Simeon was the son of a Sicilian shepherd and was also a shepherd as a child. Simeon was fascinated with the Bible and was taught that the only way one could achieve real happiness was through prayer and selflessness. He followed a life that included fasting from food and practicing other forms of denial. He spent two years in one monastery and then became a monk at a stricter monastery. He began to discipline himself so harshly that it almost killed him. He only ate once a week, giving the rest of his food to the poor and bound his body with a tight cord that cut into his skin. After the wounds were healed, the abbot of the monastery ordered him to leave.

Living the life of a hermit, he lived at first in a cave and then moved to the top of a mountain. There he chained himself to a rock, until he learned that all he needed was a firm will, and he would be able to stay in this state without shackles. Word of his religious devotion spread and he began to draw crowds. Ironically enough, although his own life was so austere, his spiritual message to them was moderation and kindness. In 423, to get away from the crowds, he built a twelve-foot pillar and lived on top of it for about four years. The rest of his life was spent living on progressively higher pillars (stylites comes from the Greek word stylos, meaning pillar). He continued with his selflessness, rarely sleeping and wearing only the skins of wild animals.

At that time, there was a large dragon that lived in the country that had been blinded by the branch of a tree. The dragon came to Simeon’s pillar wrapping himself around it and bowing his head, as if to ask for help. When Simeon looked down at him, the branch fell out of his eye. The crowds of the sick and lame that came for cures from Simeon could not believe what they saw. The dragon worshipped at the pillar and then left, without hurting anyone

Simeon believed the less he concentrated on the physical, the more his spirit could ascend.

Interpretation 

With this card, we learn about integrating the material and spiritual elements of the world. A healthy life consists of both the physical and spiritual aspects in balance. Be careful that you don’t have your head too far in the clouds or that you don’t feel like being alone too much of the time.

Traditional Tarot Equivalent 

The Hermit.

Notes

ANN: Simeon was a hermit that built a stone tower and lived on top of it. There are tales that he cured a blind dragon. The dragon, so grateful for the healing, became his faithful companion. This beautiful story resembled a fairy tale, so when creating the card, I asked Simeon and all dragon energy for help. I felt the dragon, a gentle beast, wrapping his huge body around the tower to give Simeon protection.

KAREN: The idea of living isolated and, at times building higher and higher pillars away from people has such appeal that I must go often to St. Simeon for assistance. Like many of us, I sometimes find that it is easier to be alone than to deal with the world and all of its hassles. His messages talk about isolating yourself for the right purposes and for the right amounts of time. He says using quiet periods of isolation for prayer or meditation is positive for the maintenance of our spiritual selves. It is also important for our growth on this physical plane. We need solitude, as well as the companionship of others to help us study and learn.