Combined Studios

IX – The Hermit

Upright: Introspection, Inner Guidance, Solitude, Soul-Searching, Contemplation, Truth Seeking
Reversed: Withdrawal, Isolation, Loneliness, Losing Your Way

The ninth card in the Major Arcana depicts an old man standing solitary at the top of a mountain, lantern in one hand and a staff in the other. His position upon the mountain symbolises the skills applied, endurance employed and success acomplished in the challenge of scaling it on his own. It is a goal that requires a deep commitment, and a secure understanding of the path he’s taking. This journey conveys upon him a level of spiritual knowledge, a wisdom he is now equipped to share with others. The staff in his hand refers to his authority and power, being a mature aged man who’s been on the move for a long time. The lantern that lights his way is illuminated by the 6 pointed star known as the Seal of Solomon, a powerful symbol of wisdom. In essence, The Hermit is a figure who is willing to face journeys that take him through dark places, prepared with the tools and fortitude to gain a deeper understanding.