The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning
Strength |
The Hermit |
Wheel of Fortune |
General Meaning
The Tarot card 'The Hermit' carries a profound and hidden meaning. It symbolizes the search for inner wisdom, spiritual growth, self-discovery, and solitude, often bringing inspiration, enlightenment, and a fresh perspective on familiar things.
The Hermit invites you to take a temporary step back from the hustle and bustle of the world, to retreat from its passions and look deep within your soul to rediscover lost meanings and outline future goals.
Card Motto
Know thyself - it is the key to all the mysteries of the Universe.
by Marta Winter
Core Card Meanings The Hermit
Description and Symbols of the Card The Hermit
The Tarot card depicts the Hermit—a wise, elderly figure dressed in a simple robe, holding a lantern high in one hand. He represents the turning away from material possessions and the detachment from worldly passions and desires.
The lantern serves as a beacon in the search for truth, illuminating the path to spiritual enlightenment for those who follow the Hermit. Its light symbolizes knowledge, dispelling ignorance, impulsiveness, and base desires.
Meaning in Upright Position
The Tarot card 'The Hermit' in an upright position suggests taking a time-out and isolating yourself from the crowd to organize your thoughts and feelings. It seems like there's a storm of passions and emotions raging within you, drowning out the voice of reason and preventing you from evaluating the situation objectively. This might be why things are going astray, and plans remain unfulfilled. Spending time away from people and temptations, in silence and peace, will help you focus and reflect on life.
The Hermit card also signifies a return to basics, to your true nature. This Tarot card tells you that now is the time to draw a line, reassess your life, plans, ambitions in love, career, and other areas of life.
You're spending too much energy on trivial worries and busyness! Put life on pause, detach yourself, turn off your phone, find a quiet place where no one will disturb you, and bravely "retreat into yourself," focusing on your own soul.
Key Meanings of The Hermit Upright
- Moderation, stability, caution, impartiality, restraint, a rational approach to everything.
- Self-analysis, understanding the essence of things, spiritual growth.
- Composure, solitude, strictness, a break from activities.
Reversed Position
The reversed Tarot card, The Hermit, reveals your inner fear of life and a conscious escape from problems. Your internal turmoil hinders you from finding your place in life, realizing yourself in work, love, and family. It seems you are deliberately stalling your spiritual growth, choosing to settle for less and not striving to attain what you truly deserve from life.
The Hermit card in its reversed position also reflects your overconfidence, the tendency to adhere to outdated rules and patterns, and an unwillingness to accept advice from others or embrace progressive ideas.
Your pride, fear, and narrow-minded views have created a "shell" around you and an imposed isolation. It appears that those around you prefer to keep their distance; you show excessive pride, endlessly lecturing, criticizing, complaining, and lamenting about life. The behavior described by the reversed Hermit card can lead to the complete collapse of your plans. You've chosen the wrong strategy for success.
To reduce the influence of the reversed Hermit card on your life, it's essential to open up, establish external connections, and listen to the opinions of others. Don't push away those who try to help or offer advice—there might be truth in their words!
Key Meanings of the Reversed Hermit Card
- Recklessness, distrustfulness, selfishness, short-sightedness.
- Unmotivated caution, fears, foolish actions.
- Seclusion, secrecy, limitations.
- Failure of plans, deception, crisis.
Meaning in Love Readings
When drawn in a love reading, the upright Hermit card suggests that both partners may not be ready for a serious relationship just yet. This is a time for tranquility, and you might need to "hit pause" on the relationship to understand yourselves better and determine your future direction. Later on, you'll realize that this period provided valuable experience and allowed you to reevaluate your life and spiritual values.
In a marital relationship, there might be a phase of fatigue, detachment, and mutual coldness. To overcome this, both partners will need time and solitude. The card might also indicate a partner who is naturally reserved, quiet, and values their solitude, thus shying away from marriage.
In its reversed position, the card signifies separation or a breakup—each partner choosing their own path.
When Reading About a Suitor or Lover
In a reading about a suitor or partner, the upright Hermit suggests that your chosen one approaches love with wisdom. They act thoughtfully and without pressure. Their emotions do not cloud their judgment, which gives them a significant advantage.
The reversed card indicates that your suitor is overconfident. They may lack much experience in love and are trying to reinvent the wheel by learning from their own mistakes rather than those of others.
Reading for Money, Career
In business readings, the Hermit card suggests that at this time, material wealth and career advancement might not be your primary concerns. Instead, finding your true path and calling is far more significant.
