THE 20TH PATH

   “You encounter an old man in a gray robe on a mountain top, holding a walking stick and a lantern. He appears ascetic, isolated, anonymous except for the glimpse we get of his face. He has achieved a great height spiritually and appears to be leading the way with his lantern.
   “An astrological sign or elemental symbol, a Hebrew letter, and a God-name are associated with each path. Together, the symbols combine to reveal the energies of the path.
   “With the Hermit, the astrological sign is Virgo, an earth sign associated with the planet Mercury, and by association, with the Egyptian God Thoth. Virgos are exacting, methodical, and have a love for precision, balance and justice. In Greek mythology Astraea was the virgin-goddess of justice. During the Golden Age she lived among us but was driven away by the lawlessness of humanity. Zeus placed her among the stars as the constellation Virgo. The emphasis on justice reveals a heightened awareness of spiritual principles that manifest as harmony and balance.
   “The association of virginity with the old hermit might be a little confusing. Virginity, of course, suggests innocence, the ability to gaze with fresh eyes upon the world, but it also suggests the immaculate conception of the Christ by the Virgin Mother. The immaculate conception in this case, however, leads to the birth of the higher self. Remember that the Christ is a force of harmonizing love, not a man. Each person can manifest that force of regeneration, reconciliation, harmony and love in his or her life. In manifesting the Christ-force, a person is ‘twice-born,’ reborn with the innocence of the eternal child, no matter how old the person is.
   “The hand holding the lantern suggests the shape of the letter Yod, which means ‘fist.' The letter Yod is the first in the God-name Yahweh, or Jehovah, the Yod Heh Vav Heh of the Tetragrammaton, and is associated with the element of fire, the spark from which manifestation springs. The ‘fist’ encloses the hidden divine spark. The fist can also demonstrate power. Fire, of course, is associated with the power of will. Notice that the hand of the hermit is holding a lantern where the Star of David shines. The Star of David is actually an ancient symbol suggesting balance of the elements, but you can also fix the signs of the planets and the zodiac on the star. In other words, the higher self through the power of will harmoniously manifests these energies and becomes a light for the world.
   “Each path contains complex symbolism. The God-name is Adonai, or ADNI, the God-name for the Kingdom, Malkuth, which is essentially the physical plane that we know and love. This is, of course, especially appropriate since both Virgo and Adonai relate to the element of earth. Aleph, the letter A in Hebrew, means ‘ox,’ and suggests, besides great strength, the incredible potency of the life-force, especially in the creative phase. Daleth, the letter D in Hebrew, means ‘door,’ and suggests the doorway into form through which the life-force enters. Nun, the letter N in Hebrew, means ‘fish,’ and suggests death, represented by a cold form without breath hidden beneath the waters. In the Qabalah, the letter Nun is associated with Scorpio, with radical change and transformation. Yod, the letter I in Hebrew, means ‘fist,’ and suggests the spark or seed of new beginnings held within the hand. In other words contained within the God-name ADNI is the process of birth, life, death, and regeneration. So you can see how the symbolism works together: The higher self harmonizes the energies of manifestation within the great cycles of life, death, and rebirth.
   “On this path, you see a man who has climbed to a great height, who has overcome monumental difficulties. He is not showing off, though; in fact, he is wearing a gray robe with a hood that makes him an anybody or an ‘every man.’ His walking stick is actually a wand, which symbolizes the element of fire and the power of will. He is old, not much to look at, but he carries a lamp that holds the cosmic powers of the Tree of Life, and with his will, he harmonizes and manifests these energies through the higher self. His accomplishments make him isolated, but he still leads the way on the path from Tiphareth and Chesed, from Beauty to Mercy, helping others to evolve, because we are all connected in our evolution. You see the higher self leading the way, following spiritual principle, and refusing to turn back no matter how hard or how dark the way becomes.”

Reversed: foolishness, isolation, taking the wrong path

CORRESPONDING COLORS
Atziluth: Yellowish-green.
Briah: Slate gray.
Yetzirah: Greenish gray.
Assiah: Plum.