The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning
The Hermit card is often very much underestimated in my tarot experience. I call this the underdog of the tarot that when in a spread and invokes a reaction from readers and querents alike. Often this card is not welcome and that’s just sad.
The Hermit doesn’t hide from people; but merely likes to live life on their own terms. The Hermit is some decks is male and in my deck she is female. She has chosen to retreat into solitude above all of the madness of society. She beckons you to turn your view inward and allow yourself the time and space to think, feel, and meditate on what it is that you truly want in and from your life. By doing this you will be able to unlock your true desires and find complete happiness.
The Hermit looks to be standing on his or her (in my card) own surrounded by nothing and holding only a lamp. Look more closely at the card and you will note that she is standing ready to move to the mountain. These are the very same mountains that symbolize monetary issues or stability in the Rider-Waite deck. His lantern is not to guide his own way, for he’s already where he wants to be. It is there to guide you to him or to his location. Now is a time to advance past trivialities in your life and focus on what really matters. It is not a damning card indicating seclusion, but rather a hopeful card showing you that there is a way to find solutions to your answers if you know the right questions to ask.
The Hermit card in your reading sometimes shows that there is a need for healing and understanding in your life. It is a very personal and spiritual card that shows you that you are not alone right now even if you feel that way. If you are going through a time of loss, feeling insecure or incomplete now is the time to embrace those feelings not as negative aspects but as empowering life-affirming experiences. It is easy to feel abandoned at certain times in one’s life as people can be let down by expectations placed on others, society, or the world. Consider who has let you down or disappointed you and left you feeling as you are.
Do not wallow in this feeling and do not allow it to eat at you. The Hermit has chosen to walk away from it all not for her disdain for mankind, but rather she was seeking answers and understanding through solitude and taking herself away from materialistic possessions. Now is a good time to pick up the book Walden by Ralph Waldo Emerson, grab a cup of tea, cozy up in your favorite chair and embrace the times that you have when you are on your own. Focus on the own inner quiet of your existence and check in on your true self.
The Hermit in Love
The Hermit may be alone standing on top of the mountain looking down at you, but this does not mean that you must do the same. In fact, the Hermit card is a sign for you to take stock in what you have going on in your life’s relationships that are good and revel in them. Rather than focusing on what you WANT now is a time to focus on what you need from love. Knowledge is power and you have the power to get what you want out of life through your relationships.
Since the Hermit card represents focusing on the positive aspects of your life, it may show up in your love reading as a suggestion to stop trying too hard. In a relationship that is rocky for example, the Hermit often advises to take a step back and allow arguments or disputes between two people to die down and to focus on what you brought you together in the first place. Allow yourself to go back to the basics of love and feel them again in retrospect. It is likely that you will find that the arguments in your relationship are not the root of the problem. Often there are outside issues that destroy our relationships such as work stress and finances. Put those issues aside for the time being and focus on the true connection between the two of you.
If you are looking for love and this card comes up it can have one of two meanings. The first is a representation of your lonely feeling by not being in a relationship. The other is a representation of needing to take a break from your search and focus on yourself for a while and allow for love to find its way to you. Maybe consider taking a break from dating and taking up a hobby. Find things in life that truly satisfy you and through those avenues, you will likely find what you are looking for.
The Hermit As Feelings
As feelings, this card can also suggest deeply buried feelings or emotional coldness. If you are asking someone's feelings for you this card can suggest they are finding the time to really look inside before making a decision on you.
By shining the light on the card, this is positive. It is showing they are thinking about their feelings and life's direction, the hermit understands where their feelings lie. Rather than determining if they like you or love you, you need to figure out where the relationship is headed. For those starting new romances this is a positive card.
As his feelings for you, the Hermit card says he is feeling a sense of aloneness, of being alone to figure out what he wants.
If you pulled this card for her feelings towards you then she clearly has her lantern in hand, seeking knowledge to understand the future of love.
The Hermit As Love Recognition
The Hermit tarot card for love recognition is a great card to pull, it is a symbol of being alone to figure out what you want from love. The Hermit in my view places emphasis on empowering and formative solitude that allows the individual to heal old wounds and develop new aspects of personality and skill.
The Hermit, to me, is a card of weeping in darkness and feeling frustrated by the difficult times, the Hermit is a sign that “space” is needed in this relationship. I don't want to be all doom and gloom but the hermit tarot card represents being alone and understanding within oneself and allows us to move past any pain or conflict if it appears in a love reading.
The Hermit in Health
For some true happiness is found simply by following the initial advice of the Hermit card. So many of us are busy day in and day out that worry and stress literally eat us from the inside out. It can be hard to find joy in the simple things as you drive your child to soccer practice after a long day in the office only to get home and cook dinner and finally plop down exhausted wondering where the day has gone. The card in your reading can be a sign that you are doing too much to the extent that you are at risk of health issues and concerns. Exceedingly high levels of stress and pressure can also cause health problems.
Consider taking time for yourself to find your own center and balance. You may want to invest in a low-level fitness program to rejuvenate your mind and body. Daily walks, time to meditate, and time to reflect is important to your mental health at this time. Do not take your own health for granted. You are not expendable.
The Hermit in Work, Money, Business, Career, and Wealth
You may find that you are at a point in your life where you question what everything means. Consider that perhaps you really are running in circles and getting nowhere and it is time to take a new direction in your life. The hermit is also searching for something and is connected to how we reflect "work"in life. This could be inner search for self-confidence or in taking a new step career-wise. In essence, this card often appears when we need to be alone to think. The hermit could in some cases represent unemployment or self-employment for a period of time - in order to reflect what you really wish to do in life.
