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The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning
The Hermit Tarot card meaning – The Hermit tarot card (IX) is the 9th key of the Major Arcana and symbolizes analysis, guidance, introspection, spiritual wisdom, and solitude.
The Hermit reminds us that in order to truly thrive or connect with others in our life, we must first tend to our own inner landscapes. This card is all about reclaiming authority over the self and living authentically from the soul. The Hermit is the card of the mystic, the nomad, and the philosopher. Over deep contemplation and silence on a journey inwards, the Hermit seeks out the ultimate truth and wisdom, unafraid of descending into the darkness to find it.
In Buddhist thought, it is taught that instead of attaining Nirvana, one may reach Enlightenment and choose to keep reincarnating in order to help others attain their own Enlightenment. The Bodhisattva uses its own inner light and shines it out for all to see, showing others the way out of the darkness of the wheel of samsara (incarnation). The Hermit is like the Bodhisattva figure – it is believed that The Hierophant represents the ‘Divine Word‘, while The Hermit symbolizes the ‘Divine Work‘. Through personal spiritual experience, perfection, and actions, The Hermit acts as a beacon for others.
The Hermit tarot card is also metaphysically associated with the element of Earth, the planet Mercury, and the Virgo zodiac sign. This lends to the Hermit’s wise, grounded countenance and their preference to do things themselves.
The Hermit invites you to return to your inner world for deep introspection. This card asks you,
- What does solitude mean to you? How do you feel about spending time alone with your thoughts and emotions?
- What spiritual or philosophical beliefs are important to you, and how do they influence your actions and decisions?
- Describe a situation where you felt detached or disconnected from others. What caused these feelings, and how did you respond?
- Think about a challenge or obstacle you’re currently facing. How can you use introspection and self-reflection to gain new insights and perspectives on this situation?
- What steps can you take to embrace solitude and introspection in your life? What practices or habits can you cultivate to help you find clarity and wisdom?
In this post, we’ll be going over the Hermit’s Upright and Reversed meanings, as well as The Hermit as a person (or significator), The Hermit as feelings, and the The Hermit as a yes or no. Whether you are a seasoned tarot reader or just beginning to explore the world of divination, the Hermit offers valuable insights and guidance for navigating life’s challenges with wisdom, discernment, and inner peace.
The miracle comes quietly into the mind that stops an instant, and is still.
– A Course In Miracles, Helen Shucman
The Hermit Keywords & Facts
| Upright: | guidance, meditation, introspection, wisdom, solitude |
| Reversed: | depression, fear, loneliness, withdrawal, isolation |
| Energy: | Yin |
| Element: | Earth |
| Planet: | Mercury |
| Zodiac Sign: | Virgo |
| Yes or No: | No |
Don’t have time to read? Check out this helpful video for key meanings of the Hermit Tarot card!
The Hermit (Upright)
The Hermit in the upright position is a card of introspection, solitude, and spiritual seeking. It represents a time when you may need to withdraw from the world and turn inward to gain clarity and insight. The Hermit is a solitary figure, standing alone on a mountaintop with only a lantern to guide him. This suggests that you may need to rely on your own inner light to find your way forward.
There may be a need for introspection and self-reflection. You may be going through a period of soul-searching or questioning your beliefs and values. The Hermit encourages you to take the time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, to listen to your inner voice, and to trust your intuition. This may require some time alone, away from the distractions of everyday life.
The Hermit is often associated with wisdom and knowledge, particularly of a spiritual nature. This could be a time when you feel drawn to explore your spiritual beliefs or to deepen your understanding of the world around you. The Hermit encourages you to seek out knowledge and understanding wherever you can find it, whether through books, teachers, or personal experience.
Overall, the Hermit tarot card suggests a time of introspection, seeking, and wisdom-seeking. It encourages you to rely on your own inner light, seek out knowledge and understanding, and trust your intuition. While this may require some solitude and self-reflection, the Hermit suggests that the insights and understanding you gain will be well worth the effort.
The Hermit Reversed
When The Hermit appears reversed in a tarot reading, it suggests a difficulty with solitude and introspection. You may be resistant or unwilling to spend time alone and may instead seek out distractions and stimulation to avoid being alone with your thoughts. This can make it challenging to access your intuition or to gain the insights and understanding that come from self-reflection.
The Hermit reversed can also indicate a reluctance to seek out knowledge or wisdom – you could be resistant to exploring new ideas or perspectives or may feel that you already know everything you need to know, leading to a lack of growth or a sense of being stuck in your current situation. On the other hand, The Hermit reversed can also suggest a fear of being alone or a sense of isolation. You may feel disconnected from others or may struggle to form deep connections with those around you. This can lead to a sense of loneliness or a lack of support.
