The Hermit

In the second line of the Major Arcana, The Hermit appears after Strength, calling upon the querent to summon the courage to face the deepest questions of existence: Who am I? Why am I here? Where have I been, and Where am I going? (Quinn, 2009, p. 79). This second line marks a shift away from the forces of the outer world toward the inner path—from consolidating an identity shaped by external forces to seeking a deeper knowledge of the self. The Hermit is represented by the number 9 which symbolizes the end of cycles and completion. Having established a sense of who we are in the first line of the Major Arcana, we are now invited to explore a new cycle of self-discovery.

Nichols (2019) describes the present day as “the cultural midnight of our times” (p. 167). The Hermit has the potential to “shed his ancient light upon our contemporary problems” (p. 167).

When attempting to define our contemporary problems, I can only offer a subjective view that is shaped by the realities of my limited observations.

In many ways, hermits are everywhere. People appear increasingly isolated. At first glance, such isolation might resemble the Hermit’s withdrawal, yet what I witness is not solitude in pursuit of inner truth but a withdrawal from humanity itself. I see individuals sitting together while gazing into their phones, choosing digital noise over genuine presence. Our spirits seem to be engulfed by the constant stream of information pouring from our devices. We are bombarded with opinions, images of suffering, environmental crises, and endless attempts to sell us products or ideas promising to soothe our discomfort.

Paradoxically, this abundance of information, which might have united us, seems instead to numb our capacity for connection both to others and to ourselves. Overwhelmed by the indigestible flood of content, we lose our ability to metabolize experience. In this confusion, we abandon ourselves. We look outward toward someone who we fantasize can perfectly understand or perhaps save us. This is an impossible expectation. Yet, our compulsion to seek this perfect wisdom about ourselves from sources outside of ourselves, keeps us estranged from our own inner knowing. This longing is continually fed by those who present themselves as gurus, heroes, or saviors, inviting us to project our desire for wisdom and certainty onto them rather than cultivating it within.

But The Hermit is not afraid of silence. He does not accept the first answer that rises from the darkness. Instead, he lifts his lantern illuminated by a six-pointed star to light the way toward the undiscovered self. The six pointed start suggests that “the Hermit goes in two directions; one inner, one outer” (Pollack, 2019, p. 77)

“The art of individuation, of becoming one’s unique self, is an intensely personal experience, and at times, a lonely one” (Nichols, 2019, p. 170). To discover who we truly are, Nichols reminds us, “we must ultimately withdraw those parts of ourselves which we have unwittingly projected onto others, learning to find deep within our own psyches the potentials and shortcomings which we had formerly seen only in others” (p. 170).

This is the invitation of The Hermit: to turn inward so that we may return outward with greater clarity and compassion. How do we come to know ourselves more deeply (inner) so that we might connect to others more authentically (outer)? The teacher who guides the inner process of self-awareness becomes the teacher who guides others, for illumination is not a private possession but a universal human potential (Nichols, 2019).

References

Nichols, S. (2019). Jung and tarot: An archetypal journey (30th anniversary ed.). Weiser Books.

Pollack, R. (2019). Seventy-eight degrees of wisdom: A tarot journey to self-awareness. Weiser Books.

Quinn, P. (2009). Tarot for life: Reading the cards for everyday guidance and growth. Quest Books.