THE HERMIT
THE HERMIT
Learning to be solitary without fear.
Study of THE HERMIT.
Becoming a writer, an artist, a poet or author, is a Hermitage in itself. It requires a safe space and the ability to be solitary that is part of the withdrawal from some aspects of the material world and entering the world of research and imagination. Embracing the presence and voice of the Muse is very much the inner voice in our mind that inspires and dictates to us, chastises us, corrects us and makes creativity flow freely. Creativity such as writing or drawing, even reading, will lift loneliness from solitariness and allow us to explore the world of the imagination. Authors are familiar with this, but it is important not to spend hours indoors and give oneself a break by going for walks in nature, maybe by the sea, feeling the elements around us.
Take time to talk to friends and family, because ideas can come from the Muse anywhere at any time. That renewed energy can lift writer’s block or lead to inspiration.
Some temporarily take on the ‘role’ of the Hermit. Some permanently withdraw to ‘be’ the Hermit, especially in a soul quest such as sainthood or deep meditation for enlightenment, or for escape from a world of anguish. Mary Magdalene, for example, in Biblical times, became a Hermit and lived in a cave in France, to attain spiritual release and enlightenment.
THE DINTON HERMIT
About five miles from where I live now, there is a pub called The Dinton Hermit, in Ford, near Aylesbury. The history of the real Dinton Hermit is remarkable. A recluse by the name of John Bigg lived in a cave in the nearby village of Dinton. He was a sympathiser and Parliamentarian during the English Civil War, and it was reputed that he was the actual executioner of King Charles I on January 30th 1649.
John Bigg lived for nearly 40 years after the execution. Local people kept him hidden, keeping him in food, drink, and scraps of leather that he used to patch his clothing and his shoes. In the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, there is a pair of his shoes, that look more like boots, all patched up with hundreds of slices of leather nailed on top of each other. One of these ‘boots’ used to be displayed in the pub. He nailed many patches of leather to his clothing to keep himself warm. It was also said that he kept three bottles tied to his waist. One contained milk and the other two were filled with beer.
Sir Richard Ingoldsby of Waldridge Manor in Dinton died in 1665 (a relative of Oliver Cromwell) and Simon Mayne, born in Dinton Hall, who died in 1661, were both Regicides, signing the death warrant of King Charles I, although it was said they did so reluctantly, being enforced by Oliver Cromwell. Charles II, after being restored to the throne, sentenced Mayne to the Tower of London for High Treason in 1660, but he died a prisoner in the Tower in 1661.
The Hermit of Dinton went into hiding in the cave, possibly at Dinton Hall and escaped execution. The octagonal folly of Dinton Castle was built in 1769 on the same grounds and sold recently at auction, now used as a B&B. The grounds are said to be haunted by a John Mayne (related to Simon Mayne) or possibly John Bigg, both of whom had been present, two of the five masked executioners on the scaffold, present and participating at the death of their King.
I tell this story because there are many reasons for becoming a Hermit, even though the reason for John Bigg was for survival, coupled probably with fear and immense guilt.
An ancient door at my home is riddled with round holes causes by Cromwellian musket balls that were fired during the Civil War. Robin and our son R-J used to dig out some of the musket balls from the holes and they also found a cache of them buried in the garden, so I am very aware of the Civil War trauma that took place in this area.
THE HERMIT: as a Tarot card, in my Vedic Tarot, is the Rishi, Sage or Shaman.
His role is the concealing and revealing of Knowledge, protecting it from the profane and disclosing it to the dedicated soul seeking Truth and Divine Counsel. The Hermit is shown either going into deep dark woods with a lantern to guide souls on an inner journey, or at the top of a mountain to pioneer the way for ascending souls.
The number of the trump is 9, showing completion and perfecting of each act of creation.
The Soul Power is the Power to Withdraw.
The Key is Invisibility.
The Path is Meditation and the Sage or Saint’s path.
The Regalia is the Lantern, the Divining Rod and the Sickle.
DIVINATION of The Hermit if chosen in a study or reading:
Regardless of any question, the answer is that you may be seeking the advice of the sage or going into contemplation to find a needed solution.
Advice needs to be taken and carefully adhered to in order to resolve the question not asked, either from a trusted mentor on a physical level, or deep within on a spiritual level when there is a need to detach from the problem and seek guidance from your higher consciousness or wisdom from the Ancestral Teacher within.
