Jimkost Posted December 27, 2019 Posted December 27, 2019 I think one of the most interesting and intriguing cards when it comes to its meaning is the Hermit. I like the fact that its character is based on isolation, loneliness and self inner-searching (I've always been like that, not in a misanthropic way :)) and it also reminded me of the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes who had chosen a similar life path. However I am not sure the meaning this card has to offer someone today, given the fact that we as social species (especially today) need to interact with one another in order to build relationships and discover the world (in general). How am I suppose to interpret the Hermit's meaning when it pops up?
Rodney Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 On 12/27/2019 at 4:18 AM, Jimkost said: How am I suppose to interpret the Hermit's meaning when it pops up? The same way you're supposed to interpret any card when it comes up - based on the context of the question being asked and any positional meaning. Regardless of how social a society we are, people still need to do self-reflection. And everybody needs a little solitude sooner or later. The Hermit could also be a caution or reminder about setting oneself up as an example to be followed. The Hermit's lantern not only lights his way, but does double duty as a beacon that other people can follow. The Hermit could indicate a period of meditation or thought, deliberation, or the wisdom that comes with age (especially contrasted with the folly of youth). There are lots of other potential interpretations for the Hermit, but as I said above, question and position will help to narrow that focus.
Guest Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 (edited) Hello, Jimkost On 12/27/2019 at 2:18 PM, Jimkost said: However I am not sure the meaning this card has to offer someone today, given the fact that we as social species (especially today) need to interact with one another in order to build relationships and discover the world (in general). How am I suppose to interpret the Hermit's meaning when it pops up? One need not attempt to interpret a tarot card for the purpose of offering a piece of advice. Instead, one could attempt to relate a tarot card to a contextually relevant circumstance or event. For example, when reading for an enquirer who is looking for a romantic partner, the noun lonliness may describe his or her feelings. In older pattern sheets, such as the Tarocco Bolognese, the subject of the present trump card is a personification of time in the guise of an old man. Consequently, one could assign to the present trump card adjectives, nouns, and verbs that one may not associate with a representation of a hermit. For example, one could assign to the present trump card such words as include the following: aged (adjective), age (noun and verb), delay (noun and verb), historic (adjective), history (noun), old (adjective), older (adjective), postponement (noun), postpone (verb), precedent (noun), predecessor (noun), precede (verb), timed (adjective), and time (noun and verb). Regards KevinM Edited January 2, 2020 by Guest
katrinka Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, KevinM said: In older pattern sheets, such as the Tarocco Bolognese, the subject of the present trump card is a personification of time in the guise of an old man. Consequently, one could assign to the present trump card adjectives, nouns, and verbs that one may not associate with a representation of a hermit. For example, one could assign to the present trump card such words as include the following: aged (adjective), age (noun and verb), delay (noun and verb), historic (adjective), history (noun), old (adjective), older (adjective), postponement (noun), postpone (verb), precedent (noun), predecessor (noun), precede (verb), timed (adjective), and time (noun and verb). Yes! He's been depicted in various ways https://www.hermitary.com/lore/tarot-art-hermit.html (Note the Il Gobbo reference and consider that a lot of the old decks are Italian ( http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets/index.php/hunchback-charm-italy/index.html ) - he can be auspicious (albeit this idea is horribly insensitive. I include it here only as part of the card's history and possible shades of meaning.) Or not. In some old decks he's actually shown as Saturn eating his children https://www.pinterest.com/pin/454582156123982874/?lp=true and the GD system still associates the card with Saturn. So you have those angles to fall back on in a reading. You just have to find what fits. Edited January 2, 2020 by katrinka
Jimkost Posted January 2, 2020 Author Posted January 2, 2020 "The Hermit could indicate a period of meditation or thought, deliberation, or the wisdom that comes with age (especially contrasted with the folly of youth)." Yes, that's mainly what I had in mind when I was thinking about it.
