#arbiter the hermit ix

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「アビータ・Hermit IX」 by 酩酊ろっぱ | Twitter

๑ Permission to reprint was given by the artist ✔.

[orangepterodactyl]

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commission for Elverston on discord

no jacket and no legging alts

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Meridia Quick Start Guide

LAST UPDATED: January 08, 2025

A guide for beginning with Meridia, intended to help you begin your practice, but not to serve as the only information you use.

Keep in mind most of this post is UPG versus just based on the fictional canon, based on my personal experiences with this entity. It may directly contrast fictional canon and the experiences of others. I suggest, as always, at least reading over Their UESP lore page for a more canon perspective before coming back here.

This is written by a person who worships Meridia and doesn’t believe that the Daedric Princes are pure evil.

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MERIDIA

myrrh-ih-dee-uh aka. Merid-Nunda prns. she / fae ( fae / faer / faem / faem / faerself ) domain. Colored Rooms date. January 13th

Meridia, Goddess of Life and Energy, who frees us of so many things. She frees us of the bonds that bind us, frees us of our self-hatred and the terrible things we feel of ourselves. She loves us all and seeks to adore us in our every single aspects.

Meridia is an incredibly multifaceted being, and considers Herself as “everything”. She is the light, the dark, happiness, sorrow, rage, love, hatred, everything. Fae is associated with the energy of living things, which includes very much.

Within lore, Meridia is seen as one of the few truly benevolent Daedric Princes. However, in reality, she can be just as cruel as them if given the correct things. She dislikes disorder, and can be fairly obsessive, self-righteous, and has a great rage towards the cruel. 

Within Khajiiti myth, Merid-Nunda is the daughter of Magrus. She is a cold spirit, born of light without love. She is intellect without wisdom, and knowledge without purpose. Some songs blame Her for orchestrating the death of Lorkhaj. Her worship was likely replaced and cut out when the Riddle’Thar cult took power which altered or removed many of the deities.

The Ayleids saw Meridia as the personification of their fourth element, light. As such, She was an incredibly important figure for them. They often depicted Meridia with wings and a cowl. 

Skyrim’s Nords generally saw Meridia’s worship as heretical, but left the temple on Mount Kilkreath alone, because the priests were hospitable and more than willing to provide travelers with food and warm beds.

Meridia is stated to mostly talk to cult leaders, and as such might not communicate as often as other Princes.

She is typically depicted with the imagery of scales, wings and rays of light. Flowing lines represent the energy of Meridia as a common form of symbolism. People carry crystals because light and vibration affect them, believing that it allows Meridia to bless them directly.

Meridia is an intermediate Prince to begin with.

🜚 terms of respect . . .

Term – Prince • Goddess Titles – Lady of Infinite Energies • Bright Lady • Strict but Fair Arbiter of Inner Luminance • Sunfire • Radiant One • Keeper • Lady of Light • Red Star • Harbinger of Dawn • Goddess who Holds • Mirror of the Lie • Prince of Life • False Spirit of Greed • the Orphaned Glimmer • Shining One • Rainbow Angel Prefix – Lady • Queen

🜲 rulerships . . .

life • light • vibration • energy • cleansing • emotions • freedom • liberation • opening to new things • legacy • roots • relationships • lifting up • purity within chaos • crystals

. . . HELPS WITH . . .

shadow work • cleansing spells and similar things

🝰 commandments . . . This part especially is bound to be different from person to person.

Pursue the honor of the light.

Justify yourself. Don’t do things foolishly or cruelly. Be just with what you do.

Seek your freedom and your liberation.

Try new things.

Find purity within the chaos.

Defend your relationships and honor them well.

⛯ main tarot cards & other signs and associations . . .

Citadel Oracle Card — 

The Aspirant

Tarot Cards — 

0 the Fool • I the Magician • III the Empress • IX the Hermit • XI Justice • XIV Temperance • XIX the Sun

IV of Cups • VI of Cups • IX of Cups • X of Cups • Queen of Cups

Ace of Swords • VI of Swords • Page of Swords

III of Pentacles • VI of Pentacles • Page of Pentacles

Ace of Wands • III of Wands • VII of Wands • Page of Wands • Knight of Wands • Queen of Wands • King of Wands

Other Signs & Associations — 

bright lights • very colorful things and patterns • beacons • lighthouses • sunbursts • rainbows

❂ devotional acts . . .