There are two methods of withdrawing, hence the image of the tortoise that can temporarily withdraw its head to keep a low profile but still be present, or the method of removing oneself to a different location like the tortoise that goes into hibernation. Solitude to think is the best solution. Meditation is important. As the seasons change, so also do circumstances if time is permitted to play its part. There is always light even in the darkest place. Withdrawing within can lead to union with the Divine Soul, the One who can never become manifest and is the ultimate core sacrifice of the Great Continuous Creation, the Source. This creates union that makes us Double Light. It is the path of the spiritual warrior waiting for the union with the ultimate ancestral source then returning to the world of matter to serve others. In relatable terms, it is the recognition that we are not alone but have Divine Ancestral help linking our higher consciousness with The Sage within who is always in soul consciousness and attached to the Light. We are never alone if we have double light.
SANSKRIT:
RISHI or RSI. The Rsis sing the hymns of the sacred speech of the Rig Veda, the poetry and praise of the Divine. ‘Veda’ comes from the Sanskrit root : ‘Vid’ which means To Know. Veda means Knowledge but also Accomplishment.
The Rishis are the inspired poets, saints and ascetics who sing the praises of the One who knows all the forms, all the worlds, and who alone gives names to everything in existence.
“On the navel of the Unborn was set the One on whom all creatures rest.”
The Rsi or Hermit is the Seer. To Know is to See.
HEBREW:
YOD: The Hand. Yod is a hand indicating power and dexterity. It is the sense of touch and guidance. It is healing and sensual, guiding body and soul. It is union, the blissful merging of personal consciousness with universal consciousness. The staff or wand in the Hermit’s hand is also the intelligence of will-power. Yod is the guiding hand of geometry from the Divine, sweeping down to form the hook to hold steady and shape order into creation. It is the beginning of every letter of the Word, the first sound, the first spark of Light. The Hermit carries the divining fork for discovery of the waters for survival, and the sickle to cut away all extraneous obstacles in the way. The Hermit offers healing and nourishment of the soul in the flying stage.
OGHAM:
IOHO: YEW: The Yew symbolises long life, rebirth and immortality, since it lays down roots again to survive, similar to the Banyan tree. The Irish Tree alphabet represents the Yew and Mistletoe in the same Ioho. The Yew is rooted and the Mistletoe spreads through the flight of birds, especially the Missel or Mistle Thrush and also the Hermit Thrush from tree to tree. The Hermit card is about survival skills through firm rooted Knowledge and the spread of that Knowledge through flight of the soul within the world and all the subtle regions.
MUSIC:
F-Natural: The musical note or sound for The Hermit is a natural F. It represents the rising of the kundalini, or spiritual energy up from the roots to reach the heart chakra and beyond.
It is possible to ask for help from the archetypes within the soul and to use the powers that are available, by creating your own words to ask for changes. Here are some of my words to The Hermit.
POEM:
Invocation for the power of The Hermit:
I invoke fearlessness and guidance in the face of reality,
I invoke creativity in the raw material of chaos,
I invoke the right will in the magical realm of spirit.
I am the embodiment of the one who forgets the faults of the past and corrects the present.
I am the embodiment of the one who changes the present, knowing the dragons of the past cannot be slain,
I am the embodiment of the one who takes the right and might of the pen into the future.
I invoke the courage to bring all into balance with love and without fear.
DWINA ***
I have more detail of the role of sound relating to the body in the accompanying book of divinations for The Vedic Tarot, showing the instruments, percussion and notes used to raise or quell the emotions.
Note: In order to pre-order The Vedic Tarot, enjoy the exploration and journeying with these cards:
I like the poem Dwina, even if I am unsure of all the meanings.
I did not know the story of Biggs and for me, like John in his comment, it has a shivery quality - 40 winters is a long time, and I guess Dinton can still have the feel of it.
Oliver Rackham very differently in his history of trees in Britain wrote of the enchantment in Hatfield Forest to be found at the site of the old hermitage in the quiet of winter.
It is a while ago that I came across a term 'Hermitage of the Heart', and perhaps I should look again.
“ Becoming a writer, an artist, a poet or author, is a Hermitage in itself. It requires a safe space and the ability to be solitary that is part of the withdrawal from some aspects of the material world and entering the world of research and imagination.”
Thank you! This so true! Since I have been writing for just less than a year I find myself in much solitude. It’s a high contrast to my previous more public life as an entertainer, and I’m getting used to it.
Excellent Dwina, I always find meaning in your posts. 🤗