5 of Pentacles & The Hermit
5 of Pentacles & The Hermit
Analysis:
Imagery
Each image depicts prominent sources of light, though in different ways. In the 5 of Pentacles, there is light coming through the stained glass window. In The Hermit, we see it in the lantern.
Both scenes take place at night - in the dark.
There is snow visible in each image, which is an interesting feature since snow is only depicted a handful of times throughout the deck.
There is some similarity in dress and body posture present across all figures. In the 5, we see two individuals cloaked, heads down, and covered. In The Hermit, we also see a cloaked figure, head bowed and also covered.
Walking aids are depicted in each scene. In the 5, one of the individuals uses crutches to walk, and in The Hermit, we see a staff or walking stick.
Stars are present in each scene. In the 5, they show up as pentacles in the stained glass window, and in The Hermit, we see a single 6-pointed star in the lantern.
Astrology
Both cards are governed by the element Earth. Pentacles are rules by Earth and The Hermit is associated with Virgo. As well, the 5 of Pentacles is the 3rd decan of Taurus (an Earth sign), which is ruled by Mercury, and Mercury also rules Virgo.
Qabalah
The Hebrew letter assigned to The Hermit is Yod, and Heh would be associated with The 5 of Pentacles, being that it is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Together they form Yah, which is the divine name of the sphere of Chokmah on the Tree of Life, which is in itself an archetypal masculine force. This can be seen much like the yang of Taoism, or perhaps even the Hermit, who could be perceived as a mythological "wise old man" figure.
What do YOU see???
Possible Interpretation:
Waking, ordinary consciousness can have us convinced that that's all there is to life. But Death and The Moon are here to show us there is so much more going that we can't even begin to perceive. So much of what operates even within us, happens at a subconscious level, from our beating heart, to the way we metabolize and digest food. We can influence part of this work, of course, but there are levels and layers of our being that are not only beyond our perception, they are beyond our control.
Some say the secret to death is that we must do it while still alive, and if that’s the case, then the Death card may be the beginning of such an invitation. In Death, we are undoing our conditioning and letting go of old forms. Then in The Moon, with our ego deconstructed, we are able to face our true selves and all the parts we've been hiding. This is a difficult process, but the "ego de-armoring" that happens in Death is an essential part of it. Without all that protection, we are in a better position to see our shadow aspects, which means they can be dealt with and appropriately integrated.
At both stages, our fears and demons have a chance to be met head-on - first as endings that challenge our attachments, then as illusions that challenge perception. Death teaches us to release what can no longer grow, and The Moon tests our ability to navigate successfully in "the dark". Both promise transformation and the dawn of a new day - if we can manage the arduous trial they entail.