LexTalk

Have you ever wanted to disappear for just a little while?

Not forever.

Not because you don’t love your family or friends.

Not because anything terrible happened.

But because sometimes…

EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IS JUST SO LOUD.

Between work, family, responsibilities, conversations, notifications, social media, errands, and the approximately 700 things running through our brains at any given moment, finding a little peace and quiet can sometimes feel like a luxury.

Sometimes I just want to make my coffee, light a candle, pull a tarot card, and exist for a minute without feeling like I should be accomplishing something.

And apparently?

Tarot has a card for that.

THE HERMIT.

Welcome back to LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time, where I’m slowly making my way through all 78 tarot cards without trying to memorize the entire deck at once.

Today we’re learning The Hermit — Major Arcana IX.

And while the name makes it sound like tarot is suggesting we abandon society, move into a cabin in the woods, and communicate exclusively with woodland creatures…

Honestly, some days that doesn’t sound terrible.

But that’s not really what The Hermit is about.

The Hermit is a card of introspection, solitude, wisdom, reflection, and self-discovery.

It’s about turning down the noise around us long enough to hear ourselves again.

And the more I studied this card, the more I realized there is a HUGE difference between being alone…

and being lonely.

Meet The Hermit

Card: The Hermit

Number: IX — 9

Arcana: Major Arcana

Traditional Astrological Association: Virgo

Core Themes: Introspection, solitude, wisdom, reflection, guidance, self-discovery, inner truth

The traditional Rider-Waite-Smith Hermit card is actually pretty simple compared with some of the cards we’ve studied.

We see an older figure standing alone on a snowy mountain.

He’s wrapped in a gray cloak.

He carries a staff in one hand.

And in the other?

A glowing lantern.

That’s pretty much the scene.

But like I’ve been discovering throughout this series, tarot LOVES hiding meaning inside little details.

And The Hermit is no exception.

For me, the easiest beginner meaning is:

The Hermit = Finding clarity through quiet reflection.

That’s it.

If that’s the only thing you remember today, we’re doing great.

No tarot exam required.

Let’s Study The Hermit Symbolism

One of my favorite things about learning tarot this way is realizing I don’t necessarily have to memorize giant definitions.

If I understand what I’m looking at, the artwork helps me remember the meaning.

So let’s look at our mysterious little mountain man.

The Lantern

Obviously, the lantern is one of the first things I notice.

The Hermit is standing in a cold, isolated environment holding his own source of light.

Traditionally, the lantern is associated with wisdom, illumination, truth, and guidance.

But there’s something else I really love about it.

The lantern isn’t lighting up the entire world.

It only illuminates what’s nearby.

And honestly?

That might be one of my favorite lessons from this card.

You don’t always need to see the entire path.

Sometimes you just need enough clarity to take the next step.

I think we put SO much pressure on ourselves to know exactly where we’re going.

What are we doing next year?

What’s the five-year plan?

Is this the right career?

Is this the right decision?

Where is everything going?

WHAT IS THE PLAN?!

Meanwhile, The Hermit is standing there with his little lantern like:

Maybe let’s figure out the next five feet first.

Fair.

The Star Inside the Lantern

Look closely at the lantern and you’ll notice a six-pointed star.

It’s commonly associated with the Seal of Solomon and can represent wisdom and illumination.

So the lantern isn’t simply helping The Hermit physically see.

It represents a deeper kind of understanding.

Knowledge.

Experience.

Inner guidance.

The type of wisdom that doesn’t necessarily come from someone telling you what to do.

Sometimes it comes from sitting quietly long enough to recognize what you already know.

Star = Inner wisdom and illumination.

Another easy memory clue!

The Older Figure

The Hermit is traditionally depicted as an elderly, bearded figure.

His age can symbolize experience, maturity, and wisdom developed over time.

And I think that’s important.

Wisdom isn’t the same as knowing everything.

Sometimes wisdom comes from making mistakes.

Learning.

Trying again.

Changing our minds.

Experiencing things we never expected.

Realizing something didn’t work.

Starting over.

And occasionally looking back at something we did five years ago and thinking:

Why did nobody stop me?!

That’s experience.

We don’t become wiser because we magically know everything.

We become wiser because we’ve lived.

The Gray Cloak

The Hermit wears a simple gray cloak.

Gray can represent neutrality, simplicity, and stepping away from unnecessary distractions.

And let’s be honest…

This man is NOT dressing for Instagram.

He’s not trying to impress anybody.

He’s not worried about whether someone approves of what he’s doing.

He’s focused on his own journey.

I think that’s such an interesting part of this card.

How many decisions would we make differently if nobody else was watching?

The Mountain

The Hermit stands high on a snowy mountain.

Mountains often symbolize challenge, achievement, perspective, and spiritual growth.

Think about actually climbing a mountain.

The higher you go, the more your perspective changes.

Things that looked enormous from the ground suddenly appear smaller.

You can see farther.

The Hermit’s position suggests that experience and reflection have given him perspective.

Mountain = Perspective gained through experience.

