Into the Hermit - the Card for 2025

The New Year is here! And with that comes a shift in the collective energy. In tarot, 2024 was the year of Strength – a time to focus on inner courage, and fortitude. It was a year of self-compassion, and allowing for grace and forgiveness when that inner lion came out and roared.

What did you learn about self-compassion this past year? What lessons taught you to be kinder to yourself and those around you? And were you to move forward with courage and strength?

While the lessons of Strength may still play a large part in your life, we are now moving into year 9 (2+0+2+5=9) which is represented the Hermit: introspection, wisdom, and reconnecting with our inner light.

The basic meaning of the Hermit

The Hermit is the ninth card of the Major Arcana, and shows an older man with a grey beard and long, flowing robes standing atop a snowy mountain. His posture is steady yet deliberate. He carefully takes one step at a time; he is in no rush. The staff in his hand acts as his support, while the other holds a lantern. From within the lantern we can see one single star, illuminating his path in the quiet stillness.

Keywords: introspection, soul-searching, inner guidance, inner wisdom, isolation, time spent alone, solitude, self-reflection, contemplation, retreat

Sometimes, to find the answers we need, the best place to go is within. It’s tempting to ask those around us, and to listen to their advice, but the Hermit is our reminder that we must be our own guiding light.

Know that there’s nothing wrong with taking a time out; disconnect from the hustle and bustle of every day life and seek wisdom from within your own heart and mind.

"The Hermit represents the quest for wisdom and clarity. He is the guide who helps us find our way through the fog of confusion by pointing to the star of inner guidance. The journey of the Hermit is one of self-discovery, a journey that requires retreat from the world in order to see more clearly."

from 78-Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

Finding your path and moving towards an enlightened state, means learning the lessons you came here to experience. While the Hermit encourages us to ponder the external world, he very much is about understanding ourselves from within.

The reversed or shadow side of the Hermit can lead to isolation, and loneliness. It can be a complete detachment from the physical world – a rejection of society and the desire to shut it all out. And while the reflection and contemplation that comes with the Hermit can be eye opening and connect us to a higher power, it’s important to remember that we need to balance the spiritual search with our physical existence in the here and now.

One other meaning to the Hermit reversed can be a push to come down off the mountain; to reengage with society and community. To help guide others the same way you were guided, not to force them down the same path, but to help them find their own.

What does the Hermit mean for 2025?

The Hermit encourages us to find time to disconnect and think. In a society where we’re constantly bombarded by news, and information it can be hard to really know how you think or feel about something. And let’s be real, much of what we agree to (often subconsciously) is influenced by the media and the people around us.

This year, be extra mindful of your thoughts. Take regular breaks from media to sort out your head, and to see what your inner guidance is urging you to do. Find support in self-reflection and contemplation, and comfort in the knowledge that we’re not meant to have all the answers and that’s okay.

It’s time to stop allowing other people to think for you, and that can only come with finding solitude in silence, comfort in the unknown, and your own inner light.

How can you know who you are if you don’t take the time to connect to yourself?

The Symbols of the Hermit

The Hermit is indeed a simple card in the sense that there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot going on – but that also is so indicative of the energy of the card itself: enlightenment comes from within.

The Hermit is marked as number nine, which represents nearing completion or nearing the culmination of a spiritual cycle. It is a number of wisdom and reflection, but also of taking the lessons you’ve learned and integrating them in meaningful way.

It’s also worth mentioning that nine can be seen as a number for universal love and compassion, thus also correlating with humanitarianism and service. The eventual goal of the Hermit is to integrate back into community upon seeking wisdom in solitude. From here, he can help others find their own path.

The staff is a symbol we see many times in the tarot and it carries multiple meanings. It is a tool for support and stability, and the Hermit uses to ground himself throughout his spiritual pilgramage.

Staffs are a symbol of mastery, showing the Hermit’s mastery over his thoughts and acceptance that there is always more to understand and know. They are symbols to represent our connection to a divine power; bridging the spiritual with the practicality and groundedness needed in the physical world.

The most prevalent symbol on the Hermit is arguably his lantern. The lantern lights a portion of the path ahead, showing wisdom takes time to acquire.

The light illuminates only a small area ahead reminding us that we can only tackle things a little at a time. Rushing to find all of the answers at once won’t yield the results that we desire. Patience and curiosity are the keys to true understanding.

Although the Hermit first seeks answers on his own, he later acts as a guide. He uses that same lantern to shine the path for others to follow.

Inside the lantern we can see a six-pointed star – a symbol of guidance, and divine wisdom. Think of sailors and travellers who have used the stars to guide their way for thousands of years.

