Upright: Soul-Searching, Reflection, Truth
Reversed: Loneliness, Confinement, Withdrawal
Element: Earth
Zodiac: Virgo
Numerology: 9
Nine symbolizes attainment, transition, and that you’re almost at the end. When you pull a card associated with the number 9, it means that a cycle is near completion and you are ready to put together plans to step into the next chapter of your life. Numerology 9 is all about learning from life’s experiences and using those lessons to guide you. The number 9 shows maturity through growth and that you’re ready to define how you want to live life, on your terms. As you step into the next phase of life, the number 9 denotes a reflective period, which can be isolating in nature.
The Hermit Tarot Card Description
The traditional Rider Waite depiction of the Hermit card features an old man wearing a hooded robe, carrying a staff in one hand, and a lit lantern in the other. The light inside the lantern is a star, representing our inner North Star that can guide our true purpose. His head is tucked inward, bowed down towards the lantern. The staff gives him authority and power to stand strong. He stands on barren, rocky ground. The background is clear of any landscape, clearing the Hermit of any distractions.
In the Mystic Monday’s Tarot deck, the Hermit card is depicted as a woman who is wearing sheer fabric, her back turned towards the viewer, only seeing a sliver of her face from the side profile. One foot is slightly forward than the other. She wears a bun. In front of her looks to be a mirror, which also looks to be another room. The mirror symbolizes a reflection of oneself and to seek the answers within. This room can feel expansive or contractive, depending on how the viewer perceives this card. There is room to go forward, but if focusing on the sides of the walls, they can feel like they are closing in.
This card is written and illustrated by artist and author Grace Duong.
The Hermit Tarot Card Upright Meanings
General The Hermit Card Upright Meaning
Soul-searching is the name of the game, and you’ve decided to take the time to explore that aspect of yourself. Wide-eyed truth seeker, you implore the deepest depths of your being so that you can know yourself in ways you didn’t know before. There was a certain restlessness with how you were living your day-to-day, knowing that there is a deeper meaning to life. Soul-searching tends to be a solo journey, so you may be finding yourself withdrawing from social activities and retreating inside yourself. You are seeking your deep inner truth and defining your core values, and if that means a night in with a glass of wine, then so be it. You are seeking alignment with your mind, body, and soul and are finding new ways of consciously prioritizing your beliefs into your daily life.
The Hermit Upright Meaning in Career
The Hermit is a tarot card of deep introspection, and at this time, you may be reflecting on your career choices and what the right next move is for you. You are desiring to merge your passions into purpose and want to express that through your career. Shine the inner light within so that you can spread it outward! The Hermit can indicate that you may need time to yourself to clear your head so you know you are making the best choices based on your inner needs versus outer expectations. It’s time to approach your career as a vessel of fulfillment, not just about making money. Look towards your inner light, your truth, to shine the path forward.
The Hermit Upright Meaning in Finances
Money may no longer be a motivator for you and it’s time to dive deeper to see what really lights you up. You’re approaching your finances as a means to express your true authentic self, and as a vessel of freedom. Money is energy and you are no longer relying on financial stability to make you happy. Your finances are taking a turn in that you are looking to see how your finances can bring you fulfillment. It’s less about materialistic desires, and more about your soul purpose. This can be an abstract concept to the pragmatic types, but your motivators are no longer material, but spiritual, and you are following your light within.
The Hermit Upright Meaning in Love
In love lies the greatest lessons. The Hermit tarot love meaning can symbolize an inner journey of getting to know oneself on a deeper level, including our needs, fears, and insecurities. In order to do that, you may need time alone to discover who you really are underneath the expectations of society, family, or other external things that are distracting you from your inner world. The Hermit can indicate a time of solitude and tending to the inner light. Although this journey can feel lonely, it is meant to give you the solitude you need to build inner strength so that in the face of external factors, you will not be pulled in multiple directions but instead, be able to rely on your core truths. From this place of wholeness is how you can step into relationships without losing who you are.
