Positive: Introspection Meditation Finding truth within Understand yourself Being independent Needing time alone A quiet mind
Reversed: Codependent Distracted Unfocused Chaotic mind Needy
Plunged into the void to figure what you are really about. If not in the void, would you hear the voices? This is The Tower. The Tower plunges you into the void. Find The Hermit in the void.
An important aspect to keep in mind about the Hermit Card is his function as trail blazer. The Hermit would only be hindered in his Journey ahead to forge new ground were he be in need of being mindful of those in tow. It is for this reason that The Hermit sets out on his own to blaze the trails that others will follow. He will though, reach the point where the trail is done being blazed. He has done his job. Others begin to arrive at the cul-de-sac he designed at the end of the trail to wait. Perhaps the trail comes out to a river or a meadow or a mountain. Whatever the case may be, others catch up. What then? The Hermit has done his job. He blazed the trail. What was once unique to him is now common and shared with all. What does The Hermit do now that his job is complete? Perhaps he seeks a new trail to blaze. Perhaps he discerns another destination his people needs and sets off on a quest of new knowledge to share as he discovers it. Is this the ego of the Hermit? The need to explore to find new knowledge and blaze new trails? Does he seek glory from his people for the work he has done? Perhaps that is the negative side of the Hermit, the need for glory for what he has accomplished. Perhaps the positive aspect of the Hermit is to provide without need of validation or glory for those he serves.
What is the goal of the Hermit? The Fool is gathering pieces of the puzzle for the Hermit to put together.
The Hermit is distant from others for the sake of perspective. He would not see the needs of others if he were too close to them Appreciate this as part of the Hermit’s nature.
The hermit in Tarot, to spend some “Hermit Time” is an opportunity to store up some much needed energy for what comes next.
You are where you are to gain the lessons that place has to offer. Some lessons are learned in pain. Remember this. Understanding this will help you appreciate all that is given.
Times of pain and struggle are times of storing up energy for when the time is light again. You have much power. This is very so and should be given more thought and attention.
Sometimes, you have forced Hermit time. During this Hermit time, you can do nothing but accept it. You can do nothing to make it anything but what it is, so all you can do is find the inner-resources to make it a good thing. In so doing, you become adept at listening and hearing and develop some much needed strength in the process. These lessons will be integrated and you will feel much better for them.
One aspect of the Hermit is the not needing of validation from others. The Hermit is validated by is own intuition and knowing. Consider each tarot card before the Hermit, Fool to Strength and understand how each of these cards is a quality of the Hermit and from each he can gain inner validation.
The Hermit, in his role as a trail blazer and a way-show-er will go beyond the box that conventional society lives in. He will live outside of the limits society places upon itself. In so doing, the Hermit will be influenced and learn lessons from forces and beings that those who remain in civilized society are not in the knowledge of, or are unaccustomed to. The Hermit does this for the benefit of those he leaves behind in society. The Hermit becomes wise in ways that his society does not understand. Often, what he brings back for the benefit of society is, at first, rejected because his society is not yet ready for these things and ideas are too far removed from the norm. Eventually though, his ideas are accepted, but seldom at first. Jonathon Livingston Seagull is an example of a Hermit this way.