Guest Posted January 3, 2020 Posted January 3, 2020 (edited) On 1/2/2020 at 12:02 PM, katrinka said: Yes! He's been depicted in various ways https://www.hermitary.com/lore/tarot-art-hermit.html (Note the Il Gobbo reference and consider that a lot of the old decks are Italian ( http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets/index.php/hunchback-charm-italy/index.html ) - he can be auspicious (albeit this idea is horribly insensitive. I include it here only as part of the card's history and possible shades of meaning.) Or not. In some old decks he's actually shown as Saturn eating his children https://www.pinterest.com/pin/454582156123982874/?lp=true and the GD system still associates the card with Saturn. So you have those angles to fall back on in a reading. You just have to find what fits. Hello, Katrinka Thank you for posting the aforesaid links; I very much enjoyed reading the content of the first and of the second link. I think it interesting that association between hunchbacks and good luck stands in contrast to a belief concerning monks and the evil eye. The following is taken from a book that is titled The Evil Eye: an Account of the Ancient and Widespread Superstition: "[p.16] ... Ever since the establishment of the religious orders, monks have had the special reputation of possessing the fatal influence. In 842, Erchempert, a monk of Monte Cassino, the most famous convent in Italy, wrote that Landulf, Bishop of Capua, used to say that whenever he met a monk, something unlucky always happened to him during the day.44 To this day[,] there are many persons who, if they meet a monk or priest, on first going out in the morning, will not proceed upon their errand or business until they have returned to their houses and waited a while, so as to be able to make a fresh start." [Elworthy, Frederick Thomas (1895). The Evil Eye: an Account of the Ancient and Widespread Superstition. London: John Murray.] To my knowledge, the author does not explain the origins of the aforesaid belief. As a result of the aforementioned excerpt, I associate The Hermit with the words envy (noun and verb) and evil eye (noun). The reader who is unfamiliar with the concept of the evil eye may benefit from the following excerpts, which are also taken from the aforesaid book: "[p.6] ... It was firmly believed by all ancients, that some malignant influence darted from the eyes of envious or angry persons, and so infected the air as to penetrate and corrupt the bodies of both living creatures and inanimate objects. ... It has also been fully believed, both in ancient and modern times, that many persons by the glance of their eye [sic.] have caused injurious effects, without their consent and even against their will, so that in some cases mothers15 would not venture to expose their infants to the look of their own fathers. ..." “[p.8] ... Those who were under the influence of anger or of envy were most dangerous in this terrible faculty, while those who were in the [p.9] enjoyment of special happiness or good fortune were the most liable to injury, because exciting the greater invidia of the fascinator. ...” The Latin term invidia could be translated as envy or jealousy: https://latin-dictionary.net/definition/24650/invidia-invidiae The author of The Evil Eye uses the noun fascinator in the earlier sense of one who bewitches. On the verb fascinate, the editor of the Online Etymology Dictionary notes the following: “... 1590s, “bewitch, enchant,” ... Earliest used of witches and of serpents, who were said to be able to cast a spell by a look that rendered one unable to move or resist. Sense of “delight, attract and hold the attention of” is first recorded 1815. ...” [https://www.etymonline.com/word/fascinate?ref=etymonline_crossreference]. Regards KevinM Edited January 3, 2020 by Guest
Guest Posted January 15, 2020 Posted January 15, 2020 On 12/27/2019 at 7:18 AM, Jimkost said: However I am not sure the meaning this card has to offer someone today, given the fact that we as social species (especially today) need to interact with one another in order to build relationships and discover the world (in general). How am I suppose to interpret the Hermit's meaning when it pops up? Hi Jimkost, The "book definition" of the card, the querent's question, the other cards in the reading, and your own intuition/instincts will all help you provide a nuanced interpretation of The Hermit to yourself / to anyone. I understand your idea that interacting with each other carries a lot of benefits, and with that said, it sounds like you've had doubts about the legitimacy of The Hermit card meaning. This is my personal response to your idea: When The Hermit card appears in a reading, it invites us to shift our focus from our external world to that of our inner world. There's also a whole world to discover when we self-reflect. For instance, we can look back on our lives thus far and clarify what we've learned and how we've grown. This card can also be about reflecting on the larger life questions ("What's my place in the world?" / "What else do I want to know about life?") In my experience, the Hermit card appears when the querent is either concerned about these topics or when it's a ripe time to reflect on them. We can also look at the Hermit Card in the context of the Fool's journey-- considering the cards that come before and after it. In the first 8 cards of the Major Arcana, we / the Fools have encountered many experiences, from building systems for our resources (the Emperor Card), to fostering positive social connections (The Lovers card). The Strength Card (which you probably know comes before the Hermit) is about identifying and using our inner resources (such as intent / personal power) to face our fears and overcome obstacles. The Hermit expands upon this idea of focusing on our inner selves, but this time, it's about contemplation regarding our lives. Like Rodney suggested, the Hermit is a teacher / someone to follow-- they carry the lamp and as well as the staff that represents the wisdom they've gained from their life experience.
