this Trump is shewn the entire mystery of Life in its most secret workings = Yod Phallus Spermatozoon Hand Logos Virgin.