From the
Deck of the Bastard, the Hermit; from the Marseille Oracle, "Deceit:"
The Hermit is almost always an older person. Like the knight, he too is on a quest. But what he searches for is a spiritual life, which is why he prefers solitude. He's made plenty of trips around the sun by now, and he's got lots of experience in dealing with the ups and downs of life. What he's discovered is that joy radiates from the inside out. If his life doesn't reflect such happiness, it's an ego problem needing the diagnosis of a self-inventory. Assuming that he's veered off the spiritual path, blaming other people won't help him find his way back.
The Deceit card shows an old-fashioned straight razor used for shaving. Without the safety of modern shavers, it was often referred to as a "cut-throat razor." The keyword for the card made me think of Aretha Franklin's song "Who's Zoomin' Who," or in other words, "Who is fooling who?" I can imagine myself in a hermit hut listing all the people who've made my life miserable. Yet to clearly see the patterns in my life that put me in those situations or my habitual responses that caused my problems is going to require an exacting honesty. Better make sure that lantern is burning extra bright.
ooh exacting honesty sounds like something a cut-throat razor might impart! Go carefully and don't be too hard on yourself when it comes to examining your habitual responses :)
ReplyDeleteJust a close shave without drawing blood - I'm too chicken for much else! :)
DeleteI agree we have to take responsibility for our own life. otherwise we always remain a victim and our light will grow dim for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt is so easy to point at others rather than look at how I stay stuck in the story. This spiritual growth stuff is not for the faint-hearted!
DeleteAh yes, self-deception, the hardest to fight and easiest to fall into of deceptions… I think I may need some of that Hermit's light, too...
ReplyDeleteWe'll add an ipod to this Hermit playing "Who's Zooming Who". :D
DeleteBev ,you know the saying I'm sure. When you point one finger, there are three pointing back. Good post. Blaming others only leads to bitter root. Taking responsibility for myself is real important, but I don't have room for heaping guilt and shame on myself. I wouldn't do it to anyone else so why would I dump that on myself. Screw unhealthy guilt and shame I say! Keeping that razor away form my throat!
ReplyDeleteI think that martyr mentality (over-blame) is just a flip side of the ego. That "look how awful I am, look at all the terrible things I've done" can be just another way to look for attention.
DeleteI agree Bev, in some circumstances yes I think that is very true but in other situations some folks are so shame and guilt based because of severe abuse.
DeleteI agree, abuse can twist your mentality.
Delete