The Staff

In his other hand, The Hermit holds a staff.

The staff can represent support, stability, authority, and guidance.

He’s still on a journey.

He’s still moving.

He just isn’t rushing.

And I think that’s important too.

Reflection doesn’t mean we’re stuck.

Sometimes slowing down is part of moving forward.

The Hermit Upright Meaning

When The Hermit appears upright, common themes include:

Introspection • Solitude • Inner wisdom • Reflection • Self-discovery • Guidance • Clarity

The Hermit can invite us to temporarily step away from outside noise and check in with ourselves.

And I don’t mean we need to disappear for three months and become mysterious.

It could be something as simple as:

Taking a walk alone.

Journaling.

Meditating.

Drinking your coffee without scrolling your phone.

Driving without constantly filling the silence.

Sitting outside.

Taking a shower and letting yourself THINK.

Or even just spending fifteen minutes without someone else’s opinion entering the conversation.

Because sometimes we ask everyone what they think before we’ve even asked ourselves.

Friend.

Husband.

Coworker.

Google.

Reddit.

TikTok.

Tarot deck.

Random person in the comment section.

And eventually we have so many opinions that we can’t even hear our own anymore.

The Hermit asks:

What do YOU think?

The Hermit Reversed Meaning

As always…

Reversed does NOT automatically mean bad.

The Hermit reversed can be associated with:

Isolation • Loneliness • Excessive withdrawal • Avoidance • Disconnection • Resistance to reflection

And this is where I think the card becomes really interesting.

Because there’s a difference between:

“I need some time alone.”

and

“I’m shutting everyone out.”

Healthy solitude can help us recharge.

Isolation can make us feel even more disconnected.

Sometimes we withdraw because we’re tired.

Sometimes because we’re overwhelmed.

Sometimes because we need peace.

But sometimes we withdraw because we don’t want to deal with something.

The reversed Hermit can encourage us to ask:

Am I taking healthy space—or am I hiding?

And that’s not always an easy question to answer.

The Hermit in Love & Relationships

Okay.

You ask about your relationship.

You pull The Hermit.

Does this mean you’re going to end up alone forever living in a cave?

NO.

In relationship readings, The Hermit can emphasize independence, personal reflection, space, and understanding your own needs.

And honestly?

I think this is something that gets overlooked in relationships.

You can love someone deeply…

and still need space to be yourself.

You don’t have to do EVERYTHING together.

Healthy relationships can include two people who have their own interests, thoughts, hobbies, friendships, and alone time.

Upright in Love

The Hermit can represent:

Healthy independence • Personal reflection • Understanding your emotional needs • Taking time to think • Individual growth within a relationship

It can encourage us to ask whether we’re maintaining our own identity while loving someone else.

Reversed in Love

Reversed, we might look at:

Emotional withdrawal • Loneliness • Feeling disconnected • Avoiding communication • Excessive isolation

Sometimes you can be sitting right next to someone and still feel completely alone.

That’s an important distinction.

Tarot isn’t predicting what’s happening in a relationship.

It’s giving us something to examine.

Love Reflection

Do I feel comfortable being fully myself in my relationships?

The Hermit in Career

I actually LOVE The Hermit as a career reflection card.

Because sometimes we’re so busy WORKING that we forget to ask whether we’re actually going where we want to go.

We work.

We pay bills.

We complete tasks.

We chase goals.

We move onto the next thing.

And suddenly years have passed.

The Hermit can encourage us to stop and ask:

Is this still what I want?

Upright, career themes may include:

Professional reflection • Independent work • Research • Mentorship • Skill development • Evaluating future goals

The Hermit can also connect with studying, researching, becoming knowledgeable in a particular subject, or learning from someone with more experience.

Reversed in Career

Reversed themes might include:

Feeling disconnected at work • Professional isolation • Avoiding career decisions • Feeling stuck • Needing guidance

Again, this isn’t tarot saying:

QUIT YOUR JOB TOMORROW!

Please don’t do that because a piece of cardboard told you to.

Instead, use the card as a reflection tool.

Career Question

Am I pursuing goals I genuinely want—or goals I think I’m supposed to want?

The Hermit & Money

Financially, The Hermit has a very practical feeling to me.

Slow down.

Research.

Think.

Don’t make decisions because everyone else is doing something.

Don’t buy something simply because social media convinced you that your life is incomplete without it.

Which…

honestly…

is rude of this card.

The Hermit can encourage thoughtful financial planning, research, and making decisions based on your own priorities.

It doesn’t predict financial gain or loss.

Instead, it asks us to become more intentional.

Money Reflection

Do my financial choices actually support the life I’m trying to build?

Being Alone Isn’t the Same as Being Lonely

THIS is the part of The Hermit that really stands out to me.

I think we sometimes treat being alone like it’s automatically something negative.

If someone eats alone…

travels alone…

walks alone…

goes somewhere alone…

spends an evening alone…

people sometimes assume they’re lonely.

But those aren’t necessarily the same thing.

There are moments when being alone can feel incredibly peaceful.