In general, The Hermit in reverse suggests a difficulty with solitude, introspection, and seeking knowledge. It may indicate a resistance to exploring new ideas or perspectives, a fear of being alone, or a sense of isolation. To overcome these challenges, it might be helpful to find ways to gradually ease into solitude and self-reflection, seek out new experiences and ideas, or connect with others who share your interests and values.
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The Hermit as a Person
When The Hermit tarot card represents a person, it often signifies someone who is introspective, solitary, and wise. This person may be on a personal journey of self-discovery, seeking out knowledge and understanding through books, meditation, or spiritual practices. They may prefer to spend time alone or with a small circle of close friends, and may not be very outgoing or social.
The Hermit as a person is often highly intelligent and knowledgeable, particularly in spiritual or philosophical matters. They may be a teacher or mentor, offering guidance and insight to those who seek it. However, they may also be somewhat reclusive or private, preferring to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves. Astrologically, the Hermit can appear for a Virgo or someone with a strong Earth and Mercurial influence in their natal chart.
The Hermit (Reversed) as a Person
When The Hermit tarot card is reversed and represents a person, it may indicate someone who has difficulty with solitude, introspection, and seeking knowledge. This person may feel uncomfortable being alone and may struggle to connect with their own intuition and inner wisdom. They may also be resistant to exploring new ideas or perspectives and may feel stuck or stagnant in their current situation.
The Hermit reversed as a person may also struggle with forming deep connections with others and may feel isolated or disconnected from those around them. They may be hesitant to share their thoughts and feelings with others and may come across as withdrawn or distant.
The Hermit as Feelings
The Hermit tarot card indicates that someone is feeling introspective, reflective, and contemplative. They may be in a period of self-discovery and introspection and could be seeking to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
When it comes to love, the Hermit could suggest that one may be feeling a sense of emotional distance or disconnection, either from themselves or from their partner. They may need time alone to reflect on their feelings and evaluate their priorities and desires in the relationship.
If the Hermit appears as how someone feels about you, it could suggest that they feel like you are a wise, introspective, and deep individual – they may appreciate your ability to take time to reflect and could be drawn to your insights and perspectives.
The Hermit (Reversed) as Feelings
The Hermit reversed as feelings indicates that someone is feeling isolated and disconnected, and may be struggling with feelings of loneliness or a lack of direction. They could be avoiding introspection or reflection and may be relying too much on the opinions of others to guide their decisions.
In a love reading, the Hermit reversed may mean that someone may be feeling a sense of emotional disconnection or may be struggling to connect with their partner on a deeper level. They may be avoiding intimacy or avoiding addressing underlying issues in the relationship.
If the Hermit reversed appears as how someone feels about you, it could suggest that they see you as distant or unapproachable, and may feel that you are not interested in connecting with them on a deeper level. They may be feeling frustrated or discouraged in their attempts to connect with you emotionally.
The Hermit: Yes or No
In a yes or no reading, it is difficult to give a definitive answer for the Hermit tarot card, as it is generally associated with introspection, solitude, and self-reflection rather than a simple yes or no response. However, the Hermit card may be a sign that you need to take some time for introspection and reflection before making a decision – this could be interpreted as a “no” answer, as it may not be the right time to take action or move forward.
Alternatively, the Hermit card could also indicate that you need to trust your instincts and rely on your own inner guidance to make a decision, which could be interpreted as a “yes” answer.
Ultimately, the interpretation of the Hermit card will depend on the specific context of the reading and the question being asked, as well as your intuition.
The Hermit (Reversed): Yes or No
Like the upright Hermit card, the reversal is also a bit ambiguous in its answers. In a yes or no reading, the reversed Hermit suggests that you may be feeling isolated or disconnected from yourself and others, which may make it difficult for you to make a clear decision or take action. Therefore, the answer to your question may be “no” as the current circumstances may not be in your favor to move forward.
On the other hand, the Hermit reversed could also signal that you are avoiding introspection and reflection, and instead relying on the opinions of others to guide your decision-making. This could mean that the answer to your question is “yes“, but you need to take a step back and spend some time in solitude to connect with your own intuition and inner guidance before taking action.
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Sage & Moon is a participant in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to purchase through these links. Any product we choose is based on personal recommendations that we love and trust you will too. By using these links you are directly supporting us to keep writing + creating. Thank you!