enjoy some sunlight

use a nightlight in the dark

paint with many colors

try new things

protect your loved ones

lift yourself and others up

accept chaos when it comes

tend to your emotions

vent to Meridia

build your legacy, be strong and be proud

share your faith/practice with others

educate others

journal

acknowledge your roots

set down new roots (settle into a home, start a new hobby, etc)

veil

make a minecraft altar with a beacon

visit a lighthouse

donate to lighthouse support and upkeep

try something new

protect your loved ones

help others where possible

spread “light” by being a good, just person

help others when possible

perform activism

grow and cultivate sunflowers

donate to bird preservation programs

keep a pet bird

volunteer at a bird rescue

analyze yourself and check yourself, ask yourself why you do the things you do and if they truly serve yourself and others

make a beacon for Her within your minecraft world

paint eggs, even fake eggs

charge your crystals in the sunlight (note: research to make sure that said crystal won’t be damaged by sunlight; if they are, charge them under artificial lights)

visit a lighthouse

take pictures with flash on

. . . offerings ❦

↘ natural ; 

lights

gold

most crystals

hyssop

kangaroo paw plant

blue jay feathers

sun water

angelica flower

benzoin

chrysanthemum

sunflower

↘ foodstuff ; 

peaches

starfruit

gum arabic

sunflower seeds

honey

thyme

shallot

sage

rosemary

eggs of all forms

↘ items ; 

lighthouse figurines

flashlights, nightlights, lights in general

sun imagery

painted eggshells, eggshell dust

angels with wings figurines, Meridia just likes them

hooded cowls

shield figurines

sword figurines

beacon figurines 

scales

↘ music ; 

orchestral

soft and gentle

↘ etc ; 

golden / yellow candles / wax melts

multicolored things

venting letters or vent art

🜾 altar building . . .

This is all suggestions. Please build it however you can, if a physical altar is even possible.

As always, you can use offering items to build an altar.

nearby a window where the sun shines in easily

a lighthouse figurine to represent meridia

a colorful patterned altar cloth

🝊 identity . . .

Meridia is a bold and confident Goddess, who is very sure of Herself. She knows what Fae wants, and She pursues Faer goals strongly and surely.  She can be seen as self-righteous, as Fae tends to have a mentality of “I need to fix everything for my followers”. She is also often obsessive, sticking tightly to Her goals and desires, and it’s hard to shake Faem off of these things.

Meridia is a tall AFAB individual, with long flowing platinum blonde hair, and bright glowing golden eyes. She usually dresses in long, brightly colored dresses.

Her voice is strong and firm, and the pitch isn’t that far off from the Skyrim depiction, being slightly higher.

☘ aspects . . .

. . . Merid-Nunda ]

Well, it’s debated if this is actually an aspect or if it’s just plainly Meridia. 

Merid-Nunda is a Magna Ge, who essentially became a Prince through consorting with them.

☉ domain . . .

The vast majority of the Colored Rooms is not open to followers, but of what is visitable are many-faceted, being a cross between a coral reef and a vast field of floating stones, strewn with colorful trails of dust or cloud. The “ground” between said stones looks like luminescent water, though is solid enough to walk on; with the skies like floating effluvium oceans of crimson.

Followers aren’t really intended to come and stay for a long while, only to speak to Meridia and to relax there for a bit, before heading on their swift way.

⛮ working with . . .

Meridia is a fairly strict Goddess, who asks a lot from followers. She expects them to be very present and to pursue Faer commandments upon a daily basis. She desires for followers to speak to Her as often as possible, and welcome Faem into ones life. 

Actually working with Meridia often includes a lot of inward work, working hard to pursue goodness and ones own happiness and wellbeing. She prefers for followers to be completely and utterly open with Meridia, and withhold no secrets, but copes when such can’t be given.

She is a kind and loving Goddess, who really will do everything for you if you just ask and let Faem.

“Purity” is something Meridia talks a lot about, which isn’t purity in the context of Western purity culture (not having sexual contact, covering ones skin in clothing, etc), but a very different “Purity”. Meridia’s purity is about being a good person, being true to oneself and others, being physically clean, supporting others, not being selfish, among other similar things.

Things that slight Meridia:

making the world a darker place

being cruel or unjust

⚜ holidays & festivals . . .

Meridia’s summoning day is January 13th.

♡ prayers . . .

⛤ 01 . . . O Meridia, Lady of Infinite Energies,  I welcome You and I honor You. You, Great Meridia, Bright Lady, are grand and wondrous, great and light. I honor You, I revere You, I worship You!

⛤ 02 . . . Meridia, Orphaned Glimmer, Magna Ge and Daedric Prince, Brightest Prince, so wondrously light, You who shines down on all of our lives, I welcome Your light into my life, into my space, into my everything.