Although we are searching, we are not lost and can be guided by universal truths and a higher power if we allow ourselves the energy and space to connect.

White the star shines brightly, the lantern obscures some of its light. This is a reminder that this wisdom, these truths, are available only to those who seek it – it is precious. You must be open and ready to be lead by the light to find the answers you seek.

"The Hermit teaches that wisdom comes not from external sources, but from within. This card encourages us to seek the stillness where true understanding arises, showing us that sometimes we must journey alone to understand ourselves more fully.""

from Eden Gray's The Complete Guide to Tarot

It’s safe to say that an older man with a white beard is a very well-represented symbol of the old, wise sage. Think of characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars, Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings, Merlin from the tales of King Arthur, and Dumbledore from Harry Potter.

Each one becomes the old, wise sage who has spent a lifetime living, experiencing and acquiring knowledge, only to become a guide or mentor to a younger generation; to impart understanding and wisdom. To lead and guide, but not necessarily force or teach. For they know that the lessons to wisdom must come from within.

The Hermit’s robes are a symbol themselves, as they show humility and a certain simplicity. He’s not worried about impressing anyone, or looking a certain way; he is detached from material concerns as he goes about his quest. Afterall, spiritual truths outweigh the material world.

It’s not uncommon to see religious and spiritual leaders, sages and healers adorning robes as they are a sign of their devotion. They are a timeless garment, and without luster and flare, they also create a sense of anonymity. This relates to how the Hermit represents universal wisdom and truths over those of the individual.

The position of the Hermit is interesting as well: his head is bowed and his eyes are closed. This is a meditative and contemplative state. He’s not concerned with where he’s going or if he’s approaching the edge of a cliff. He knows that he is being guided, and that what he seeks cannot be seen through bodily senses. There is a complete trust in himself and his inner guide.

The landscape in the Hermit is quite barren, which further reinforces the idea that this is a journey of solitude. The snow covered ground is cold, and detached – as we must become from the “things” around us to go within. There is no noise, no distraction.

There are hints of a mountain in the background, which indicates that this adventure is a challenge to surmount. It’s not supposed to always be quick or easy.

The blue-grey background offers a sense of calm, and stillness. There are no clouds, and no wind. Perhaps, to the Hermit, it feels as if the world has stopped momentarily. Soul-searching can yield uncomfortable truths, but eventually it leads to inner peace through the reconciliation of the self.

The colour is one often associated with intellectual knowledge, spiritual knowledge, and wisdom – all of which the Hermit seeks.

Connecting with the Hermit

The biggest way to connect with the Hermit is to take a time out for yourself, and be alone with your thoughts. Choose a time and space where you can have no or minimal distractions. Meditate if it feels right, or simply sit in contemplation. Don’t try to force thoughts or answers, just see what comes up – no pressure, no expectation. If you feel so inclined, have a journal nearby to make notes after you’ve given yourself some time.

If you prefer something a little more guided, try some of these journal prompts to get the ball rolling. You can even incorporate the use of tarot cards, oracles cards, or your favourite tool.

What truths about myself have I been avoiding, and how can I begin to confront them?
What role does solitude play in my life? Do I embrace it, or do I resist it?
How easy or difficult is it for me to disconnect from the outside world? Why do I think that is?
What does my inner voice or intuition want to tell me right now?
Who or what has been a guiding light for me in challenging times?
What question or mystery am I seeking answers to in my life currently?
What lessons have I learned from my past that I can carry forward with me?
What habits or beliefs no longer serve me and need to be left behind?
What does personal growth mean to me, and how can I actively pursue it?
How do I share the wisdom I’ve gained with others without imposing my beliefs?
Who in my life could benefit from the lessons I’ve learned, and how can I help them?
What kind of mentor or guide would I like to be for others?
What lights my way when I feel lost or uncertain?
What aspects of myself remain hidden in the shadows, and how can I bring them into the light?
How do I honor the journey of seeking without rushing toward answers?
What does “divine wisdom” mean to me, and how do I access it?
If I imagine myself holding a lantern, what does the light inside represent for me?
How can I integrate the lessons I’ve learned from solitude into my everyday life?
What practical actions can I take to align more closely with my values and inner truth?
How do I plan to carry the wisdom of the Hermit into the year ahead?

Different Representations of the Hermit

One of the reasons I collect tarot deck is because I love to see how different artists portray different cards. Here’s a variety of ways the Hermit has been depicted.

Which one is your favourite? Leave a comment and let me know!