Welcome to The Psychology of Tarot, a series that offers a Jungian reimagining of the cards as pathways into the psyche. Each episode draws on a key psychological concept and archetypal themes to offer insights that deepen both inner work and your tarot practice.
Today, I’m exploring the relationship between The Hermit and the Senex-et-Puer, drawing from James Hillman’s theory that these two figures exist as a dual-faced, interwoven archetype. Together, they represent the tension and interplay between permanence and possibility, structure and inspiration, withdrawal and expansion.
The Hermit is often read through a Senex lens — the wise elder, the solitary guide who withdraws from the world, the necessary boundaries to cut off and hold energy within. What if we viewed The Hermit as containing both, that within his lantern he holds the fiery spirit of the Puer, always nearby to bring forth renewal, openness, potential, and awakening?
In this episode I cover:
* The classic definition and interpretations of the The Hermit
* Quotes from 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack andSenex & Puerby James Hillman
* How the The Hermit embodies the dynamic interplay of the Senex and Puer
* A Jungian–Archetypal approach to balancing the Senex’s structure and wisdom with the Puer’s inspiration and openness via The Hermit
* Example readings and approaches to interpreting and reimagining the card
Join the conversation
How do you typically read The Hermit? Do you see elements of the Senex-Puer present? Which card should I explore next in the series?
