Hermit Tarot Card Meanings

Major Arcana Tarot

Hermit Tarot Card Meanings

Upright Card Meaning

Almost every spiritual tradition has their own manifestation of the hermit, from the desert monks of ancient Christianity to the legend of Merlin. Although their legends have become tools to inspire new followers, true hermits do not retreat from society because of despair or secret hope of glory. Their isolation serves a purpose—it is conducive to the kind of self-examination that leads to inner truth.
The card of the Hermit encourages you to withdraw from the race of your daily life in whatever way you can. Through dedicated spiritual practice, you can achieve an inner rebirth and discover new sources of maturity and truth. Our daily lives can distract us from what matters, and the Hermit is inviting us to reconnect with what truly drives you. Sometimes, we can best know the world by observing it from a detached distance.
Your spiritual journey does not need to be done in complete isolation, however, the Hermit advises you to be careful when choosing a guide or mentor for any endeavor. Sometimes, those who put on the guise of piety and a higher consciousness are the most cynical manipulators.

Major Arcana Tarot

Hermit Tarot Card Meanings

Reversed Card Meaning

While The Hermit encourages you to take time away from society, The Hermit reversed warns against isolation for the wrong reasons. You may have convinced yourself that you need time to yourself in order to think, but are you distancing yourself from others for more painful reasons? Perhaps you are unwilling to grow up and face painful truths and do the hard work that necessarily comes with maturity.
The Hermit Reversed depicts a person who detaches themself from life because that is the only thing they know. They make their choices not because of a quest for truth, but because they are afraid and overly cautious. Most decisions made with fear do not set us on the right path, although it may seem an easy road to walk at the time.
To feel lost is to be human, there is no need to be discouraged. However, finding the right path again is possible. The Hermit Reversed is here to encourage you to end your contemplation as excessive isolation only breeds worry. It is time to take that decisive first step.