The Hermit

People who feel as though they are introverts like to identify with the Hermit. But the card isn’t about being antisocial or introverted. It’s about realignment. And you don’t need to go deep into the woods to find it. It might be a solo walk around your urban neighborhood. Ten quiet minutes with your eyes closed. Intentionally sipping an espresso at sunrise without scrolling. Daring to go out for dinner alone in silence, without music or screens.

At its heart, The Hermit is a card of sacred solitude. It invites you to step away from the noise of the world and return to the wisdom within. This card appears when you’re ready to retreat (not to hide) and listen more deeply. It's a pause for perspective, a moment of soul-searching, a lantern held up in the dark to help you find your own way forward.

In my version of The Hermit, I wanted to bring the bearded mystic down from his snowy mountain peak that we see in traditional illustrations. I like the idea of a lone explorer, camping in the wilderness. She’s not escaping the world. Quite the opposite: she’s fully engaged and present,  and willing to be alone without being lonely. I see the Hermit as an archetype of practical wisdom and inner resilience. It’s about choosing quiet.

Her lantern still glows, remaining unchanged across centuries. She’s not gazing into it in deep meditation. Instead, she’s looking out, scanning the distance. Maybe she’s searching. Maybe she’s waiting. Maybe she’s offering her light to someone else. Maybe it’s simply a practical tool that allows you to see where your feet are. Sometimes we carry a light not to find our way, but to make ourselves visible to someone else.

Indeed, I’ve also swapped the Hermit’s mystical staff for a walking stick, helping her to remain steady on uncertain ground. Deeper meaning can be discovered in the mundane; sometimes enlightenment is found in wet socks and cold nights. In being fully present with yourself when things feel uncomfortable. But don’t think you need a yoga retreat or sleeping in a damp tent. Maybe it’s just a rainy Sunday you spend alone in your apartment with your phone turned off, reading a novel and eating boxed mac & cheese! 😂

The Hermit teaches us to hold space for reflection, even when the world is tugging at our sleeve. She encourages you to unplug, to disappear for a while, to walk away from the noise so you can hear your own voice again. This card isn’t asking you to renounce society and become a literal hermit forever. It’s asking if you’ve been too entangled in everyone else’s expectations to even notice your own. If you’re feeling overstimulated, maybe your mountaintop exists in airplane mode.

Solitude here is therapy. This is a Hermit who logs off not because she’s tired, but because she knows her value. The modern Hermit doesn’t need permission to take space. She knows that silence can be a healthy boundary, not a void. Sometimes the hardest part of solitude is realizing how much noise we use to avoid ourselves.

It’s important to understand that The Hermit isn’t a permanent state. It’s a season that makes the next chapter clearer. So when this card shows up in a reading, the message is clear: Go within. Step away. Whether you’re overwhelmed, overstimulated, or just emotionally saturated, this card is an invitation to return to yourself. It’s not about isolating. It’s about reorienting. You don’t need a guru, an influencer, or another opinion. You need your own light.

In love and relationships

The Hermit often signals a time to pause and reflect rather than act. It may show up when you're craving emotional space, or when you're starting to see that being alone is better than being entangled in something confusing or draining. If you're in a relationship, it may be time to step back and reconnect with your own truth before trying to fix or deepen anything with someone else. If you’re single, this card can be a reminder that you don’t always have to be searching for a partner. It’s okay to find contentment in being alone; you’re allowed to just be for a while.

In career and work

You might be craving deeper meaning in your work or questioning whether the path you're on still aligns with who you're becoming. The Hermit could signal a period of soul-searching, reevaluation, or even temporary withdrawal. Maybe it’s time to turn down the noise of “success” and tune into what actually feels fulfilling. If you’ve been overloaded with input, advice, or pressure, this card says to retreat so you can recalibrate.

In mindset and personal growth

This is the card of introspection. Not for show or to post on your socials, but just you and your inner voice. If you've been ignoring your intuition or deferring to external answers, The Hermit calls you back to your own reality. Journaling, meditation, solo walks: I feel like these often seem like clichés, but they’re not. They can be lifelines. And if you’ve been feeling disconnected or burned out, this card reminds you that stillness isn’t laziness or not being “productive”. It is a form of alignment.

In boundaries and emotional resilience

Let’s be real. Sometimes The Hermit shows up when you’ve been doing too much or have just been too accommodating. This card might be your sign to reclaim your time and emotional energy. Turn your phone off for a day. Say no to the group chat. Cancel plans without an elaborate apology. Let yourself disappear for a weekend, just to remember what it’s like to be quiet again.You don’t owe anyone constant access. Giving yourself space is not rejection of others, it’s self-respect.

The Hermit is a reminder that rest isn’t something you have to earn. You don’t have to explain your need for space. You’re allowed to step away and trust the quiet. It’s not emptiness, it’s full of your own wisdom, waiting to be heard. Let the silence stretch out like a tent above you. Let the light you carry be enough. You are not lost when you’re on sacred ground.