IX - The Hermit

Standing as a lone figure, often considered to be antisocial or reclusive, the Hermit represents self-assurance, independence, solitude, and if not rather conversely it can also represent counsel given to others. A Hermit is a lone figure who devotes their life to the study, reflection, and ultimately their dedication to a particular cause.

In the upright state the Hermit represents our pursuit of wisdom and our efforts to reflect and understand with greater depth that which we have already experienced and our efforts to expand our knowledge beyond that which we know. A sign of independence, the Hermit does not necessarily indicate loneliness but rather the lack of desire for external validation. A hermit does not seek reassurance from others in their efforts to gain understanding but instead relies on their own instincts and intuition.

In the inverted state the Hermit represents our role as counsel to others, and in turn their pursuit of wisdom. Where the Hermit does not seek validation, their judgement may be prized by others therefore in the inverted state we are asked to consider what we choose to impart of our wisdom and consider whether the recipients of that wisdom are ready and able to hear our message. It is worth remembering as readers of Tarot it is not our responsibility to ensure the querent accepts what they are told, only to convey the message, their openness and receptivity is important to recognise for this very reason, you cannot speak to closed ears.

In the Rider-Waite deck the Hermit stands as a lone figure shrouded in a grey cloak of neutrality representing the open mind that makes no prejudice in their pursuit of understanding. The Hermit holds in their hand a lantern within which a star is depicted representing the journey of understanding that the Hermit walks. The Hermit carries a single stave for stability and reassurance as they walk across uneven ground, representing their conscience as their only tool. Finally in the bottom right once more you can see the Rod of Aaron depicted in grey space representing the persistence of God’s presence even in times of solitude, those who embrace God are never alone even in their darkest hours.

In self-reflection, this card can be a prompt to take a moment to step back from your situation and consider yourself in a vacuum focusing on the impact your actions are having on yourself first and foremost.

In this regard, the Hermit serves as an antithesis to the Emperor and Empress where both of those cards served as motivation to pursue a greater good, the Hermit serves as a motivation to reflect on whether you truly desire more or whether your current state could be enough if you embrace it.

Ask yourself “Do I need to ask someone else to do this?” or “Could I do this myself?” or “Can I leave things the way they are?”