Money can certainly be the root of all evil if you let it. Consider if you are putting too much focus on money or work at this time. Often this card will come up when a person is feeling desperate to find a job. It’s easy to say that money is not important when you have it. As the hermit relates to Virgo which is the 5th house, this represents employment, it might be time to start a new business? But, you have to find your own way with the light.
The best way to learn to trust your own wisdom is to take a leap of faith and go for it. Depending on your situation, this may mean pushing forward - but it more often refers to taking time out. Remember the sturdiest homes are built on solid foundations. Lay the groundwork before acting, the results will be more fruitful and longer-lasting.
The Hermit As Action/Advice
The Hermit for advice or action is about disconnecting from the noise of life and instead turning inward, to one's true path. You may not find answers in others or their words; but use the light of the lantern and look only within yourself can you seek out an understanding that will lead your journey towards spiritual growth.
The Hermit Yes Or No
The Hermit does not deal in yes or no, it can be frustrating to draw a card like this here because it does not point with any certainty to one way or the other. However, just because this card is not a firm answer, it doesn’t mean it lacks guidance. In fact, this card is a big signifier of intelligence and intuition, it is saying trust your gut.
The Hermit As A Person
Hermits are complex and hidden people, often feeling conflicted and helpless when faced with inner problems. As a person they protect themselves from the unknown, preferring instead to be quite. It is difficult for many people to gain clarity about anything when confronted with a Hermit, since these individuals tend to be lost in their own spiritual selves; only by offering patience to yourself and others can one ultimately escape any situation.
The Hermit In Past Position
A time from your past; a quiet point, away from the day-to-day bustle of life and instead meditative, reflective, full of contemplation and inner discovery. You learned many things about yourself in this period, perhaps you spent time studying for a new skill or qualification.
The Hermit In Present Position
Don’t let your self-doubt stop you from taking this journey of self-discovery on your own, and don’t be swayed by the people who say no is the key message, even in the chaotic world.If you draw this in the present it can mean that you need time. Time to understand what is going on and how best to focus on your future.
The Hermit In Future and Outcome Position
There is going to be a quite time in the future this is what this card means. It represents a journey that you must take to go within yourself in order to understand what is important. It indicates that something is going to end (which needed to) and you need time to decide that or reflect on it.
The Hermit As Friendship Or Family
Friendship is based on a foundation of genuine connection, not doing things for show. This card is a sign that either you, or one of your friends, is in need of some personal space.
![The Hermit Tarot Card Reversed]()
Reversed Hermit in a Reading
The reversed Hermit indicates a dire situation in the extreme; usually representing of someone so far gone off their path that they may be best just wiping their hands clean of a situation and starting over completely. The light of wisdom is snuffed out, the path obscured, and hope gone the Hermit is alone and doesn’t know where to turn. When this card shows in the reversed position it is very important to look to the other surrounding cards for cues as to which way to go to get out of the current situation. The reversed position can also indicate seeking outside counsel or turning your introspection to those around you.
The Hermit Reversed - Love and Romance
When the Hermit card appears in a love reading reversed, it typically means that we are seeking an answer to a messy situation, but don’t know which way to choose. The Hermit can represent someone who is alone and feeling spiritually isolated from others. On my card, you will see she is holding a lantern, this means that the hermit is the “wise guide” or teacher, leading you towards answers while keeping some distance, I also want to add this card could be interpreted in our relationships when we feel that something isn’t quite right yet don’t want to let go of it completely.
The Hermit reversed - Family and Home
There is beauty in solitude, but when taken too far it turns into isolation and can generate selfish emotions. Seeing The Hermit reversed regarding family and the home usually suggests you have taken your solitude too far. We all need time alone, but, especially within the family, there must be community and shared experience, as well. You have an important role to play in your family, you need to support your loved ones and show them your affection (just like they do for you).
The Hermit Reversed - Work and Finances
While upright The Hermit is all about independence, reversed, it is about not being afraid to ask for help when you need it. There are few times where guidance and mentorship are more beneficial than in work and finances, it is here that leaders can truly lead you to new exciting lands. Ask for help and you’ll reap the rewards, just like an autumn harvest after a warm summer.
When we reverse the Hermit tarot card, it almost always indicates more of a negative outcome, either that something will not happen or that further guidance needs to be found. It could represent the need for caution while taking risks related to your money or career.
The Hermit Reversed - Health and Wellness
Something has delayed when I see this card. This card is rarely a sign of anything serious to worry about, instead, you should take it as an indication that you need to freshen things up. Try and find a balance between things that you enjoy and things that are good for you (don’t ever forget it’s possible to achieve both, balance lies at the heart of all life).
The Hermit Reversed - Personal Spirituality
It’s good to expose yourself to the wisdom and experiences of others as this can be spiritually enriching too. Remember that our learning on this earth is never done, so keep your mind and heart open. This means for you, if you draw this as a personality or your own path, be confident, but not arrogant.
The Hermit Upright Meanings in Keywords
- The need for alone time
- Turned away from the world
- Thinking deeply
- Deciding what to do
- Coming out of you shell
- Mysterious person
- Walking alone
The Hermit Reversed Meanings in Keywords
- Reflecting on inner conflict
- Feelings as oppose to actions
- Withdrawn
- Egotistical
- Self defining