⛤ 03 . . . Meridia, Merid-Nunda, Bright Lady, Red Star,  I leave upon You this simple, humble offering, and I hope that You enjoy it well.

⛤ 04 . . . Harbinger of Dawn, great Meridia, Shining One! I desire that You help me, when You find the time for me, when You are willing to do so for me.

⛤ 05 . . . Meridia, Rainbow Angel,  I honor You and I worship You. Your light shines upon my skin, and I feel its warmth. I thank You for the brightness of Your soul and your heart, and I will continue to provide for You so You may nurture it.

⚿ evoking, invoking, summoning . . .

EVOKATION &&° 

wear a golden head/hair veil of some form

paint your nails multiple colors

wear golden things

— ☆ — 

WHY AND WHEN &&° 

January 13th

when you need insight to yourself

when you need to do a cleansing spell

INGREDIENTS AND OTHER TOOLS &&° 

a yellow candle

sunflower iconography

lighthouse iconography

[something golden or yellow that can be burned (flower petals, string, paper, etc]

IDEALS &&° 

Time – during dawn or noon

Location – outside or near a window

STEPS &&° 

If doing a cleansing spell, perform the set-up first, and invite Meridia to the casting portion via:

Sit outside or near a window.

Set down your sunflower and lighthouse iconography.

Light the candle. 

[Burn the golden or yellow thing.]

Call upon Meridia: Meridia, Sunspot, Shining One, I call upon You, I request You come to me,Should it aid and benefit You.

Meditate for a few moments while the candle burns, acknowledging to yourself what you want Meridia to do. 

Say to Her what you want from Her.

Do your business.

Blow out/Snuff your candle.

NOTES &&° 

Pretty simple. Meridia likes being “easy access”.

⛼ history . . .

This section is mostly a copy-paste from UESP. Please donate to them.

. . . mythos ]

Star-Queen Varalias asserts that Meridia is the Light who witnessed the Crucible of Creation.

( FIRST ERA )

. . . The Hollow City

Long ago, a city existed upon Nirn which was devoted to Meridia. Meridia gifted her people the Lights of Meridia, relics whose power protected the city and made life easier for its inhabitants. Molag Bal sent minions from Coldharbour to destroy it, but the warriors and mages of the city managed to seal the gates and protect everyone within. Everyone outside the gates was slaughtered. The Ayleid King Laloriaran Dynar was visiting the city, and he quickly took command of the city's defenses.

The Ayleid King single-handedly protected the gates. As he fought, he prayed, and Meridia answered. She felt compassion for her worshipers, but also saw an opportunity: Molag Bal's portal worked both ways. She filled the Lights of Meridia with even more of her divine power, warded the city and pushed it into Coldharbour. The Lights of Meridia and the city's inhabitants were scattered across Coldharbour when the city entered the realm. Many of the city's inhabitants were captured or slain, and the Lights were stolen by the minions of Molag Bal. Despite the fact that not all of her people survived, Meridia still accomplished a major feat; she had sent a portion of her realm into Molag Bal's domain, and he could not touch it.[57] This tactic would pay off in the years to come.

. . . Twilight of the Ayleids

Sometime after the Alessian Slave Rebellion, various Ayleid kingdoms launched a desperate search for the fabled Wrathstone, which they believed would lead them to a weapon that would be their salvation against the encroaching forces of the Alessian Empire. An expedition marched to the Dwemer city of Mzulft, in the hold of Eastmarch in Skyrim, where it was rumored the Wrathstone was held. The Ayleids besieged Mzulft, but failed to breach it or retrieve the artifact. At the time, the Ayleids were unaware that the Dwemer only possessed the left half of the Wrathstone, and that half was stored not at Mzulft, but at nearby Kagrenzel.

After the failure of the raid on Mzulft, Meridia appeared to her faithful with a cryptic warning that the Ayleid Empire would soon fall, and gifted the right half of the Wrathstone to the city of Garlas Malatar. At the time, Garlas Malatar was ruled by King Narilmor, who was one of Meridia's most devout and favored adherents after Umaril the Unfeathered. To keep his piece of the Wrathstone safe, Narilmor did not provide aid nor asylum to the desperate Ayleid refugees from other kingdoms, and locked them out of his city. The inhabitants of Garlas Malatar were not heard of again. Although Garlas Malatar was eventually besieged by men, some accounts have suggested that the attackers did not even make it inside Narilmor's city before it collapsed into ruin; it was suggested that the city fell from within, brought down by internal conflict or sabotage.

