Weirdly, I've been thinking about Senex/Puer all week. I'm looking forward to seeing how you will weave this together with Hermit. Feels right. Feels very "now," in fact.
I was at the Dead and Company shows in GG park in SF last weekend. So much puer /senex interplay. Watching people who used to be sprightly young men wince about bad knees. Thinking about the "Ramblin Man" archetype in rock and roll, and how those types of men age in the real world, and how crabby they get when the music deviates from the sounds that scored their youths.
The Senex and Puer came up in a client call, and was on my mind due to a reading...so perhaps there's something about the archetype that is stirring for many of us? It's curious!
An interesting insight on the music crowd. I imagine that the puer spirit is very alive for Grateful Dead fans...even as they age. The visuals of it all would be such a striking blend of senex individuals dressed like puers too!
This adds so much richness to my understanding of the Hermit card, I will look forward to seeing the Hermit turn up in future readings so that I can explore the added symbolism of the Puer energy radiating from the lantern. ⭐️ Thank you!
I usually see the Hermit card as representing a shift in perspective toward inner work - a retreat from the busyness of the outer world. I see the lantern as lighting up only a small area of view - moving more deliberately to not outpace a more immediate field of vision. Placing the Puer energy in the lantern is a really meaningful shift in the symbolism of the light in this card.
I know we mentioned me potentially heading into an Empress influence era during my recent reading with you, but I don't think I mentioned that the previous era (from 33-40 years old) I saw myself primarily as The Hermit. Your podcast episode has really caused me to reflect on the energy wielding aspect of The Hermit, and my interest was piqued by your discussion of the Peter Pan shadow...it makes sense in my own life that I was having to exchange the youth and Peter Pan irresponsibility of my 20s to actually grow...I exchanged that readily for introspection and wisdom, and thus became aged and wizened not so much body but in spirit, while I charged the lamp with the youth and vigour and brilliance to keep the energy moving forward and light the path ahead.
In a very practical sense, I remember making my London Fog Latte in a takeaway thermos of a morning before beginning the school drop-offs with the kids, holding it in my hands and referring to it as my "lantern" (not even thinking of my connection to The Hermit!), as if it wasn't just warming me up but actually was the force to both defend myself against the day ahead by providing a brilliant distraction (coating me in shadow walking behind it), as well as the energy momentum to keep me charging forward.
I will probably have to listen again to this one soon and will note down any other things that pop up from a second listening...wonderful job!
PS. Completely selfishly in answer to "Which card should I explore next in the series?" I'll put in a vote for Strength, because I have been drawn to it all my life (if we have era cards, I'm pretty sure this is my 'life' card, or one of them) and while I feel strongly connected to the base interpretation of it (courage, fortitude, inner strength the ability to face challenges with grace), I am confounded and curious by what else Strength could mean or what connections tarotists might make, particularly from an archetypal perspective.
Also might be interesting to explore the 'Hobbiton' card The 10 of Cups - perhaps its highs and lows and what its shadow is? It seems like such a positive 'utlimate aim and achievement' card, but I know you better than that...I'm sure there's a fascinating Jungian-influenced perspective to be had on it!
But really, any card you're drawn to would be best - this series is really helpful and thought-provoking!
Absolutely agree about the 10 of Cups. I actually featured that card in my Tarot & Shadow Work class (https://www.theartemisian.com/p/tarot-and-shadow-work) because it is often seen in such a one-sided way. There is definitely a shadow to the perfect image of the 10 of Cups.
Strength is a good suggestion too! I'm adding it to the list :D
Fascinating, Aimee! It's so interesting how certain cards can companion us through certain periods, reflecting powerful themes, etc.
Do you feel that the youthful Peter Pan aspect and The Hermit are still separate, having left one and moved into the other?
What I find interesting about seeing the archetype as dual-faced is that we can try to cultivate and stay connected to both, which isn't always obvious or clear!
I think of the hermit as being comfortable in solitude and in simply being, and through this they spread a ripple effect of calm, allowing others to experience just ‘being’ as well.
Weirdly, I've been thinking about Senex/Puer all week. I'm looking forward to seeing how you will weave this together with Hermit. Feels right. Feels very "now," in fact.
