Archetypes in the Tarot: Wise Old Man / Senex
Tags archetypes, wise-old-man, senex
One of the archetypes that Carl Jung identified as being present within the collective unconscious is the Senex. Also called "The Wise Old Man," the Senex is a figure who appears in tarot readings to remind us of prudence, guidance, and wisdom. Depending where he appears in a reading, his presence may indicate a person who acts as a guide in your life, or he may represent wisdom and its appearance in your life.
The most obvious example of the Senex in the tarot is The Hermit, but The Emporer may also represent the more power-oriented aspect of the Senex's personality.