( SECOND ERA )

. . . Planemeld

During the Planemeld and the Three Banners War, Cyrodiil was left in ruins and the provinces were divided by the few were left to oppose the invading Daedra. Meridia had her servant, Sees-All-Colors, assassinate the leader of the Fighters Guild in order to assume the role of guildmaster. Under Daedric command and funded by the wealth of Meridia's worshipers, the guild began refusing all other contracts and focused its efforts on destroying Dark Anchors and opposing Molag Bal's schemes. Meanwhile, the Five Companions were reformed following the prophesized arrival of the Vestige, who freed the Companions from Bal's clutches and reclaimed the Amulet of Kings, defeating Mannimarco in the process.

Disguised as a mortal, Meridia welcomed the Vestige along with the Fighters and Mages guilds into the Hollow City, which she had thrown into Coldharbour in years past. She allowed them to plot their assault on Molag Bal's citadel within its walls. Meridia waited within her city as King Laloriaran Dynar and the Lights of Meridia returned to her city. When the guilds finally invaded Molag Bal's fortress, Meridia personally manifested in the Planar Vortex to destroy it. She erected a forcefield to prevent Molag Bal from harming the Warriors of Light as they destroyed the Dark Anchors within the vortex. The power of the Light of Meridia was unleashed at the focal upon of the vortex, the Planar Vortex was destroyed.

The Vestige later faced Molag Bal at the seat of his power and defeated him. This released untold measures of souls from the Prince's grasp. Meridia plucked the Hero's soul as it escaped the realm, and allowed the Vestige to reunite with it in the Colored Rooms.

. . . The Triad

Meridia sent her Golden Knight to foil the Triad's plans. The Knight was kidnapped by agents of Mephala, and Dawnbreaker was shattered. The Vestige sought Meridia's aid in repairing the blade. Meridia added to its power, enabling it to be used to locate her Knight. Nocturnal then invaded the Colored Rooms, abruptly ending the Hero's correspondence with the Daedric Prince.

With Meridia incapacitated, only the Golden Knight was left to enact her plans. Dawnbreaker was corrupted by Nocturnal during later conflicts, and the Knight, realizing that he was the last Light of Meridia, sacrificed himself to purge the darkness from the artifact. The Vestige used Dawnbreaker to defeat Nocturnal at the Crystal Tower's summit, ending the Triad's threat to Tamriel.

Later that year, Meridia's temple at Mount Kilkreath was ravaged by a harrowstorm. Many of her worshipers were killed or transformed into undead monsters. The remnants of her priesthood delved into the temple and retrieved a relic imbued with her light, known as Meridia's Brilliance.[69] It had the power to channel Meridia's light and purge the temple of corruption. One of the surviving priests used the relic to seal the temple following the disaster.

( THIRD ERA )

Meridia has gifted many different Daedric artifacts to her champions over the years, though some of these relics are associated with other Daedric Princes. Sometime around 3E 405, an agent of the Blades received the Ring of Khajiiti from Meridia after defeating a sorcerer who betrayed her.

In 3E 433, Meridia charged the Hero of Kvatch with the task of destroying necromancers who were raiding tombs for corpses to raise an army of the undead, again in return for this ring. The same hero also defeated her champion, Umaril the Unfeathered, who had returned from Oblivion after his defeat in the First Era.

( FOURTH ERA )

Meridia offered the sword Dawnbreaker to the Last Dragonborn in 4E 201 in return for helping her cleanse her temple, which had become tainted by a necromancer and the shades of the corpses he desecrated.

𝌁 other vettable information . . .

When meditating on Her presence and name, Meridia brings:

visions of: bright lights • rainbows

smells of: sunflower oil

sounds of: singing birds

feelings of: wearing a veil draped over your head and shoulders

[cursedalthoughts]

i just saw a Hermit IX (the Arbiter) x skk lewd fanart, huh. Never expected that.

[girl4music]

Tarot representation in 'The Bitter Suite' with the Major Arcana: 22 Archetypes

The Rider-Waite tarot deck is really cleverly used in the episode 'The Bitter Suite'. It's mostly Major Arcana representation but there are also a few Minor Arcana cards represented in it too. That being of The King of Swords, The Queen of Pentacles and The Two of Cups. My reason for doing this post is to show people how creative and intelligent and artistic this episode actually is, AND WHY IT’S MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE!!!

The Tarot can teach us many things, but most of all that... just like the cards themselves... there are always two sides to every story. Enjoy!

0 – The Fool (Callisto’s first card in Illusia; Aleph.) - The Fool is the happy wanderer who sees the world through the eyes of a child. Most tarot experts agree that The Fool represents each of us—naive travelers through life, off on a grand adventure, out to learn whatever experience the tarot can teach us.

