The Hermit

The Hermit tarot card description

An old hermit in a grey hooded cloak stands alone on a snowy mountain peak at night. He holds up a lantern that shines with a six-pointed star, and leans on a tall staff.

The peak is a place he has climbed to by his own effort; the snow is stillness; the lantern is the light of wisdom, shining only far enough for the next step; the staff is support on the path.

The Hermit upright

The Hermit asks for a time of retreat: to step back, reflect, study or meditate, and to find answers within rather than in the noise around you.

He can also point to a wise teacher or mentor who helps you find your own way.

• Love and relationships

  Time alone to understand what you want; a slower, reflective phase in a relationship.

• Finances

  Careful, private planning; think carefully before spending or investing.

• Career

  Study, research and specialist work; a mentor. Think before the next move.

• Health and wellbeing

  Rest, quiet and time for yourself restore you.

The Hermit reversed

Reversed, a healthy retreat may have become isolation or loneliness.

It can also mean refusing guidance that you need, or a fear of being alone with your thoughts.

• Love and relationships

  Loneliness, or withdrawing from a partner. Reach out.

• Finances

  Avoiding money matters; face them with good advice.

• Career

  Feeling isolated at work, or ignoring useful advice.

• Health and wellbeing

  Too much isolation affects your mood; connect with others.

Health readings describe wellbeing within the tradition. They are not medical advice; for any health concern, see a doctor.

The Hermit: one-card pull, yes or no

Drawn as a single card for a yes-or-no question, The Hermit is usually read like this:

The Hermit for timing

Linked with Virgo, whose Western season runs from about 23 August to 22 September. In timing it suggests a wait: things take longer than hoped.

These correspondences come from the Western tarot tradition, which uses the tropical zodiac. They are not part of Vedic astrology, whose signs are counted differently.