NightWing
I probably have far more questions than (possible) answers when it comes to any card in this deck. Also, I don't currently have access to the Turk book, so I'm working with the cards alone. I offer a few observations, which I hope others may expand upon.
The blue-skinned man depicted here is roughly ancient mesopotamian in his facial features, which I take to refer to the great antiquity of both wisdom and the search for it. The Sumerian culture is the oldest one we call an historical "civilization", based on cultural remains that include writing. The cultures that succeeded one another in that part of the world included astrologers and "mages", who had definite religious functions. This man is dressed as neither a king nor a warrior, and does not appear to be a merchant of any kind. He is apparently one of the dedicated "spiritual" caste of his society, and his bare feet, unwigged head, plain wooden staff, and lack of ornament reinforce a sense of his social solitude, even if his surroundings did not.
Directly behind the blue man is a small altar with live flames upon it, rather like a Zoroastrian altar from the mesopotamian part of the world, but common enough in various religious traditions to be a general symbol. There is also the outline of a seated Buddha-like figure behind and above the altar. Here we have symbols of two paths; one of sacrifice and the other of meditation. Further, for Zoroastrians, the flame is the presence of the God. Our Hermit has immediate "access" then to three paths, plus a fourth one in terms of a very ancient, relatively rare, and yet ubiquitous discipline. Both the keyhole in his skimpy undergarment, and the abyss separating him from the tempting lady opposite, speak to celibacy as part of his spiritual path as the knowledge-seeking hermit.
Does the lady represent more? Her odd headgear, with what seems to be three points, may make her a representative of what is traditional, doctrinal, and conventional, as in trinitarian Hinduism or Christianity. There she calmly waits, a gulf between them, ignored now by the Hermit.
On the plains far below the blue Hermit is a ziggurat, that huge structure that included temple functions for the mesopotamian ancients. It is perhaps telling that he is now high above it, with its sacrifices and rituals. Beyond the building, closer to what may be a distant (primordial) sea, is a tiny group, circled around a smokey fire, hearkening back to even more ancient times and practices(?)
In the mid-range, a poised leopard prepares to launch itself upon three hapless herbivores, playing out the predator-victim scenario that has been part of life since its beginning. This hard reality observed constitutes a hard lesson that must be learned: life includes suffering. Nearby, almost in the center of the card image, is a distant tree, green with life, and perhaps laden with...but it is too far to make out. There it stands, like a reminder of mythical ancient Eden...and the goods and evils that flowed from it.
The Hermit's attention is elsewhere however. He looks up and away, to the eagle coming from far above, and about to land on his arm. Does the bird bring word of things much higher and beyond anything yet known to the Hermit? Does it represent his final pathway, that he must leave the world he has known and soar away? Like some Zen Master's finger, the Hermit's staff points directly at the moon; does it pose the same zen question?
Far in the background, in the upper third of the image, are piled up steep mountains or clouds, each representing mysteries or imagination yet unexplored. In either case, there are many more possibilities far off.
The Hermit has moved up and away from an ancient past, and looks yet further toward an unknown future, only temporarily standing within his present situation. He is in motion and is open, ever seeking. Directly above his head is a rock formation that has slowly trickled down, taking ages upon ages to form and solidify; if nothing else, a reminder of the limits of human endeavour, and mortality. Each of us only has so long to search.
The blue-skinned man depicted here is roughly ancient mesopotamian in his facial features, which I take to refer to the great antiquity of both wisdom and the search for it. The Sumerian culture is the oldest one we call an historical "civilization", based on cultural remains that include writing. The cultures that succeeded one another in that part of the world included astrologers and "mages", who had definite religious functions. This man is dressed as neither a king nor a warrior, and does not appear to be a merchant of any kind. He is apparently one of the dedicated "spiritual" caste of his society, and his bare feet, unwigged head, plain wooden staff, and lack of ornament reinforce a sense of his social solitude, even if his surroundings did not.
Directly behind the blue man is a small altar with live flames upon it, rather like a Zoroastrian altar from the mesopotamian part of the world, but common enough in various religious traditions to be a general symbol. There is also the outline of a seated Buddha-like figure behind and above the altar. Here we have symbols of two paths; one of sacrifice and the other of meditation. Further, for Zoroastrians, the flame is the presence of the God. Our Hermit has immediate "access" then to three paths, plus a fourth one in terms of a very ancient, relatively rare, and yet ubiquitous discipline. Both the keyhole in his skimpy undergarment, and the abyss separating him from the tempting lady opposite, speak to celibacy as part of his spiritual path as the knowledge-seeking hermit.
Does the lady represent more? Her odd headgear, with what seems to be three points, may make her a representative of what is traditional, doctrinal, and conventional, as in trinitarian Hinduism or Christianity. There she calmly waits, a gulf between them, ignored now by the Hermit.
On the plains far below the blue Hermit is a ziggurat, that huge structure that included temple functions for the mesopotamian ancients. It is perhaps telling that he is now high above it, with its sacrifices and rituals. Beyond the building, closer to what may be a distant (primordial) sea, is a tiny group, circled around a smokey fire, hearkening back to even more ancient times and practices(?)
In the mid-range, a poised leopard prepares to launch itself upon three hapless herbivores, playing out the predator-victim scenario that has been part of life since its beginning. This hard reality observed constitutes a hard lesson that must be learned: life includes suffering. Nearby, almost in the center of the card image, is a distant tree, green with life, and perhaps laden with...but it is too far to make out. There it stands, like a reminder of mythical ancient Eden...and the goods and evils that flowed from it.
The Hermit's attention is elsewhere however. He looks up and away, to the eagle coming from far above, and about to land on his arm. Does the bird bring word of things much higher and beyond anything yet known to the Hermit? Does it represent his final pathway, that he must leave the world he has known and soar away? Like some Zen Master's finger, the Hermit's staff points directly at the moon; does it pose the same zen question?
Far in the background, in the upper third of the image, are piled up steep mountains or clouds, each representing mysteries or imagination yet unexplored. In either case, there are many more possibilities far off.
The Hermit has moved up and away from an ancient past, and looks yet further toward an unknown future, only temporarily standing within his present situation. He is in motion and is open, ever seeking. Directly above his head is a rock formation that has slowly trickled down, taking ages upon ages to form and solidify; if nothing else, a reminder of the limits of human endeavour, and mortality. Each of us only has so long to search.