I – The Magician (Joxer’s second card in Illusia.) - The Magician is the skilled and cunning master of all he surveys. He represents an individual in control of life's tools and techniques, like those on the table in front of him. Typically, they include a cup, sword, pentacle, and wand—the four symbols of the Minor Arcana.

II – The High Priestess (Xena’s first card in Illusia.) - The High Priestess is the enigmatic keeper of spiritual secrets. Secretive and guarded, she knows the secrets life holds—but she shares them only with the wise.

III – The Empress (Gabrielle’s first card in Illusia.) - The Empress is the archetypal mother who nurtures and protects all of her creation, including humankind.

IV – The Emperor (Ares’ first card in Illusia. His second card is of The King of Swords but that is not part of the Major Arcana.) - The Emperor is the authoritative protector and provider who rules the known world. A father figure, he brings order out of chaos so that civilization can prosper.

V – The Hierophant (it’s possible Lila could represent this card.) - The Hierophant is a symbol of traditional authority and influence. He's the head of a hierarchy, determined to maintain his religious and cultural traditions.

VI – The Lovers (Xena and Gabrielle having a lover’s spat.) - The Lovers embody the twin principles of opposition and attraction. While an appearance by this couple could encourage any hopeless romantic, the card also signifies a choice to be made between two equally strong desires.

VII – The Chariot (the mode of transportation Xena and Ares ride on.) - The Chariot is a vehicle for forward motion and change. The young charioteer is in command of his physical and emotional drives, even when they seem to oppose each other.

VIII – Strength (Gabrielle’s third card in Illusia.) - Strength is the lovely lady with the heart of a lion. She gently holds the jaws of a powerful wild cat, patiently controlling a force that could otherwise eat her alive.

IX – The Hermit (Joxer’s third card in Illusia.) - The Hermit is a recluse, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. He reflects on spiritual concerns, and carries the light of wisdom as a beacon for others to follow.

X – The Wheel of Fortune (drawn by Callisto with the four animal figures: (the Lion, the Ox, the Snake, the Eagle.), as well as Anubis and The Sphinx.) - The Wheel of Fortune is the spinning wheel of destiny and fate. Because nothing is certain but change itself, the Wheel of Fortune reminds us all that what goes up must also come down. 

XI – Justice (Callisto’s second card in Illusia.) - Justice is both the giver and enforcer of laws. As the ultimate arbiter, she holds a two-edged sword—a reminder that fairness cuts both ways.

XII – The Hanged Man (Joxer’s first card in Illusia.) - The Hanged Man sacrifices his comfort and passions for a time, knowing that better things will occur as a result. He is the visionary who sacrifices one life to be rewarded with another.

XIII – Death (represented twice throughout the episode. When Xena kills Gabrielle and when Xena dons a purple shift and is tied to the cross.) - Death is the card of transition. Like the Grim Reaper, who clears away all that cannot survive, the card depicts the turning of a page, the completion of one chapter of life, and the exciting start of a new story.

XIV – Temperance (Gabrielle’s second card in Illusia.) - Temperance is the archangel of balance. With dexterity and grace, Temperance demonstrates that moderation can serve as a bridge to wholeness.

XV – The Devil (Dahak’s evil flame represents this card.) - The Devil is the dark and shadowy side of our existence. With tongue firmly in cheek, he demonstrates how a selfish devotion to material possessions and ill-conceived passions can tie us down and keep us from true happiness.

XVI – The Tower (the Halls of Echoes being struck by lightning.) - The Tower is a forceful clearing of pent-up energy that strikes like lightning. It's a bolt from the blue, and it can shake any overbuilt structure to its foundation.

XVII – The Star (this card is probably represented each time Xena and Gabrielle are naked, which happens 4 times in this episode.) - The Star is a shining light in the darkness. Like the goddess of the night, she's the blithe spirit who offers hope, inspiration, and guidance.

XVIII – The Moon (this is the card Ming Tien represents.) - The Moon is the ever-changing mirror of the sun, and a symbol of the unconscious mind. From its perch in the night sky, the moon represents secrets and mysteries that may not be understood—or even recognized.

XIX – The Sun (this is the card Solan represents.) - The Sun is a symbol of consciousness and action. It's the center of the universe, and the source of heat, illumination, and life on earth.

XX – Judgement (the is the dark figure with the trumpet.) - Judgment reveals all, heralds the dawn of a new world, and stands as a reminder of the power of forgiveness.

XXI – The World (this is what they return to to start all over again.) - The World depicts the never-ending, spiral dance of life. It's a card of completion and success—as well as the chance to start another round.