Card Type: Major Arcana
Card Number: 9
Star Sign: Virgo
Planet: Mercury
Element: Earth
Other Names: Father Time, Diogenes
Key Meaning: Withdraw
The Hermit Tarot card signifies withdrawing from a situation or seeking time alone.
A to Z: List of Tarot Cards
Hermit Keywords
🥰 Upright: Withdrawal, reflection, mindfulness
😒 Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, narcissism
The Hermit Description
This description is based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck.
An old man with a long beard stands on a mountain peak. He is carrying a staff in one hand and a lantern lit by a six-pointed star in the other. The lamp is sometimes called the Lamp of Truth, which is used to guide the unknowing. The man’s face expresses serious questions, perhaps about the meaning of life. One wonders too, if he is calling to a protégé who is climbing up the mountain, raising the lantern to light their way. This is why this card is sometimes associated with meeting a mentor or a guide who helps you on your journey.
The Hermit stands on top of the mountain, suggesting that our soul needs to move upwards to find higher consciousness. When we search for God, very often we walk the path alone and tend to raise our eyes upwards.
The Hermit card is about seeking guidance and searching for truth. Sometimes this means spending time in isolation, even periods of total solitude. Although it does not have to be so extreme. It could also mean going on a spiritual retreat or walk, practising mindfulness or studying spiritual literature. When this card appears it nearly always means: This is a good time to meditate and seek a mind, body, spirit connection.
On a more daily level, the Hermit can signify a need to distance yourself from a person, like a friend or work colleague. It can also recommend pulling back from a situation that is draining is you.
Other keywords associated with this card include: brutal self-honesty, distance, disconnecting, thinking ahead, learning, moment of silence, abstention, slowing down, vision quest, wisdom.
What Zodiac Sign is The Hermit Tarot Card?
The Hermit Tarot card is ruled by the star sign Virgo. In astrology, Virgo is the sign of service to others, duty and critical thinking.
Mercury is the planet assigned to the Hermit. Mercury is the planet of communication, which is why the Hermit is also associated with passing on knowledge, and teaching spiritual enlightenment.
In astrology, Virgo rules the sixth house which is where astrologers look for information on work, healing, health and service.
The Hermit card corresponds to the element Earth.
Romance: What does The Hermit Tarot Card Mean when You Ask About Love?
When the Hermit turns up in a love reading, the meaning will depend on your question. For example, if you asked:
💖 Will I find love? This card means, now is not the right time. You need to spend more time alone, perhaps to heal from the past, or simply to figure out what you want from life.
💖 Does he or she like me? This card means they feel a strong spiritual connection with you. Perhaps you are acquaintances from a past life.
💖 What is the future of our relationship? This card can mean you feel lonely in your relationship, and counseling may help you both.
More Relationship Meanings:
💖 You are reflecting on your lifestyle as a couple, figuring out how to spend more time together or with your family.
💖 You are happy to be single and live alone. This is because you are an evolved soul who needs fewer distractions than most.
💖 Someone is choosing to abstain from sexual activity for spiritual reasons.
CAREER: What does This Card Signify when You Ask About Work?
If your question relates to work, business, career or study and you receive the Hermit Tarot card, it can mean:
⭕ You connect with a mentor who helps develop your potential. Or perhaps, it is you who is becoming the mentor.
⭕ You will enjoy working as a digital nomad, or working remotely.
⭕ Spirituality is meant to be your career. Whatever you learn now, should be passed on to others.
⭕ You leave a hectic job for something less demanding.
⭕ This card can mean ‘going it alone’ and working for yourself.
Careers associated with this card include: writer, musician, healer, teacher, editor, life coach, digital communications or any job or gig you can do remotely.
If you are considering hiring a candidate and this card appears, it means:
This person works well on their own, and is particularly suited to remote work or a job which requires minimum supervision. He or she is hard working, honest and pays attention to details.
MONEY: What is the Meaning of The Hermit in a Money Reading?
If you asked the Tarot about money and finances, and you receive the Hermit, it can mean:
💲 You are down-sizing your lifestyle or pulling back on expenses. This may be for spiritual or environmental reasons, but it could also be because you want greater freedom.
💲 You receive a money-making idea. This idea was sparked when you were alone, on a spiritual retreat or during meditation.
💲 This is a good time for advice from an expert or guru.
Tarot Card Combination Meanings
“The Hermit combined with Judgement” – You receive Divine guidance
“Combined with 5 of Pentacles” – Difficult times bring wisdom
“The Hermit combined with Knight of Swords” – Time to return to the world
HEALTH: What does The Hermit Tarot Card Mean when You Ask About Health?
In a health reading, the Hermit generally signifies recovery from illness, be that mental or physical illness.
It can also indicate the need to isolate because you have been exposed to a disease which is transmissible. Such as Covid, chicken pox, measles, influenza, mononucleosis and meningitidis.
When it comes to healing, the Hermit can mean you should try flotation therapy. This is a form of sensory deprivation, where you float in salted water in a dark environment. It is also associated with practising mindfulness, tai chi and meditation.
Health conditions associated with this card include: breathing problems, flu, pneumonia, viral infections. The Hermit rules: lungs and digestive system.
YES/NO: Does The This Mean Yes or No in a Reading?
❓ When you ask a Yes or No question and this Tarot card turns up, then the answer is not clear. The Hermit means the answer will come, when the time is right.
TIMING: Does The Hermit Predict any Particular Timeframe?
🕔 This card is only a timing indication when you specifically asked a timeframe question. For example, if you want to know if something will happen, and when, then you need to draw two separate cards. These are in fact, two separate questions. This is a fundamental principle to understand if you want an accurate tarot reading – and it is core to my teaching in my book Tarot in 5 Minutes.
🕔 The Hermit card represents August 24 to September 23. If the card is reversed, timing will be longer – perhaps up to a year later, same date.
Karina’s Timing Method:
I am using a traditional major arcana timing method here, based on the zodiac sign assigned to each card.
What is the Meaning of The Hermit Tarot Card Reversed?
When the Hermit is upside down then he drops his lamp and he is alone in the dark. This can mean:
✔️You are struggling with loneliness and feel isolated from other people. This may be because a relationship has ended, or someone you love has died. Or, it may be that you have moved to a new job, school or location, and need time to make new friends. This too shall pass.
✔️Alternatively, you are taking isolation to an extreme and exhibiting antisocial or hostile behavior.
✔️ Is someone behaving like a narcissist? The Hermit can represent extreme self-involvement to the degree that they ignore the needs of those around them.
✔️Are you ignoring the good advice of someone?
✔️Other keywords associated a reversal include: alienation, desertion, hiding out and self-deception.
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The Hermit Symbolism
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Karina, author of Tarot in 5 Minutes.
