The Hermit
The Hermit depicts a withdrawal from society to reassess beliefs after disillusioning experiences and to hold counsel with one's own heart. It highlights the contrast between inherited worldviews and the quieter unfolding wisdom within the soul, guided by a limited inner light that only reveals the next step. The card warns that external voices—society, friends, family, or sellers of advice—cannot provide the authentic answers you need. The guidance is to eliminate further input, question everything against your own heart, mind, and soul, and keep only what rings true. Reversed, it cautions against using socializing or others' opinions to avoid confronting challenging thoughts.
Keywords
Description
The Fool has had some interesting and possibly unpleasant or disappointing experiences. He learns that even if he plays by "the rules," things don't always go as he was taught to expect. Things are not as black and white as he was led to believe. This causes him to question everything. To do that, he withdraws from society and begins to hold counsel with his own heart, weighing actions, consequences, and experiences. He measures the old worldview, the one he was handed down, against the wisdom that is unfurling in his soul. Without the old map of "how things work," he is left to his own devices. His limited knowledge lights his way, but dimly, only showing the next step.
Divinatory meaning
Society, friends, family, and anyone trying to sell you anything can claim to know just what is needed in this situation. Unfortunately, none of them has the right answer. It's hard to step out of the realm of normal or acceptable behavior, but nothing less than authentic action will do ... and no one can tell anyone else what that is.
Advice
Withdraw from all kinds (or not so kind) offers of advice and guidance. It is best for you to eliminate all further input; you have all you need. Question everything with only your own heart, mind, and soul as the measure. Keep what rings true; disregard all that doesn't.
Reversed
If reversed, ask yourself: Am I distracting myself from challenging thoughts through socializing? Do I depend too much on the opinions of others?
Visual Description
A lone, hooded figure stands in a thicket of bare trees, wearing layered cloaks and holding a small lantern in one hand and a staff in the other. Pale light radiates from behind and around them, and curling wisps of mist or smoke drift through the scene. Autumn leaves fall and scatter at the figure’s feet, and a banner at the bottom reads 'The Hermit' while a circular emblem at the top shows the Roman numeral IX. The palette is muted with greens, browns and soft golds, and the composition centers tightly on the solitary traveler.
Mystical Manga tarot
💜 Please support creators. Buy official decks.
ℹ️ Disclaimer
All card images and descriptions are taken from public sources. They are used for review purposes only. All rights to these images and descriptions belong to their creators. If you believe there is a copyright infringement, please contact us at [email protected].