The Hermit Tarot Card Meanings

The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning invites us to embrace solitude and introspection. Learn about its symbolism, upright and reversed meanings, and its significance in love, career, and spirituality.

About The Hermit Tarot Card

In the field of tarot, the Hermit is a Major Arcana card that represents a search for light or the soul’s journey into the darkness. This card encourages now to retreat from the outer reality and to set on a journey to the inner realm in search of the desired knowledge. It is a subtle message that perhaps, the clearest visions and reasons for doing something come from time to reflect.

  • Upright Keywords: Introspection, Solitude, Self-reflection, Meditation, Peace, Withdrawal, Inner Strength 
  • Reversed Keywords: Isolation, Loneliness, Fear of Connection, Stubbornness, Neglecting Responsibilities 
  • Life Situations: Taking a break, Studying, Working on a creative project, Seeking spiritual guidance 
  • Positive Attributes: Independence, Resourcefulness, Self-reliance, Wisdom, Inner peace 
  • Negative Attributes: Isolation, Loneliness, Fear of intimacy, Stubbornness

The Hermit Tarot Card Description

The Hermit card typically portrays an elderly figure, cloaked and hooded, holding a lantern and staff. They stand alone on a mountaintop, symbolizing their withdrawal from the distractions of everyday life. The lantern they carry represents the inner light of wisdom and intuition, guiding their path. The staff symbolizes support and stability during their solitary journey.

This card is awesome; it means that you can only truly learn and can only transform through times of quiet reflection and being alone. It directs us towards having a pause from the hustle and bustle of the outside world and looking within for solutions. The Hermit is wise and his lantern informs us that the answers to our prayers are within ourselves.

The Hermit can symbolize a period of seeking for purpose, spiritual searching, or meditation. This is a message that the world is telling us that by pulling out of the world for some time, we can find ourselves and get a direction. This tarot card seems to emerge when you have to care for yourself, trust your instinct, and pay attention to personal growth.

Upright The Hermit General Meaning

When followed by an upright position, The Hermit means that you should stay alone and think about the future. It inspires you to withdraw from the heat of life and focus on the self. It is the time to think and meditate, to draw inspiration from within, and to look inward. It is the Hermit’s message to stay alert and heed the small voice inside you. It symbolizes that you need to take a break and gather your strength before continuing with the fight. This card might also suggest that you seek spiritual guidance or an opportunity to work with the higher self. It is an invitation to pause, rest and return to the essence of who you are: a divine being, powerful and whole

  • Upright Love Meaning: Taking time for self-love and understanding your needs in a relationship. It may also indicate a temporary break or a need for space.
  • Upright Money & Career Meaning: A time for reflection on your career path. It could suggest a need for further education or skill development. It also might signify a temporary slowdown or a career change.
  • Upright Health Meaning: Prioritizing self-care, rest, and relaxation. It might also suggest seeking alternative healing modalities or focusing on mental health.
  • Upright Spirituality Meaning: A deep dive into your spiritual journey, seeking wisdom, and connecting with your higher self. It’s a time for meditation, prayer, and introspection.

❤️ Upright The Hermit Meaning in Love & Relationships

When it comes to love, The Hermit, if upright, is a sign to look within and embrace and celebrate yourself. This may signify that there is a need to take time off the dating scene and do things that will make you happy. This does not necessarily equate to loneliness; it is rather a time of self-imploding into something that will help foster healthier and more fulfilling relationships down the line. If you are already in a relationship, then The Hermit suggests that you may need some alone time to get in touch with yourself and your own intuition. It translates to the preservation of self-fulfillment and recognition of your self-interest before attending to that of the companion. It is the period of truth revealing to yourself what you genuinely desire or expect from relationships and love.

💸 Upright The Hermit Meaning in Money & Career

If you have concerns over your finances, career, jobs or money matters then the upright Hermit card means that it is time to take stock of things. It might be a suggestion to take a break and reflect on the direction you are heading and whether it is in line with your principles or vision. It may advise such activities as taking a rest, gaining more education, or even changing a line of work. The Hermit pulls you towards the idea of a more meaningful reality, which does not require material success or fame. Now is the best time to take heed of your inner voice and focus on what is important to you. It is a call to look for a job that can make you happy and enable you to make your world a better place.

💚 Upright The Hermit Meaning in Health

As for health, The Hermit upright has a depth of self-care and contemplation. It advises you to take time off in the hustle and bustle of life to pay attention to the body and mind. This could be a signal to stop running, relax for a while, and get proper nutrition. The Hermit urges you to pay attention to your physical signals and take care of the problems that are causing them. These may include consulting a doctor or a specialist in a particular illness, using non-traditional therapy, or having leisure time for reflection or sleep. Being healthy means being not only physically healthy but also mentally and spiritually sound, and The Hermit is the card that tells you to focus on it.

🔮 Upright The Hermit Meaning in Spirituality

Spiritually, The Hermit upright means that it is a great time to set aside societal pressures and engage in a rigorous period of reflection and contemplation. It also integrates you with the outside world and motivates you to listen to the inner voice. This is a time for reflection and looking for solutions inwardly, embraced with meditation, prayers and rumination. The Hermit encourages you to follow your inner guidance and pay attention to your soul’s subtle voice. It may also suggest a message to pursue experiences related to spirituality or seek help from a spiritual guide or an instructor. This card represents the desire for inner spirituality and the search for the purpose and meaning of life.