If you are currently in a relationship, take the time you need to get clear about what you want and desire in a relationship. Take note of if your needs are being met, and if not, how can you meet them yourself?
The Hermit Upright Meaning in Health and Self-Care
It’s important to take some time right now where you are prioritizing your self-care with solitude and introspection. Time to light that special candle, put on some ambient music, and journal your heart out. Write down all your thoughts, feelings, and emotions that need to come out on paper that you can’t express in your everyday life. Let this be a cathartic experience. If you need to take a solo trip to be alone with your thoughts, this is a good time to take a retreat for yourself. Perhaps you book a stay in the idyllic forest or by the beach. Wherever your heart is pulling you to go, it’s important that you take this trip by yourself so that you are not influenced by outside influences. Let this be the meditation retreat your soul needs to replenish.
The Hermit Tarot Card Reversed Meanings
General The Hermit Reversed Meaning
The Hermit asks that you take the time out of your busy schedule to connect with your higher self. Having trouble managing your day-to-day life, has ignited your feelings of dissatisfaction. In need of spiritual sanity, this is a great time to evaluate your priorities. A lack of inner reflection can cause you to miss the greater purpose in your life. Beware of sinking too deep into isolation and becoming disconnected from the outside world. It is totally fine to seclude yourself to find clarity and purpose, but don’t create your own confinement. Remember that this period of reflection is a choice, and you can free yourself from your own imprisonment at any time. Know that you are not alone, and that whenever you decide to reach out, a helping hand will be there to support you.
The Hermit Reversed Meaning in Career
After a reclusive time of retreat, the reversed Hermit can indicate coming out of a period of isolation back into the everyday life of modern society. By this time, you have reflected to gain clarity around what brings you deeper fulfillment in terms of your career, and the next steps to take to get you closer to fulfilling your career goals and dreams. Alternatively, this can also mean your Hermit period has not quite ended yet, and you’ll need to prolong this period to gain the clarity you seek, even if it feels lonely. In a workplace environment, you may feel like an outcast, not quite fitting in with your coworkers and colleagues. This time is best focused on your needs rather than fitting in with the rest of the flock.
The Hermit Reversed Meaning in Finances
The Hermit reversed when it comes to finances can signify that you are going against your better judgement and listening to the advice of others at the expense of listening to what your inner voice is telling you. Tune in to your intuition and feel in your body what decision rings true for you for your finances. Alternatively, this could also mean your judgement is cloudy and that your internal light is flooded with worry and dampening the connection you have with your inner voice. In this case, it may be time to seek external resources that can give you clear answers that are sound and non-biased when it comes to how to best manage your financial assets.
The Hermit Reversed Meaning in Love
Although the Hermit can indicate solitude, it can also indicate loneliness. The reversed Hermit tarot love meaning can symbolize isolation and feeling separate from your desires. You may be projecting a romantic love that doesn’t currently exist in your reality, separating yourself from the present moment to ones of your expectations. Ask yourself if your expectations are coming from your own inner source or if it is trying to fulfill someone else’s ideas of what a successful relationship looks like. Take this time to align yourself with your deepest desires and remove any external factors that can cloud you from the dreams of romance that you have for yourself. This period can be painful, but you can use this time to gain clarity on what you actually want in a relationship, rather than flirting with the ‘shoulds’.
The Hermit Reversed Meaning in Health and Self-Care
The Hermit reversed can speak to being too isolated lately and that it’s time to come out of hiding! With everything, do so with moderation and not in excess. Too much isolation can be detrimental to the human spirit. You need connection to feel alive again! This is the time to get out of your shell and make plans. Basically, do what you can to have some fun and get out of the house! If you’re struggling with your self-care, this can also be a sign that you do not need to struggle alone. You can always reach out to friends, family, support groups, and the larger community if you need help. Sometimes you need to ask before you can receive.
The Hermit - Tarot Card Meaning Cheat Sheet