It's crucial that your activities bring joy, inspire you, allow for professional and spiritual growth, and let your talents shine. Independent work, free from collective dependencies, as well as scientific, creative, and research pursuits, tend to be most successful.
When reversed, the card warns of a downturn in affairs, lack of profit, and potential breakups in partnerships.
Reading for a Person
When reading the Tarot for someone, the upright Hermit card represents a person with profound knowledge and experience in certain areas, as well as a very clear and comprehensive perspective on the world around them.
In a reversed position, this card signifies a person who is deeply sensitive and possesses a rich inner world but tends to be quite private, often hiding their true self from most people.
Reading for Advice
When the card appears upright, it encourages you to take time for self-discovery and spiritual exploration. You may learn a lot of intriguing things about both the people around you and yourself.
If the card is reversed in a reading, it advises you to share your thoughts and feelings with those around you. Don't isolate yourself from the world or keep your problems hidden within!
Reading for Outcome
If the card appears upright, the outlook for your situation is favorable. Your wisdom, foresight, and attentiveness will guide you to success.
In the reversed position, the outlook becomes uncertain. Isolation, overconfidence, and difficulty in sharing your thoughts and feelings with others might hinder your progress.
Meanings In Combination with All Tarot Cards
Major Arcana Combinations
With the 0 Fool card — Losing oneself, escaping from reality, writer's inspiration.
With the 1 Magician card — Immersing oneself in work, deep wisdom, excellent calculation, foreseeing everything.
With the 2 High Priestess card — A period of isolation, renouncing worldly pleasures, recluse.
In combination with the 3 Empress card — The lonely lady, unrequited passion, working for oneself.
With the 4 Emperor card — Not needing advice, autocracy, experienced man.
With the 5 Hierophant card — Spiritual mentor, head of the family, wise person or insightful elder.
With the 6 Lovers card — Burdensome love affair, desire to leave a partner, internal choice.
With the 7 Chariot card — Contemplation of a journey or being on the way, a long journey alone, time to think.
With the 8 Strength card — Willpower, unequivocal decision, uncompromisingness in the name of a good cause.
With the 10 Wheel of Fortune card — Emerging from isolation, desire for change, broadening horizons.
With the 11 Justice card — Unequal-age marriage, protracted trial, hope for a just decision.
With the 12 Hanged Man card — Sharp need for communication, prolonged isolation, the possibility of imprisonment.
With the 13 Death card — Loss of an elderly relative or mourning, prolonged seclusion, protracted depression.
With the 14 Temperance card — Reflection after a breakup, new beginnings, gradual soul healing.
With the 15 Devil card — Indulging in vices, a powerful mage or false prophet, a sect, a dangerous person with malicious intentions.
With the 16 Tower card — Destruction of a long-lasting marriage, relationships not sticking together, unable to hide from problems.
With the 17 Star card — Prophecy, the gift of clairvoyance, realization of one's own mission.
With the 18 Moon card — Mental deviation due to age, confusion of consciousness, impractical thoughts.
With the 19 Sun card — Attainment of truth, happy old age, late success or recognition by society.
With the 20 Judgment card — Reevaluating values, a new stage in life, overcoming crisis and fresh ideas.
With the 21 World card — Winning through intellect, going beyond accepted boundaries, expressing talents.
Wands Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Wands — Discovering additional strength within oneself, firm principles, and acting in a familiar manner.
With the Two of Wands — Oscillations, fear of changing profession or partner, an interest in novelties.
In combination with the Three of Wands — Valuable information or a way out, seeing an easy path, devising a working scheme.
With the Four of Wands — A pleasant place to live, the possibility of moving in with relatives, buying a country house or plot of land.
With the Five of Wands — Light-hearted arguments, searching for a better path, a work meeting or a family council.
With the Six of Wands — Accepting responsibility, taking charge, sharing practical experience.
With the Seven of Wands — Listening to criticism, disagreement with the majority's opinion, one's own theories.
With the Eight of Wands — The situation will resolve itself, understanding the mechanism, entering an unknown system, or receiving a promotion at work.
With the Nine of Wands — Learning a lesson from what is happening, facing challenges, reevaluating one's behavior style.
With the Ten of Wands — Serious long-term commitments, taking someone under one's wing, or getting involved in a lengthy investigation.
With the Page of Wands — Youthful at heart, eccentricities beyond one's age, ambition amidst a surge of energy.
With the Knight of Wands — Fulfilling long-standing plans, daring to do something significant, expressing oneself.
With the Queen of Wands — Belated blooming, a second marriage, opening up to people.
With the King of Wands — Authoritative opinion, raising status, expanding influence.
Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Swords — A militant preacher, deep religiosity, the dominance of ideas over logic.
With the Two of Swords — Monastery, irreversible action, the need to cast aside worldly concerns.
In combination with the Three of Swords — Old grievances, the reappearance of an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend, falling into unpleasant memories.
With the Four of Swords — Mental anguish, wandering, having no specific goals or desires.
With the Five of Swords — Liberation from the past, confession or a visit to a psychologist, gradual healing.
With the Six of Swords — Embark on a pilgrimage, visit a church, become disillusioned with former beliefs.
With the Seven of Swords — The ability to stand up for oneself, those seeking to attach themselves to success, sycophants.
With the Eight of Swords — Midlife crisis, challenging circumstances, falling behind the times or suffering from ignorance.
With the Nine of Swords — Fear of close relationships, suffering from loneliness, a cycle of failures and obstacles.
With the Ten of Swords — Losing faith in oneself, illnesses or ailments, nervous exhaustion or imagined difficulties.
With the Page of Swords — Idealism, intolerance or prejudice, superficial thinking.
With the Knight of Swords — A military career, a mercenary, a clever operator or a strict lover.
With the Queen of Swords — Rigid religiosity, dangerous superstitions, preaching or propaganda.
With the King of Swords — Thoughtful person, considering others' opinions, searching for an acceptable solution.
The Hermit and Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Cups — Spiritualization, a creative personality, a skilled educator or tutor.
With the Two of Cups — Reaching a loving agreement, shared interests, meeting a like-minded person.
In combination with the Three of Cups — Judgmental behavior, lingering in youth, a charming chatterbox.
With the Four of Cups — Religious rituals, a new perspective on spiritual upbringing, an unpleasant duty or action under pressure.
With the Five of Cups — Cutting off the unnecessary, freeing oneself from unnecessary acquaintances, getting emotions in order.
With the Six of Cups — The path of purification, embracing traditions, chastity or observance of fasting.
With the Seven of Cups — Experiencing grace, gaining insight into something unusual, receiving guidance or revelation (not always true).
With the Eight of Cups — Inexperience, being self-conscious or strictly adhering to canons, pure love.
With the Nine of Cups — Quiet worldly joys, enjoying life without excess, a playful jester or immense experience.
With the Ten of Cups — Overcoming a crisis, finding oneself in familiar hobbies, learning to be happy.
With the Page of Cups — Entering a seminary, intense studying, a diligent student.
With the Knight of Cups — A call for peace, the ability to calm passions, the gift of persuasion through authority.
With the Queen of Cups — A beautiful mother and spouse, the gift of foreseeing the future, worldly wisdom.
With the King of Cups — Science or a scientific worker, successful creativity, public activities (patronage, philanthropy).
Pentacles Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Pentacles — Long-term financial accumulation, something passed down through generations, inheriting property or land.
With the Two of Pentacles — Unexpected expenses, unplanned changes in the budget, unnecessary acquisitions.
In combination with the Three of Pentacles — Frequently changing jobs, learning a new profession, demanding superiors.
With the Four of Pentacles — Savings for old age, retirement, a bank deposit or long-term investment in securities, a stingy man.
With the Five of Pentacles — Envy towards someone else's capital or possessions, inequality, including emotional inequality, an incompatible social circle.
With the Six of Pentacles — Clash of worldviews, different perceptions of values, the fusion of spiritual and material, the possibility of redemption.
With the Seven of Pentacles — Opening a bank account, time-tested guarantees, a deposit.
With the Eight of Pentacles — An enterprise with a long history, a reliable worker, pre-retirement age or working during retirement.
With the Nine of Pentacles — Passive income, earning with one's intellect, an informed person or advisor.
With the Ten of Pentacles — Affluence, numerous heirs, competing with household members for attention and approval from elders.
With the Page of Pentacles — Additional income, joy from receiving small funds, a salary increase.
With the Knight of Pentacles — Knowing one's worth, being a skilled specialist, providing consultations.
With the Queen of Pentacles — Sharing success, showing the path to wealth, mentoring the youth.
With the King of Pentacles — Playing at a high level, the political environment, ascending the power hierarchy.
Example Interpretation In a Daily Spread
A Card Has Fallen for You The Hermit? This Signifies:
Today, in almost any situation, the wisest decision for you would be not to make any decisions. Even if certain tasks or problems insist on your involvement, allow yourself to relax and observe them as if from a distance. It's best to spend at least an hour or two alone with your thoughts and feelings. This will help you evaluate the situation objectively and make truly wise choices.