T he Fool continues along their journey of the major arcana from the Justice (or Strength) card to meet the quiet, contemplative energy of the Hermit. After the healing and neutralizing energy of the Justice card, the Fool is empowered to move inward and illuminate the shadows. They encounter the mysterious, nocturnal, and curious Hermit. In most decks we see the Hermit as a hooded figure, holding a lamp to light his way in an otherwise dark and wintry background.
The Hermit card encourages a time to take a step back from the busyness of life and perhaps rediscover a sense of purpose and understanding that comes about in the quiet hours, sitting in nature, when we are alone, or at night. The Hermit may ask us to look more deeply within and process any raw emotions that have not had a chance to fully express themselves.
The Hermit is the number, nine, is a coming together of three threes, symbolizing completion, integration, and understanding. It is helpful to remember that each card on the major arcana journey includes every card that has come before it. Thus the Hermit includes the wisdom and truths found in all the cards from the Magician to Justice (or Strength). We can take a moment here to reflect on the journey through the majors cards and how we have worked with various aspects on the path to cultivate our understanding. At this point in our work, I encourage you to layout the first nine major arcana, from the Fool to the Hermit. This will help you to get a sense of the journey thus far, remembering that each major arcana contains within it all the lessons that have come before.
The Hermit encourages us to take time to reflect on our inner self and discover authentic power. He reminds us that discovery is possible in silence, contemplation, meditation, or prayer. He is often depicted in a cave in nature, encouraging us to retreat to a quiet place, a wild place, or an undisturbed area of the forest. The Hermit is akin to the yogis and yoginis who live in caves high in the Himalayan mountains. He is the monk who dwells in the forest retreat; he is Artemis, the huntress goddess of the wild who chooses to never marry and remain firm in her commitment to protect women, children, and virgin forests. To retreat into the wild is to drop the trappings of culture and expectations, familial obligations, and the illusion that we are important. Often it is only when we are alone and profoundly still that deep insights rise to the surface. Following these deeper insights leads to the flowering or blooming in trust of divine timing and fulfillment. This opportunity is always present, but we must revisit this place of awe and reverence to overcome our shadows time and time again to remind ourselves of our true nature.
Solitude can be an incredibly beautiful and clarifying time … and it may also be profoundly lonely. When we go through periods of loneliness, we can view these as an opportunity to move deeper into our aloneness, an empowered place of solitude. As this process unfolds, we often discover yearnings that arise sometimes as fears, anxiety, pain, and struggle in relation to our desires and human longing—to be close to others, feel connected, or be part of something greater. The dance between aloneness and connectedness is familiar territory for many people in the modern world; we value our autonomy at the expense of community and the sense of connection with others. How do we cultivate a sense of connection while still in our aloneness?
In the Waite-Smith deck, the Hermit is in the snow, evoking a sense of quietness, beauty, solitude, and clarity. Snow can be an obstacle, yet it is also incredibly beautiful and seems to quiet the world when it falls around us. When we see snow sparkling along the streets, hanging on trees, and falling from the sky, we are overcome with wonder and awe, a pure feeling that is the Hermit’s reminder of the wild grace of the world. We see the figure holding up a lamp, symbolizing inner illumination or guidance on the path. Even when everything is dark around us, we have a light within that is waiting to be shone outwardly.
In the Crowley deck, we see a three-headed dog at the Hermit’s feet. The dog may symbolize our own childhood trauma and fears as well as epigenetic or ancestral trauma that we carry with us. We become defensive or prideful, perhaps retaliating or recoiling as if in fear. Shining the light on this fearsome beast is our only hope of recognizing that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
When the Hermit appears in a reading, it may be indicate that it is time to embrace therapy, counseling, or healing and work on healing these old patterns. There are often moments in life when painful memories and old traumas rise up to be resolved and healed. The light of the Hermit reminds us of the resiliency of our soul and that those memories may be resurfacing because we are ready to work on them. Although the Hermit is alone—and in this way, we can only do our own work—there is still a reminder to seek help and support in more difficult healing situations.
Essential Qualities: solitude, aloneness, quiet, transformation, wisdom, beauty, wild, forest, retreat, meditation, contemplation
Suggestions: Take time to meditate. Sit and focus on the breath for a few minutes in the morning or evening. Find time to do yoga, practice contemplative prayer, or do a guided visualization. Focus quietly on a burning candle. Appreciate the natural world—notice the seasons. This week, do not hurry. Take your time in every little thing. Trust in the cycles of life and in divine timing. Remember that you are always at the center of your own being.
Hermit Layout: The Essence
The Hermit layout invites us to focus on the essence of a situation. It is simply a single card drawn from your tarot deck. You may choose to draw from the entire deck or only the major arcana in order to focus on the archetypal aspects more deeply. The one-card draw is the simplest tarot card reading yet it is quite powerful. Light a candle and spend a good ten to fifteen minutes really contemplating your question. If the question is about a person you are in relationship with, take that time to really feel into them and their essence. Slowly shuffle the cards, pull one, and spend time in contemplation with that card. Perhaps leave it on your altar for a week as you work to dive deeper into the insights that the particular card is showing you.
