KEY 9 - The Hermit
VIRGO
ATTAINMENT
ANCIENT OF DAYS
To begin with ... we all have
VIRGO somewhere in our chart, since it rules the sixth house of health and
work in mundane astrology. We all want healthy bodies, and we all have some kind of work to
perform, meager as it might be in some instances. By the way, this sign does not
rule a part of the body associated with glamour—but
the intestinal tract—a
portion essential to our very survival. It is in this part of our
anatomy where our food is digested and assimilated to the various organs and
bodily systems in need of sustenance and nourishment. What you feed your body
is important. Pure and nutritious food is associated with the virginal aspect
of the sign, for tainted food will surely make you sick or sometimes poison
or even destroy your body. Many of those in religious or mystical orders
become vegetarians and refuse to eat eggs, fish, fowl, or meat, but as a Lama
from a Kyoto monastery once told my Hatha Yoga class, "A carrot also has
consciousness." And as Alice Bailey points out in some of her writings, even
some spiritual practices can become a stumbling-block for the lower ego. For
the vegetarian might piously announce, "I don't eat my brothers and sisters,"
or proudly say, "I don't eat meat!" when perhaps he or she is
required to
destroy other life forms in order to sustain her own, as the carrot screams to the
celery, "Look out for those teeth, they're going to get us!"
This is the fussy sign of the
Zodiac, picky, picky. VIRGO is known to be particular,
analytical, fastidious, critical, and sometimes fault finding. My spiritual
teacher Ann Davies called this the sign of the fanatic. Different individuals
can be fanatic about a variety of different things, and fanaticism in any form
can be most unpleasant, or even dangerous, especially that currently being
expressed in a religious sense. Wars have been, and continue to be fought,
because of religious fervor and fanaticism. What are you fanatic about? Think
about it. Try not to drive your loved ones crazy because of your particular point of
view of some thing or some one.
The cleanliness important to
VIRGO harkens back to the need for purity in any number
of areas, the need to keep everything somewhat "virginal." A strong mercurial pattern in a
chart may indicate the person that doesn't like one item of food on a dinner plate
to touch any other. VIRGO, ruled by the planet Mercury represented by
Key 1, THE MAGICIAN, intellect, is the aspect of consciousness that involves everything we are, do, or manage to acquire,
for all things
start with a thought or idea in the conscious mind. This Key represents the SELF CONSCIOUS,
Beta state of awareness assigned to the masculine nature in the Tarot,
whereas, in astrology, Mercury is considered to be a neutral planet. It is
CONSCIOUSNESS that creates. What you dwell upon becomes your personal reality,
so be positive!
Almost every Tarot Key represents
so many different aspects of life and awareness that a book could easily be
written on every single Key of the Tarot Major Arcana. Deciding what to cover
is a bit difficult when it comes to KEY 9, THE HERMIT, representative
of the wise old man, the teacher, mentor, spiritual adept or master who holds
the light of truth aloft so that others might catch sight of the illumination on the
mountaintop of attainment and thereby follow. This is another of the eternal
archetypes in the Collective Unconscious, the wise and patient Ancient of Days, or
father figure, that lights the Path before us, the kindly teacher or
instructor, the coach who cares. VIRGO is closely associated with education and learning,
elementary education in terms of house placement, but the rudiments of
education are necessary before any student of life can go on to the next stage
of development and growth. It is always necessary to learn the basics before
one is able to stretch their mental or creative muscles to proceed on to the next
level. You have to know the subject before you can teach it!
The Hebrew letter assigned to
KEY 1, THE MAGICIAN is Beth, which means house, and the intestinal tract
is the house wherein the nutrients transmute and transform the human body into
something stronger, wiser, and more enlightened, into the actual Temple of
God. Lack of proper food also robs the brain, the physical instrument
(computer) of the intellect, of the nutrients necessary for clear thinking to
take place in order to create or invent in accordance with skill and desire.
Practice is important to be able to reach the mountaintop of attainment in any
sport, work, or profession. It is said that the violinist has the body of a
violinist from practicing and practicing in perfecting musical skill. The body
of an athlete is a testimony to skill in sportsmanship with constant practice
and training necessary to maintain the dream. The body of a chemist or banker
is the instrument for perfection in that work as well.
The art of visualization is the
art of seeing something as though it exists in the present, for in the thought
or desire is the energy to create the reality, to bring it into manifestation.
VIRGO is always willing to work on it and work on it to get to the goal.
Laziness is not a part of the VIRGO nature, but industry. Many born under this
sign (and you can include the moon or rising sign) can have trouble sitting
still and doing nothing. they usually have to be reading something,
contemplating, or watching television or a movie. They find it necessary to be
doing something at nearly every given moment. They also make fine editors,
critics, statisticians, accountants, and bookkeepers! Unwanted criticism may
be something they need to keep in check. As my spiritual teacher once
admonished, if you want to get rid of a friend or a lover just start telling
them what's wrong with them, and they'll be long gone. Although few of us are
perfect, almost none of us like to be told what's wrong with us, do we?
Sometimes telling the truth as you see it comes across as cruelty and may be
cruelty in fact.
Organization is part of our Virgo
nature, taking one step before we take the next. And that's the best we can do
on our up the path that leads to the top of the mountain. Keep climbing. One
day you too shall be extending the Light of Truth.
PATRICIA
McLAINE
