The Hermit is the ninth card of the Major Arcana and pictures someone who has stepped back from the crowd to find their own answers. Its core idea is that some things can only be understood in quiet, and that wisdom often comes from patient, private reflection. It is a card about looking inward, and then holding up a light for others.
Tarot is a tool for reflection, not a proven way to predict events. The Hermit is a natural fit for that purpose, since the card itself asks you to sit with a question before reaching for an answer.
The card at a glance
| Upright | Solitude, reflection, inner guidance, wisdom |
| Reversed | Isolation, withdrawal, loneliness, avoiding reflection |
| Element | Earth |
| Astrology | Virgo |
| Numerology | 9, the number of completion, reflection and wisdom |
| Yes or no | Uncertain: take more time |
What the card shows
In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (Pamela Colman Smith, 1909), an older figure stands alone on a snowy mountain peak, wrapped in a long grey cloak with a hood. In his right hand he raises a lantern, and inside it shines a six-pointed star, often called the Seal of Solomon or the star of David. In his left hand he leans on a long staff for support.
The landscape around him is pale and empty, with a grey background and no sign of other people. He has reached a high place, which suggests the height of his understanding, but he does not stop there: the lantern is lit, and its light shows the way for anyone who climbs behind him. The grey of the cloak suggests a blend of the extremes of black and white, a person who is at peace with complexity. His head is bowed, looking at the ground just ahead rather than into the distance.
Upright meaning
Upright, The Hermit encourages a period of solitude or quiet study. It may point to a time when you need to step back from noise, social demands and other people’s opinions, to hear your own thoughts. This is often a positive, deliberate choice, not a punishment.
It is also the card of the teacher or guide: someone who has walked a long way and can offer a light, not a map. It invites you to look for answers within your own experience, to go slowly and to value depth over speed. Its link to Virgo reflects the careful, analytical side of reflection, while the number 9 suggests the wisdom that comes at the end of a cycle.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, The Hermit can describe solitude that has tipped into isolation. You might be withdrawing because of fear or hurt, or keeping busy so that you do not have to sit with your own thoughts. It can also suggest refusing advice, or, in the other direction, never taking time alone at all.
Read gently, the reversal is a prompt to check the balance between time alone and time with others. Being reserved is not a problem in itself; the question is whether withdrawal is helping you or hiding you. If loneliness is weighing on you, reaching out to someone you trust can be a good first step, and a doctor or counsellor can help if low mood lasts.
In love and relationships
Upright, The Hermit in love often suggests taking time to know yourself before committing, or a relationship that values quiet companionship. For a couple, it can mean that each person needs some space to recharge. For single readers, it can be a season of self-understanding and not a sign that love is absent.
Reversed, it may describe emotional distance, difficulty opening up or staying away from dating out of fear. It may also indicate that one person is withdrawing and the other feels shut out. Honest, gentle conversation usually helps more than silence.
In work and money
Upright, it supports research, study, writing, craft and any work that needs deep concentration. It can also indicate mentoring or a move towards a role that matches your values. Taking a step back to think strategically suits the card well.
Reversed, it may suggest isolation at work, reluctance to ask for help or a failure to pause and plan. As always, this is reflection and not financial advice, so consult a qualified professional for money decisions.
As feelings, and as advice
As feelings, The Hermit describes introspection, a need for quiet and a search for meaning. Reversed, it can describe loneliness or a wish to hide.
As advice, it says to slow down, to spend time alone on purpose and to trust what you find there. Afterwards, share what you learned. It follows Strength, which dealt with mastering feeling, and leads into The Wheel of Fortune, where the focus turns outward to cycles of change. Its sign is Virgo, and the number 9 is covered in the life path number 9 guide.
A question to reflect on
What question have you been asking other people that only you can answer? What would a full day of quiet make clearer?
Frequently asked questions
↳ What does The Hermit mean in tarot?
The Hermit represents solitude, reflection and inner guidance. It is linked to Virgo, the element Earth and the number 9. It invites you to look within before acting.
↳ What does the lantern in The Hermit card mean?
The lantern with its six-pointed star is usually read as wisdom and guidance that can be shared with others. It lights only a short distance ahead, which suggests taking one step at a time.
↳ What does The Hermit reversed mean?
It often suggests isolation, loneliness or avoiding self-reflection. It is a prompt to check the balance between time alone and time with others, and does not predict a difficult outcome.
↳ What does The Hermit mean in a yes or no reading?
It usually means not yet, or take more time. Tarot is a reflective tool, so treat it as a suggestion to pause and think, not as a verdict.
↳ Does The Hermit mean I will be alone?
No. The card describes a season of solitude or reflection, often a chosen one. It is not a prediction about your relationships.