Key Meanings

Upright

Solitude, introspection, inner wisdom, soul-searching, contemplation, withdrawal, spiritual guidance, self-reflection, truth-seeking, patience, independence, inner light

Reversed

Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, anti-social behavior, paranoia, rejects guidance, lost their way, afraid of being alone, exile, bitter, stagnant, disconnected

General Interpretation

Upright

The Hermit signifies a time for turning inward. The Hermit is the wise teacher who walks a solitary path in search of truth. When The Hermit appears upright, it suggests that you are entering a period of self-reflection and soul searching. The wisdom you need is within you, not out there in the world. It will only be revealed to you if you allow yourself the time and space to be introspective and truly honest with yourself. It can also represent an individual who has learned from their experiences and is a guiding light to themselves or others.

Reversed

In a reversed position, The Hermit can indicate painful isolation rather than healthy solitude. There is a difference between the two. Solitude is a choice. Isolation is a cage. You may be severed from others, either by your own choice or not. You may be refusing to go inward and afraid of what you will discover if you do. Or it can indicate that you've withdrawn so much that you've forgotten how to come back and rejoin the rest of us. It can also indicate that you are ignoring your inner voice or rejecting the wisdom of someone who actually has something to offer you. The Hermit reversed is an indicator that the balance between solitude and socialising has swung too far in one direction.

Love & Partnership

Upright

If you are in a relationship, The Hermit can indicate that you or your partner may need some alone time in the relationship. This does not necessarily mean the relationship is in trouble. Quite the opposite in fact. Sometimes in a relationship, one or both people just need some space to reflect, to find themselves or to deal with something on a personal level. A relationship where two people can be alone without the relationship suffering is a healthy relationship. The Hermit can be an indicator of that kind of love.

For single people, The Hermit can mean that you are choosing to be single for the moment. You are not settling. You are not rushing into something to fill a void. You are experiencing a time in your life where you get to know yourself a bit better before you share your life with another. The connection to another person begins with a connection to yourself. Some of the best relationships in the world have been born in the wake of a Hermit phase.

Reversed

In an existing relationship, The Hermit reversed can signify emotional distance becoming an issue. One partner may be shutting the other out - not communicating, putting up walls or withdrawing into themselves without explanation. It can also indicate two people sharing a home but feeling like strangers. Where the warmth has gone, nobody knows.

For single people, The Hermit in a reversed position can represent loneliness that is unwelcome and burdensome. It can signify shutting people out because you are afraid or damaged. It can also signify someone who has been alone so long, they've forgotten how to let people in. Alternatively, it can be an indication that you are hurrying into dating anyone who shows even a hint of interest just to avoid the discomfort of solitude. This approach isn't likely to end well!

Social Relationships

Upright

In terms of existing friendships and social circles, The Hermit can indicate that you will be pulling back from your social life for a while. You may find big social gatherings exhausting and prefer to be around smaller groups of people or even just one or two close friends. Quality not quantity. The Hermit can signify that you are coming to value having deep meaningful friendships more than just having a wide social circle. Some friendships may fall by the wayside during a Hermit phase. That's ok. The ones that stick around are the ones that count.

In terms of new social contacts, The Hermit suggests that new social contacts will come slowly. The people you meet during a Hermit phase are usually mentors, teachers or like-minded people. They come into your life because you share common ground or a greater purpose, not because they happen to be near you.

Reversed

In terms of existing social relationships, The Hermit in a reversed position can signify self-imposed exile from your social circle. You may be shutting your friends out. Invitations may be left unanswered. Phone calls may go unreturned. Your withdrawal may be beginning to take its toll on your relationships. Or it can indicate that you have become so engrossed in your own world that you are simply not there for the people around you, even though you would like to be.

As far as new connections go, this reversal indicates that you may be finding it hard to trust new people or simply not willing to put yourself out there in the first place. You may be too suspicious or too guarded to form any new bonds. Alternatively, it can indicate the opposite extreme, that you are clinging desperately to any new person who shows you even the slightest bit of interest because the loneliness is getting to you. Neither of these approaches is likely to lead to healthy, lasting friendships.

Work & Career

Upright

The Hermit in a career context is great for independent work, research and study. It favours the specialist, not the generalist. The deep diver rather than the one who covers all the ground. It can also signify working on a project in solitude, mentoring others or taking a back seat for a while and honing your skills out of the limelight. It is suited to careers in teaching, counselling, research, writing or any career that requires deep thought and patience. There is no rush. Quality work takes time.

Reversed

In a career context, reversed, The Hermit can signify feeling isolated from your work or your workmates. Maybe you've been doing work in isolation for so long that you've forgotten how to work with others. Or maybe you're disregarding the wisdom of mentors or more experienced colleagues. It can also indicate a career path that is leaving you feeling lonely and isolated. The solitude this path brings is not something you sought out, it's just how things are. Or you may be feeling trapped because you won't reach out for help or look at things from an outsider's perspective.

Money & Finance

Upright

Financially, The Hermit indicates that now is not a time for big spending or big investments. The Hermit is careful with his money. He saves and plans. When The Hermit appears in relation to finances, it shows that you make decisions about money based on your own careful research, not what others think. Your approach to money is low-key at the moment. You are looking at the long-term, not the short-term financial gain. It can also signify someone downsizing, spending less and discovering they need less than they thought.

Reversed

The reversed Hermit in relation to finances can indicate making poor financial choices in a vacuum without gathering enough information or seeking input. It can signify keeping money to yourself fearfully instead of using it sensibly. Alternatively, it can indicate overspending to the extreme as you've lost contact with the reality of your finances. It can also signal ignoring financial advice or avoiding it when it's needed. Again, the issue is generally a lack of perspective brought about by being too closed off.

Spirituality

Upright

The Hermit is one of the most spiritual cards in the deck. It signifies the inner journey. The search for meaning that no book, sermon or other person's experience can provide. This is personal spiritual work. Meditation, contemplation, solitary spiritual practices. Soul searching on a deep level. The Hermit is the seeker, the wise man/woman who finds the truth by turning inwards and embracing it. Spiritual growth under a Hermit influence may be quiet but it is deep.

Reversed

Reversed, The Hermit in a spiritual context can indicate a spiritual crisis or a time when you feel like you have lost touch with any sort of meaning. Your inner light seems to have dimmed. Things that used to bring you a sense of peace no longer do. It can also signify that you are avoiding spiritual growth because the idea of looking at yourself is too much or that you are pursuing someone else's path rather than your own. The Hermit reversed can also be an indicator of spiritual bypassing, using the excuse of "inner work" to completely avoid the real world.