Reversed The Hermit General Meaning

When The Hermit appears in the reversed position, this may bring about feelings of solitude or rejection from society. It may indicate that you are against introspection or you are escaping self-analysis that is important in your life. It could be that you are going through some pressure from the outside world and feeling pressured, and you do not have time for yourself. The reversed Hermit can also represent isolation or the lack of willingness to draw on your inner strength. It is a message for you to be more careful and not leave your friends and family members thinking that you need to be alone. Let us now embrace whatever feels of isolation, separation or alienation and begin to look for appropriate means to reground yourself and reintegrate.

  • Reversed Love Meaning: Fear of intimacy, pushing loved ones away, or isolating yourself in a relationship. It may also indicate codependency or neglecting your own needs. 
  • Reversed Money & Career Meaning: Feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your career. It could also suggest procrastination, lack of motivation, or resisting necessary change. 
  • Reversed Health Meaning: Neglecting your physical or mental well-being. It might also signify a need to reach out for support or professional help.
  • Reversed Spirituality Meaning: Feeling disconnected from your spiritual path or resisting inner guidance. It may also indicate a lack of faith or a sense of spiritual isolation.

❤️ Reversed The Hermit Meaning in Love & Relationships

In the context of love and relationships, the reversed position of The Hermit can mean feeling alone or having fear of getting close to someone. You could be avoiding contact with family or finding it hard to express your feelings. It is also possible that you are isolating yourself deliberately, and other things have little priority as compared to solitude. This card can be used to remind you to reach out to the people you care for, and be okay with being open about your feelings as well. You must learn that it is okay to seek help and be willing to form bonds with others. Love is one of the things that people need in this world, but you should be aware that love does not mean that you must always stick together.

💸 Reversed The Hermit Meaning in Money & Career 

Regarding money and career, the reversed Hermit card may mean that you feel adrift or bored and lacking a clear purpose to follow. It can mean that you are avoiding some changes that are important or not thinking about your career choices deeply. It could also point to lethargy or laziness in getting on with life’s respective endeavors or dreams. This card should help you take a step back to reflect on your career decisions and bring it back in line with your interests and principles. It may be possible to find a friend who can help you to decide whether it is the right time for you to find a new job. Your career is supposed to give you a purpose and satisfaction in your work.

💚 Reversed The Hermit Meaning in Health

Concerning the state of health, The Hermit reversed is an indication that your health is ignored or taken for granted. It might be interpreted as a sign of overworking yourself, denying the physical signs, or avoiding self-care. It may be that you are pressed for time or feeling burnt out and can’t seem to find time to just relax and have fun. This card is to remind you to take care of yourself and pay attention to your health. That being said, always remember that no one can do everything and it’s okay to step back, get help and recharge. Easy on yourself: self care is not a luxury; it is a necessity for a full and healthy life.

🔮 Reversed The Hermit Meaning in Spirituality

In the area of spirituality, The Hermit reversed makes you feel out of place or lost in your spiritual journey. It can be a conflict between self-reflection or procrastination while avoiding actions that might help you find your inner self. Maybe you are looking for the answers in the external environment when they should be internal. It is something that makes you realize that you should listen to your instincts once in a while. Now it is about time to turn the inner signal of the light on and emerge yourself into the darkness and silence. Again, your journey is a solitary one, and The Hermit points to the fact that you have to seek your own truth, your own way of relating to yourself and the world.

The Hermit in a Yes or No Card Reading

The Hermit in the Yes or No tarot reading differs from the other cards for it encourages focus and reflection instead of a direct answer.

Upright Position

When The Hermit appears upright, it has a disposition to answer “No”. But it rather calls for more thinking, contemplation and sometimes seclusion. Sometimes the circumstances suggest that you need to collect more data, pray, or just wait for the proper moment. The Hermit symbolism is associated with patience and reliance on inner guidance. It is one of the most important messages, highlighting that in some cases, the lack of action is the best course of action to take.

Reversed Position

More intriguing is the fact that a reversed Hermit often points towards a “Yes” but it comes with a caveat. It might indicate that you have been pondering too much, being a loner or hesitating for a long time. It is a reminder to come out of your comfort zone and use intuition or inner voice to make decisions. But it is extremely important to do it carefully and avoid uncontrolled actions. Do not proceed hastily and without thinking; be sure that you have all the information and that all the consequences have been taken into account.

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Popular Questions about The Hermit

What is the core message of The Hermit tarot card?

The Hermit symbolizes introspection, solitude, and a quest for inner wisdom.

What does it mean if I draw The Hermit in an upright position?

It signifies a need to step back, reflect, and seek guidance from within.

What if The Hermit appears reversed in a reading?

It may suggest isolation, loneliness, or resistance to introspection.

In a love reading, what does The Hermit signify?

It can indicate a need for self-love, personal growth, or a temporary break from relationships.

How does The Hermit relate to career and finances?

It encourages reflection on your professional path and a search for fulfilling work aligned with your values.

What does The Hermit represent in terms of health?

It emphasizes the importance of self-care, rest, and listening to your body’s needs.

What spiritual message does The Hermit convey?

It suggests a journey of inner exploration and a deepening connection with your higher self.

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