The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning

The card shows an old man in loose, shapeless robes, holding a lantern high in one hand. He represents a life freed from material comforts, worldly passions, and desires.

His lantern is a beacon in the search for truth, lighting the path to spiritual enlightenment for those who follow him. Its light is the light of understanding, driving away ignorance, excess, and baser desires.

The Hermit upright asks you to take a timeout and spend a little time away from the crowd, sorting out your thoughts and feelings. It seems there's quite a storm of emotions raging inside you. It's drowning out the voice of reason and making it hard to see your situation clearly. No wonder things keep going wrong and plans never quite get off the ground. Some peace and quiet, away from people and temptations, will help you concentrate and reflect on your life.

The Hermit also means returning to your roots and your true nature. It's time to take stock: of your life, your plans, and what you want from love, work, and everything else.

You're spending far too much energy on little worries and endless running around! Press pause. Switch off your phone, find a peaceful spot where no one will disturb you, and don't be afraid to retreat into yourself for a while. Give your inner life your full attention.

Upright The Hermit: Key Meanings

• Moderation, stability, caution, fairness, restraint, and a sensible approach.
• Self-reflection, seeing to the heart of things, and spiritual growth.
• Composure, solitude, self-discipline, and a break from your usual activities.

The Hermit reversed reveals a fear of life and a deliberate retreat from its problems. Inner turmoil is making it hard to find your place in the world or feel fulfilled in work, love, and family life. You seem to be holding back your own spiritual growth, settling for less instead of reaching for the life you deserve.

This card can also point to overconfidence: clinging to outdated rules and familiar patterns, refusing advice, and shutting out fresh ideas.

Pride, fear, and a narrow outlook have built a shell around you, leaving you cut off from others. People seem to be keeping their distance. Perhaps you're forever lecturing, criticizing, grumbling, and complaining about life. The behavior described by the reversed Hermit can bring your plans crashing down. This approach won't get you the success you want.

To loosen this card's hold on your life, open up. Reconnect with the world and listen to what other people think. Don't push away someone who offers help or advice. There may be real truth in what they have to say!

Reversed The Hermit: Key Meanings

• Recklessness, distrust, selfishness, and poor judgment.
• Needless caution, misgivings, and a foolish act.
• Seclusion, secrecy, and restrictions.
• Failed plans, deception, and a crisis.

In a love reading, the Hermit upright says neither partner is ready for a serious relationship just yet. You need a quieter spell, perhaps even a pause in the relationship, to understand yourselves and work out where you're going. Later, you'll see how much this time taught you and how it helped you rethink your life and spiritual values.

A marriage may enter a phase of weariness, distance, and mutual coolness. To get through it, both partners will need time and space alone. The card can also describe a naturally quiet, reserved, private partner who values solitude so much that marriage holds little appeal.

Reversed, the Hermit means separation and a breakup: each partner goes their own way.

How They Love

Upright, the card says this person takes a wise approach to love. They use their head without pushing you. Feelings don't cloud their judgment, and that gives them a considerable advantage.

Reversed, it describes someone who's rather too sure of themselves. They don't have much experience in love, but they're determined to reinvent the wheel, learning from their own mistakes instead of anyone else's.

In a career reading, the Hermit says getting rich or climbing the ladder isn't your main concern right now. Finding your true path and your calling matters much more.

You want work you enjoy: something that inspires you, helps you grow professionally and spiritually, and lets your talents shine. Independent work suits you best, especially when you don't have to depend on a team. Science, creative work, and research are also good fits.

Reversed, the card warns of a downturn in business, no profits, and the breakdown of a partnership.

Upright, the Hermit describes someone with a great deal of knowledge and experience in certain fields, along with a remarkably clear, coherent view of the world.

Reversed, this is a sensitive person with a rich inner life who keeps others at a distance, hiding their true self from most people.

Upright, the card advises you to make time for self-discovery and spiritual searching. You'll learn plenty of interesting things about other people and yourself.

Reversed, it asks you to share your thoughts and feelings. Don't shut out the world and keep all your troubles bottled up!

Upright, the outlook is favorable. Your wisdom, foresight, and powers of observation will help you succeed.

Reversed, the outcome is uncertain. Withdrawing into yourself, being overconfident, or struggling to share your thoughts and feelings could get in your way.

Neptune, and Neptune in Aquarius: spiritual searching, stepping back from the world, bringing important matters to a successful close, and finding kindred spirits.

The Fool — Losing yourself; escaping reality; inspiration for writing.

The Magician — Immersing yourself in work; deep wisdom; excellent planning; thinking of everything.

The High Priestess — A period of isolation; giving up worldly comforts; a woman living in seclusion.

The Empress — A solitary woman; unrequited passion; working for yourself.

The Emperor — Having no need for advice; sole authority; an experienced man.

The Hierophant — A spiritual mentor; the head of a family; a wise person or a perceptive elder.

The Lovers — A burdensome love affair; wanting to leave a partner; a choice you must make within yourself.

The Chariot — Thinking about a journey, or thinking while you travel; a long journey alone; time to reflect.

Strength — Willpower; a clear-cut decision; refusing to compromise for the sake of a good cause.

Wheel of Fortune — Coming out of isolation; wanting change; broadening your horizons.

Justice — A marriage with a large age gap; a drawn-out court case; hope for a fair ruling.

The Hanged Man — A pressing need for company; prolonged isolation; a possible prison sentence.

Death — The death of an elderly relative, or mourning; a long retreat from the world; prolonged depression.

Temperance — Reflection after a breakup; a new beginning; gradual emotional healing.

The Devil — Indulging your vices; a powerful magician or a false prophet; a cult; a dangerous person with bad intentions.

