..................................................THE HERMIT
.........................................................................................................................................................................Rider-Waite Tarot







"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."

William James






The Hermit card of the Tarot, depicts an old man wandering, alone in the desert, with only his lamp and staff to aid him on his journey. The image on the card suggests wisdom that comes with age. But does wisdom come with age? What is wisdom? Is wisdom a personal achievement; a spiritual evolution; or could it be learned through personal cognitive processes? A topic once the exclusive domain of religion and philosophy has in recent years gained the attention of science. Both social as well as neuro scientists have been addressing this topic by formulating ideas as to what constitutes wisdom and how to recognize it.

Social scientists have compiled a list of traits inherent in people who rated high in wisdom. One observation they noted was that people who they had deemed low in wisdom, were primarily those who were preoccupied with the self. These people focused primarily on their own lives; wants; needs and feelings. Those who rated high in wisdom were found to possess resiliency; positivity; expert knowledge systems; a clear view of the human condition; the ability to cope in the face of adversity; forgiveness; humility; and most importantly the use of cognitive processing in the regulation of emotion.

By measuring the brain's response to visual stimuli, neuroscience has made some interesting observations. For instance, when presented with the same visual stimuli, younger people tended to focus on the negative aspects of the imagery, whereas older folks would focus primarily on the positive, overlooking the negative. Richard J. Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, has been looking at patterns of brain activity associated with emotional regulation. In a study group of people over age 60, it was found that those who regulated their emotions well had a distinct pattern of brain activity, setting them apart from those who did not exhibit this ability. These folks were apparently using their prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that exerts "executive control" over numerous brain functions. The effect is that of reducing activity in the amygdala, the area of the brain that processes emotions such as fear and anxiety. Cortisol, a stress hormone associated with poor health was found in much higher levels in people who were poor regulators of emotion. They also had increased activity levels in the amygdala. In simplier terms, people who are good at regulating negative emotions by employing cognitive strategies to interpret or reappraise a stimulus, show a reduction of activity in the amygdala and in turn, enjoy an overall healthier life, both physically and mentally. What is this cognitive ability they employ? Is this ability connected to age and life experience or is it something that can be cultivated earlier in life? Certainly not everyone whose lived a long life filled with many life experiences obtains wisdom.


The Hermit has endured time and with time learned that nothing of the earth lasts long. He now enjoys the freedom from worry and fear that attended his youth. His life appears to be stark and yet, somehow sublime. Turning away from the concerns of the material world, he now seeks the light within. His "knowing" can be felt by those he touches, perhaps restoring a peace and calm in their lives. Who does this image of a hermit represent? The Hermit symbolizes more than just a person; he represents a state of mind or state of consciousness. The archetype of a wise old man evokes many feelings. Some think of God. Many think of wisdom and detachment. Perhaps the Hermit obtained this state of bliss through self-discipline; through yoga and meditation; or perhaps through suffering that attends a long and full life. If the Hermit card is referring to a young person, perhaps they were born wise and haven't lost this gift. It appears that wisdom is directly connected to intelligence as well as one's level of consciousness or awareness. Intelligence, once thought to be entirely the domain of the intellectual; reasoning mind is now recognized to also have a connection to emotions. There is something called emotional intelligence and this may be exactly what these studies on wisdom have uncovered.The Hermit has definitely realized an achievement and one that can be shared with others who are capable of recognizing the value of this achievement. The Hermit holds his lamp light high so those with eyes can see. He guides the way.