I was at the Dead and Company shows in GG park in SF last weekend. So much puer /senex interplay. Watching people who used to be sprightly young men wince about bad knees. Thinking about the "Ramblin Man" archetype in rock and roll, and how those types of men age in the real world, and how crabby they get when the music deviates from the sounds that scored their youths.
The Senex and Puer came up in a client call, and was on my mind due to a reading...so perhaps there's something about the archetype that is stirring for many of us? It's curious!
An interesting insight on the music crowd. I imagine that the puer spirit is very alive for Grateful Dead fans...even as they age. The visuals of it all would be such a striking blend of senex individuals dressed like puers too!
This adds so much richness to my understanding of the Hermit card, I will look forward to seeing the Hermit turn up in future readings so that I can explore the added symbolism of the Puer energy radiating from the lantern. ⭐️ Thank you!
Glad to hear it!! How do you typically work with the Hermit?
I usually see the Hermit card as representing a shift in perspective toward inner work - a retreat from the busyness of the outer world. I see the lantern as lighting up only a small area of view - moving more deliberately to not outpace a more immediate field of vision. Placing the Puer energy in the lantern is a really meaningful shift in the symbolism of the light in this card.
Ohh, I like that interpretation of the lantern, I never considered it that way!
I picked up some form of that from Linday Mack - on Substack as No Bad Cards.
I’ll check out her work, thank you!
Obsessed with this ep, Alyssa!
I know we mentioned me potentially heading into an Empress influence era during my recent reading with you, but I don't think I mentioned that the previous era (from 33-40 years old) I saw myself primarily as The Hermit. Your podcast episode has really caused me to reflect on the energy wielding aspect of The Hermit, and my interest was piqued by your discussion of the Peter Pan shadow...it makes sense in my own life that I was having to exchange the youth and Peter Pan irresponsibility of my 20s to actually grow...I exchanged that readily for introspection and wisdom, and thus became aged and wizened not so much body but in spirit, while I charged the lamp with the youth and vigour and brilliance to keep the energy moving forward and light the path ahead.
In a very practical sense, I remember making my London Fog Latte in a takeaway thermos of a morning before beginning the school drop-offs with the kids, holding it in my hands and referring to it as my "lantern" (not even thinking of my connection to The Hermit!), as if it wasn't just warming me up but actually was the force to both defend myself against the day ahead by providing a brilliant distraction (coating me in shadow walking behind it), as well as the energy momentum to keep me charging forward.
I will probably have to listen again to this one soon and will note down any other things that pop up from a second listening...wonderful job!
PS. Completely selfishly in answer to "Which card should I explore next in the series?" I'll put in a vote for Strength, because I have been drawn to it all my life (if we have era cards, I'm pretty sure this is my 'life' card, or one of them) and while I feel strongly connected to the base interpretation of it (courage, fortitude, inner strength the ability to face challenges with grace), I am confounded and curious by what else Strength could mean or what connections tarotists might make, particularly from an archetypal perspective.
Also might be interesting to explore the 'Hobbiton' card The 10 of Cups - perhaps its highs and lows and what its shadow is? It seems like such a positive 'utlimate aim and achievement' card, but I know you better than that...I'm sure there's a fascinating Jungian-influenced perspective to be had on it!
But really, any card you're drawn to would be best - this series is really helpful and thought-provoking!
Absolutely agree about the 10 of Cups. I actually featured that card in my Tarot & Shadow Work class (https://www.theartemisian.com/p/tarot-and-shadow-work) because it is often seen in such a one-sided way. There is definitely a shadow to the perfect image of the 10 of Cups.
Strength is a good suggestion too! I'm adding it to the list :D
Fascinating, Aimee! It's so interesting how certain cards can companion us through certain periods, reflecting powerful themes, etc.
Do you feel that the youthful Peter Pan aspect and The Hermit are still separate, having left one and moved into the other?
What I find interesting about seeing the archetype as dual-faced is that we can try to cultivate and stay connected to both, which isn't always obvious or clear!
I think of the hermit as being comfortable in solitude and in simply being, and through this they spread a ripple effect of calm, allowing others to experience just ‘being’ as well.
Love that image, the ripple spreading outward. The Hermit helps me take a breath and slow down for sure.