The Tower — The end of a long marriage; a relationship that won't come together; problems you can't hide from.

The Star — A prophecy; the gift of clairvoyance; understanding your own mission.

The Moon — Age-related mental illness; confusion; ideas that don't work in practice.

The Sun — Discovering the truth; a happy old age; success or public recognition late in life.

Judgment — Rethinking your values; a new chapter; overcoming a crisis and finding fresh ideas.

The World — Succeeding through intelligence; moving beyond convention; putting your talents to use.

Ace of Wands — Finding more strength within yourself; firm principles; doing things the familiar way.

Two of Wands — Hesitation; fear of changing careers or partners; an interest in new ideas.

Three of Wands — Valuable information or a loophole; spotting an easier route; devising a workable plan.

Four of Wands — A pleasant place to live; a possible move to be with relatives; buying a vacation home or a plot of land.

Five of Wands — Minor disagreements; looking for the best approach; a work meeting or a family discussion.

Six of Wands — Accepting responsibility; taking the lead; sharing useful experience.

Seven of Wands — Hearing criticism; disagreeing with the majority; theories of your own.

Eight of Wands — A situation resolving itself; understanding how something works; entering an unfamiliar system or getting promoted.

Nine of Wands — Learning from events; learning the hard way; reconsidering how you behave.

Ten of Wands — Serious, long-term commitments; taking someone into your care or getting caught up in a lengthy dispute.

Page of Wands — Being young at heart; antics unexpected at your age; a burst of energy that fuels your ambition.

Knight of Wands — Putting long-held plans into action; deciding on a major step; showing what you can do.

Queen of Wands — Coming into your own later in life; a second or subsequent marriage; opening up to people.

King of Wands — An opinion that carries weight; rising in status; extending your influence.

Ace of Swords — A militant preacher; intense religious devotion; an idea overpowering logic.

Two of Swords — A monastery or convent; an irreversible act; the need to turn away from worldly concerns.

Three of Swords — Old hurts; an ex returning; falling back into painful memories.

Four of Swords — Inner anguish; wandering; having no particular goal or desire.

Five of Swords — Letting go of the past; confession or a visit to a psychologist; gradual healing.

Six of Swords — Making a pilgrimage; going to church; losing faith in former beliefs.

Seven of Swords — Knowing how to get what you want; people trying to share in your success; freeloaders.

Eight of Swords — A midlife crisis; difficult circumstances; falling behind the times or suffering through lack of knowledge.

Nine of Swords — Fear of intimacy; suffering from loneliness; a cycle of setbacks and obstacles.

Ten of Swords — Losing faith in yourself; illness or feeling unwell; nervous exhaustion or imagined difficulties.

Page of Swords — Strong convictions; intolerance or prejudice; shallow thinking.

Knight of Swords — A military career; a mercenary; a shrewd business operator or a strict partner.

Queen of Swords — Rigid religious beliefs; dangerous superstitions; preaching or propaganda.

King of Swords — A thoughtful person; taking other views into account; searching for an acceptable solution.

Ace of Cups — A spiritual nature; a creative person; a skilled teacher or tutor.

Two of Cups — Reaching an amicable agreement; shared interests; meeting someone on your wavelength.

Three of Cups — Questionable activities; clinging to youth; a charming chatterbox.

Four of Cups — Religious rituals; a fresh view of spiritual upbringing; an unwelcome duty or an action taken under pressure.

Five of Cups — Cutting away what's unnecessary; letting go of acquaintances you no longer need; sorting out your feelings.

Six of Cups — A path of purification; embracing traditions; chastity or fasting.

Seven of Cups — Feeling touched by grace; understanding something unusual; receiving guidance or a revelation that may not be true.

Eight of Cups — Someone hard to get close to; inhibitions or strict adherence to rules; chaste love.

Nine of Cups — Life's quiet pleasures; enjoying yourself without excess; an amusing, cheerful person or a wealth of experience.

Ten of Cups — Overcoming a crisis; rediscovering yourself through familiar interests; learning to be happy.

Page of Cups — Entering a seminary; demanding studies; a diligent student.

Knight of Cups — A call for peace; knowing how to calm strong feelings; persuading others through personal authority.

Queen of Cups — A wonderful mother and wife; the gift of foresight; everyday wisdom.

King of Cups — Science or a researcher; creative success; work for the public good, including patronage and charity.

Ace of Pentacles — Money saved over many years; something passed down through generations; inheriting property or land.

Two of Pentacles — Unexpected expenses; unplanned changes to your budget; unnecessary purchases.

Three of Pentacles — Frequent job changes; learning a new profession; demanding bosses.

Four of Pentacles — Retirement savings; a pension; a bank deposit or a long-term investment in securities; a miserly man.

Five of Pentacles — Envy of someone else's wealth or property; inequality, including an emotional imbalance; the wrong social circle.

Six of Pentacles — Clashing worldviews; different values; a blend of spiritual and material concerns; a chance to buy your way out.

Seven of Pentacles — Opening a bank account; time-tested guarantees; a deposit.

Eight of Pentacles — A business with a long history; a dependable employee; approaching retirement or working after retirement.

Nine of Pentacles — Passive income; earning a living with your mind; a well-informed person or an adviser.

Ten of Pentacles — Prosperity; many heirs; competing with family members for elders' attention and approval.

Page of Pentacles — Extra income; pleasure in receiving a little money; a pay raise.

Knight of Pentacles — Knowing your worth; being good at your profession; providing consultations.

Queen of Pentacles — Sharing your success; showing others the path to wealth; mentoring young people.

King of Pentacles — Operating at a high level; political circles; finding a place in the hierarchy of power.