You get to hear your own thoughts.

Move at your own pace.

Choose what YOU want to do.

There’s nobody else to entertain.

Nobody else’s schedule to consider.

Nobody asking:

“What do you want to eat?”

followed by rejecting every suggestion you make.

Sometimes solitude is restorative.

And I think The Hermit gives us permission to appreciate that.

But We Still Need Connection

At the same time, The Hermit isn’t telling us to shut everyone out forever.

We’re human.

Connection matters.

Relationships matter.

Community matters.

Support matters.

There’s a balance here.

And maybe that’s the real lesson.

Solitude should help us reconnect with ourselves—not disconnect us from everyone else.

That’s how I’m going to remember the difference between The Hermit upright and reversed.

Upright: I’m taking space because it helps me reconnect.

Reversed: Am I taking so much space that I’ve become disconnected?

Simple.

Today’s LexTalk Tarot Journal Prompt

Grab your tarot journal because today’s card is MADE for journaling.

When was the last time I truly listened to myself without outside distractions?

And then let’s dig a little deeper:

What helps me feel peaceful?

Where do I go when I need to think?

Do I make enough time for myself?

Whose opinion influences me the most?

Is there something I already know but keep asking other people to confirm?

And finally:

If nobody else’s opinion mattered, what would I choose?

Ooooooh.

That’s a good one.

The Tarot Deck I’m Learning With

One of the biggest things I’m discovering throughout this LexTalk Tarot experiment is how much easier tarot becomes when I stop trying to memorize definitions and actually LOOK at the cards.

The Hermit is a perfect example.

Instead of memorizing a giant paragraph, I can remember:

Lantern = wisdom and guidance

Star = illumination

Mountain = perspective

Staff = support

Gray cloak = simplicity

Suddenly The Hermit becomes a story instead of something I have to memorize for a test.

I’m using a physical Rider-Waite-Smith style tarot deck throughout this series so I can study the traditional imagery while learning each card.

If you’d like to follow along with the same style of deck, you can [check out the tarot deck I’m using here — paid link].

You absolutely don’t need my exact deck to follow this series—I’m simply sharing the one I’m personally using while learning.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Learning Tarot With a Journal

If there were ever a card that practically screamed:

GO WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL

it’s probably The Hermit.

Writing things down has been helpful because I’m not only recording traditional meanings.

I’m writing the little memory tricks that actually make sense to ME.

For today’s card:

The Hermit = Turn down the noise and find your own light.

If you’d like a dedicated place to keep your tarot meanings, symbolism notes, card reflections, and journal prompts together, you can [check out the tarot journal I’m using/recommending here — paid link].

Any notebook works perfectly, though.

The important part isn’t having a fancy journal.

It’s actually using it.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How I’m Remembering The Hermit

If you’re learning tarot alongside me, PLEASE don’t leave this post thinking you need to memorize everything we just covered.

You don’t.

Here’s today’s cheat sheet:

THE HERMIT

Core Meaning: Introspection and inner wisdom

Upright: Solitude, reflection, self-discovery, guidance, clarity

Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, avoidance

Lantern: Wisdom

Star: Illumination

Mountain: Perspective

Staff: Support

Gray Cloak: Simplicity

And my favorite memory trick:

The Hermit = Finding Your Own Light.

That’s enough.

We can build from there.

One Last LexTalk Thought

I think there’s something really beautiful about The Hermit.

Because we’re living in a world that constantly encourages us to look outward.

What does everyone else think?

What’s trending?

What should we buy?

Where should we go?

What should we look like?

What should our lives look like?

What should we have accomplished by now?

And sometimes…

we need to shut all of that off.

Not forever.

Just long enough to ask:

What do I actually want?

Maybe that’s why The Hermit doesn’t carry a giant spotlight.

He carries a lantern.

His light doesn’t illuminate everything.

It doesn’t show him exactly where he’ll be five years from now.

It doesn’t give him every answer.

It simply gives him enough light to see what’s immediately ahead.

And maybe that’s enough for us too.

We don’t need every answer tonight.

We don’t need the entire plan.

We don’t need everyone else’s approval.

Sometimes we just need a little quiet.

A little reflection.

A little trust in ourselves.

And enough light to take the next step.

So today’s LexTalk assignment is incredibly simple:

Give yourself ten quiet minutes.

No scrolling.

No texting.

No asking anyone what they think.

Maybe grab your coffee.

Go outside.

Light a candle.

Take a walk.

Sit with your cat.

Write in your journal.

Or just sit there and DO NOTHING.

And ask yourself:

What have I been trying to hear underneath all the noise?

You might not get some huge magical answer.

That’s okay.

The Hermit’s lantern doesn’t illuminate the entire mountain either.

It just lights the next little piece of the journey.

And sometimes?

That’s all we really need.

One card. One lesson. One little bit of magic at a time.

— Lex

Tarot interpretations are subjective and are shared here for personal reflection, education, and entertainment. Tarot should not replace professional medical, legal, mental health, or financial advice.