The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning

The tarot card depicts the Hermit - an old man dressed in formless clothes, holding a high-lifted lantern in one hand. He symbolizes a rejection of material goods, detachment from worldly passions and desires.

The lantern in this case is a beacon in the search for truth, illuminating the path to spiritual enlightenment for the followers of the Hermit. Its light is the light of knowledge, dispelling ignorance, intemperance, and base desires.

The Hermit tarot card in its upright position suggests taking a time-out and isolating oneself from the crowd in order to put thoughts and feelings in order. Apparently, within you, a storm of passions and emotions is raging, silencing the voice of reason and preventing you from assessing the situation objectively. Because of this, things are going awry and plans remain unfulfilled. Time spent away from people and temptations, in peace and quiet, will help you focus and reflect on your life.

The Hermit card is also a return to the roots, to your authentic nature. This tarot arcanum tells you that now is the time for summing up, reassessing your life, plans, and aspirations in love, career, and other areas of life.

You're spending too much energy on petty worries and fuss! Put your life on pause, abstract yourself, turn off your phone, find a quiet place where nobody will disturb you, and boldly "go inward," focusing on your own soul.

Key meanings of the upright Hermit card

• Moderation, stability, caution, impartiality, abstinence, a rational approach to everything.
• Self-analysis, understanding the essence of things, spiritual growth.
• Composure, solitude, severity, break in activities.

The reversed Hermit tarot card unveils your inner fear of life and conscious evasion from problems. Your emotional discord hampers finding your place in life, realizing your potential in work, love, and family. Evidently, you're deliberately stalling your spiritual development, preferring to settle for less, not striving to receive what you rightfully deserve from life.

The Tarot's Hermit arcana in a reversed position also represents your overconfidence, the tendency to adhere to outdated rules and patterns, and an unwillingness to accept advice or progressive ideas from others.

Your pride, fear, and narrow-mindedness have formed a "shell" around you, creating a forced vacuum. It seems like those around you prefer to keep their distance; you display excessive pride, endlessly lecture others, criticize, grumble, and complain about life. The behavior described by the reversed Hermit card could lead to a total collapse of plans. You have chosen the wrong strategy for success.

To mitigate the impact of the reversed Hermit card on your life, it's crucial to open up, establish external connections, and listen to others' opinions. Don't push away those who try to help or advise — there may be truth hidden in their words!

Key meanings of the reversed Hermit card

• Rashness, distrust, selfishness, shortsightedness.
• Unmotivated caution, apprehensions, foolish act.
• Reclusiveness, secretiveness, limitations.
• Failure of plans, deceit, crisis.

Drawn in a love spread, the upright Hermit card suggests that both partners are not yet ready for a serious relationship. A period of calm is needed, perhaps even a "pause" in the relationship, to self-reflect and understand the path forward. Later on, you will realize that this period has granted you valuable experiences and allowed you to rethink life and spiritual values anew.

In a marital union, a phase of fatigue, detachment, and mutual coldness may appear, and to overcome it, both will need time and solitude. The card can also denote a silent, reserved, and naturally secretive partner who values their solitude and thus shies away from marriage.

In a reversed position, the card signifies separation and a break — each partner embarks on their own path.

When reading for an admirer or a loved one

In a reading for an admirer or partner, the upright card suggests that your chosen one conducts himself wisely in love. He acts without pressure but with thoughtfulness. His feelings do not cloud his judgment, granting him a substantial advantage.

The reversed card signifies that your chosen one is overconfident. He doesn't have much experience in love, but he tries to reinvent the wheel, learning from his own, not others', mistakes.

In business readings, the Hermit card indicates that during this period, you are not overly concerned with matters of enrichment and career growth. What is more important is the search for your true path, your calling.

It is crucial that your activities bring pleasure, inspire you, allow for professional and spiritual growth, and unfold your talents. Independent work is most successful, where there is no dependence on a team, as well as scientific, creative, and exploratory activities.

In a reversed position, the card warns of a decline in affairs, lack of profit, and the rupture of partnerships.

When reading for a person, the upright card is interpreted as someone who possesses extensive knowledge and experience in certain areas, as well as a very clear and holistic view of the world around them.

In the reversed position of the card, it represents a person who is sensitive, with a rich inner world but is quite closed off, hiding their true self from most of those around them.

In the upright position, the card advises you to dedicate time to self-discovery and spiritual exploration. You will learn many interesting things about the people around you and about yourself.

When appearing in a reversed position in a reading, the card advises you to open up to others about your thoughts and feelings. There is no need to isolate yourself from the world and hide your problems within!

If the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is favorable. As a result of your wisdom, foresight, and observance, you will achieve success.

In the reversed position, the forecast for your situation is uncertain. As a result, your introversion, self-assurance, and difficulty in sharing your thoughts and feelings with others may hinder you.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.