Is there so much happening in your everyday life that you don’t have much time to look inside and do some much-needed soul-searching? Unfortunately, many of us are in a similar situation, but we mustn’t forget the importance of introspection.
The Hermit is the ninth Major Arcana card that reminds us how important it is to take a good look inside, as it’s the first step towards living in harmony with the outside world. So, without further ado, let’s explore the symbolism behind this card!
The Hermit Tarot Keywords
Upright card (keywords)
Introspection, Meditation, Self-reflection, Solitude, Soul-searching, Withdrawn from society
Reversed card (keywords)
Exile, Loneliness, Misfit, Sadness, Withdrawing from loved ones
The Hermit Tarot Card Description
Since we use the Rider-Waite tarot deck in our tarot spreads, we will focus on this version of the Hermit card. The main figure in this card is a bearded old man dressed in a modest dark cloak with a hood. He is standing on a mountain peak, secluded from the outer world.
In his right hand, the man is holding a lit lantern. If you look closely, you will see that the flame in the lantern is shaped like a six-pointed star or the Seal of Solomon. In his left hand, the man is holding a staff.
Other tarot decks portray the Hermit almost identically. Marseilles, Oswald Wirth, Court de Gébelin, Papus—they all show the Hermit as an old man holding the lantern and the stick. The depictions of many other cards vary significantly across different tarot decks, but the Hermit is relatively consistent across all decks and time periods.
The Hermit Upright Meaning
In its upright position, this card represents your inner world, wisdom, and guidance. It also represents your inner truth, and living within that truth is your only path to your true self—or true spiritual self, to be precise.
The Hermit card can also symbolize a fresh start when making your personal goals come true. The path towards achieving them can be unpredictable and perilous, with no guarantee of success—but it is always worth taking. It’s also the path of self-reflection, and even if you achieve your goals, you will learn so much about yourself on the journey.
Seeing this card can also be a strong indicator of loneliness. You may be too secluded and withdrawn from society. That doesn’t have to be bad, but it is bad if it bothers you, so reflect on whether you like being alone or are actually feeling lonely.
Love Meaning
In a love reading, this could mean you and your partner are spending a lot of quality time together and truly having a good time. Yet, deep inside, you feel like you don’t have enough time for yourself, and it’s starting to bother you.
Feeling like you need more space and time for yourself doesn’t mean that you don’t love your partner or that your relationship is on shaky ground. It is natural to need some time apart from your partner, but you need to communicate this need clearly and sensitively.
Career Meaning
When you see the Hermit card in your career reading, it is a sign that you must ask yourself some questions. For example, do you genuinely enjoy doing the kind of work you are currently doing? Would you like to do it for the rest of your life? Do you feel fulfilled, or is there something missing?
Asking yourself these questions could help you decide whether you need a new job or should continue pursuing success in your current line of work. In either case, you will learn more about yourself and your ambitions, which will help you establish more precise goals.
Finances Meaning
You are doing very well in terms of money, so congratulate yourself on that. However, in pursuing financial safety, you might have become too focused on material things. This doesn’t have to be bad, as long as you don’t let it consume you. Keep working on your financial success, but don’t let it become your sole purpose.
Alternatively, the Hermit card could also mean you’re spending more than you earn and should try reducing your expenses. Sometimes, we spend money when we want to fill a hole inside our souls—so instead of buying things you don’t need, try to find happiness and satisfaction within yourself.
The Hermit Reversed Card Meaning
When it comes to the Hermit reversed meaning, it is a card of solitude and loneliness. A reversed Hermit card shows that you have isolated yourself too much from the people around you. This reversed position can also be a symbol of underlying mental health issues, sadness, and depression.
Love Meaning
A reversed Hermit tarot love meaning might symbolize some trouble in your love life. We mentioned that you need some alone time, even in a romantic relationship, but you shouldn’t overdo it. Otherwise, your partner will feel excluded and alienated from you and your life.
Consider talking to your partner about how much time they would like to spend together. You should make time to spend with them while still finding time to work on your inner self. It sounds challenging, but the balance should be achievable if you and your partner are reasonable.
Career Meaning
How happy are you with your current situation at work? You may feel stuck in your current position, with no hope to change something. Yet, you aren’t sure why that is so—you are putting significant effort into everything you do, paying attention to every detail, and trying to expand your knowledge and skills with every opportunity.
When you put it that way, it seems you’re on the right path to success, but it’s simply not happening. That’s because you are failing to do one thing: network and socialize. This activity might sound trivial and irrelevant, but it can make or break your career. Consider attending more networking events or trying to connect with people you respect professionally.
Finances Meaning
The reversed meaning of the Hermit card in the context of your finances is a warning. It seems like you’re lost in the material world and struggle even when your financial position should be secure. This may happen because you don’t fully understand how finances work and feel overwhelmed, which prevents you from taking full control of your spending.
Even though finances might seem intimidating, they don’t have to be. So, why don’t you ask or hire someone to help you? Their advice and insight could clarify some things for you, making you more confident when dealing with financial matters.
Other Cards With The Hermit Card
As mentioned, tarot meanings aren’t written in stone—they are fluid and depend on many factors. One such factor is the interaction of your selected card with the other cards. The Hermit card has some interesting interactions with other cards, as shown below.
The Hermit and the High Priestess
The High Priestess is the second card of the Major Arcana and has a similar meaning to the Hermit card. Both cards represent self-reflection, inner wisdom, hidden knowledge, intuition, and spiritual enlightenment. When you see them together, the universe is sending you a clear message: you need to work on yourself to achieve your full potential and unlock your personal power.
The Hermit and the Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune is a card that reminds us how everything in this life has to change. But life isn’t a straight line—it is a circle, or better said, a cycle. Within this cycle, you will go through many different seasons of your life, but the start of each one is a perfect time for you to work on your personal growth.
When you see the Hermit card beside the Wheel of Fortune, it is a message that you must work on yourself even in times of chaos and turmoil. Even when everything around you changes, you can find peace, strength, and consistency within yourself.
The Hermit and the Strength Card
Let’s be honest: working on yourself can be exhausting in the long term, and sometimes, you will feel tempted to take the easy road. When you look into your soul for too long, you won’t always like what you see. However, remember that this is completely fine and natural; you just need to stay strong and keep going.
The Strength and the Hermit together are your message that you shouldn’t give up easily. Exploring the depths of your soul will be hard and uncomfortable sometimes, but it is necessary for your spiritual development.
The Hermit Card and Its Astrological Sign
The Hermit card is associated with several zodiac signs, such as Gemini and Capricorn, but its strongest association is with the sign of Virgo and its ruling planet, Mercury. Virgos are perfectionists and great mentors. However, they are also prone to living more quiet and peaceful lives.
Conclusion
No matter how much life experience you have, you need to look within yourself to process all of your experiences. Otherwise, you will continue to live completely oblivious, never reaching a better understanding of your soul and subconscious mind.
The Hermit card is your reminder to listen to your inner voice. It also teaches you to give yourself—and others—enough personal space without alienating yourself from people around you.
If this card has inspired you and you want to use it to read tarot for you, you are in luck. We are more than happy to be your tarot guide, so make sure to try our psychic chat or our free tarot readings!