katrinka Posted January 20, 2020 Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) On 1/3/2020 at 4:12 AM, KevinM said: I think it interesting that association between hunchbacks and good luck stands in contrast to a belief concerning monks and the evil eye. The following is taken from a book that is titled The Evil Eye: an Account of the Ancient and Widespread Superstition: "[p.16] ... Ever since the establishment of the religious orders, monks have had the special reputation of possessing the fatal influence. In 842, Erchempert, a monk of Monte Cassino, the most famous convent in Italy, wrote that Landulf, Bishop of Capua, used to say that whenever he met a monk, something unlucky always happened to him during the day.44 To this day[,] there are many persons who, if they meet a monk or priest, on first going out in the morning, will not proceed upon their errand or business until they have returned to their houses and waited a while, so as to be able to make a fresh start." [Elworthy, Frederick Thomas (1895). The Evil Eye: an Account of the Ancient and Widespread Superstition. London: John Murray.] It's interesting when it gets contradictory like that. I can imagine people covertly making the mano cornuta at passing monks. I'm sure it would be considered rude to do it openly! And it opens up some interesting reading possibilities - is a card on the "eye side" of the Hermit, or the "back side"? 😉 Quote To my knowledge, the author does not explain the origins of the aforesaid belief. As a result of the aforementioned excerpt, I associate The Hermit with the words envy (noun and verb) and evil eye (noun). The reader who is unfamiliar with the concept of the evil eye may benefit from the following excerpts, which are also taken from the aforesaid book: "[p.6] ... It was firmly believed by all ancients, that some malignant influence darted from the eyes of envious or angry persons, and so infected the air as to penetrate and corrupt the bodies of both living creatures and inanimate objects. ... It has also been fully believed, both in ancient and modern times, that many persons by the glance of their eye [sic.] have caused injurious effects, without their consent and even against their will, so that in some cases mothers15 would not venture to expose their infants to the look of their own fathers. ..." “[p.8] ... Those who were under the influence of anger or of envy were most dangerous in this terrible faculty, while those who were in the [p.9] enjoyment of special happiness or good fortune were the most liable to injury, because exciting the greater invidia of the fascinator. ...” The Latin term invidia could be translated as envy or jealousy: https://latin-dictionary.net/definition/24650/invidia-invidiae The author of The Evil Eye uses the noun fascinator in the earlier sense of one who bewitches. On the verb fascinate, the editor of the Online Etymology Dictionary notes the following: “... 1590s, “bewitch, enchant,” ... Earliest used of witches and of serpents, who were said to be able to cast a spell by a look that rendered one unable to move or resist. Sense of “delight, attract and hold the attention of” is first recorded 1815. ...” [https://www.etymonline.com/word/fascinate?ref=etymonline_crossreference]. Nobody knows how evil eye beliefs started, or how they managed to get so universal with only minor variations. It's actually in Rabbinic literature. https://books.google.com/books?id=cwB8Hfkjpx0C&pg=PA176&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false The differences mainly seem to be concerned with who's vulnerable, and how to ward off and/or cure it. Often it's said to come from envy, but some believe that certain people just have it (usually those with extremely pale eye color) and can infect others without being envious at all. Some people protect their animals, there are horse brasses intended as apotropaic charms. Others just concern themselves with humans. Where I live, it's the Tejano variant that states babies are vulnerable. Someone admires a baby wishing they had one, and then the child gets sick with a fever. At least that's what people say. But I have had people ask to touch my hair or a piece of my jewelry "so they wouldn't give me the eye." So apparently adults can get it, too. Touching is supposed to ground it off, somehow. This can get a little problematic, as I wear a jade Pi Yao pendant, and you're not supposed to let people touch those! So I usually wear it inside my shirt or dress. Fascinating stuff. Edited January 20, 2020 by katrinka
Marigold Posted January 20, 2020 Posted January 20, 2020 http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180216-the-strange-power-of-the-evil-eye
SacredPath Posted January 27, 2020 Posted January 27, 2020 I read this card from the Hermit's perspective... and that is that it was only through the diminished influence and noise of people & society that he was able to attain wisdom and a connection to the divine or enlightenment. This is very reminiscent of Kabbalists who spent months in caves. The Hermit is a human archetype so I feel he is no less relevant in modern society as ancient. Yes, we are a very social species, but I see this as a period of time or a life lesson, not necessarily as a "personality." I love the Hermit.
Jungian Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 You can take the standard definition and you either clarify the card or acknowledge the surrounding cards. Imagine, for example, the Hermit followed by the Tower. I could interpret this as isolation and introspection that leads to depression. The Hermit could also mean advice from someone who knows more than you. I once had the Hermit followed by the Justice card. This means you will receive an advice you may not like. A person will be very cold and straightforward when he/she will speak to you. You may not like the advice but it would be fair and practical. In another reading the Hermit was about jobsearch. A very stressful process, which ended up well... In general terms, it is not the card I would like to see in a spread, especially if it is followed by negative cards.
CarrieB Posted April 16, 2020 Posted April 16, 2020 The Hermit - Waiting. Patience. Aging. Ponder your tactics.Menopause card. REVERSED Betrayal in all its forms and aspects. Double game. Betting on your honor and dignity. For love manners - it is done, sooner or later. But, of course, it all depends on question, positions and the other cards, etc. Sometimes it could mean that you wait till the last minute to make an act ( 3rd position in a 3 card spread)
Merrick Posted April 16, 2020 Posted April 16, 2020 Given how we are hyper connected these days, I see The Hermit as more necessary than ever. We need to learn how to hear our inner voices, and the voices around us that are generally drowned out by the constant white noise of bustling humanity. The Hermit is an excellent reminder that we must tend to what is within.
Guest Posted May 24, 2020 Posted May 24, 2020 (edited) To me Hermit doesn’t necessarily mean a Virgo. Hermit can mean looking within - internal meditation; but most of all and this is from past readings, hiding away. Specially after an event/good and or bad. It has come up for embarrassment - in an - see! manner. If you assign this card to someone then it is someone — like a recluse, quiet, keeps to themselves, private, Mercury ruled (likes to read - not talk much, observant) And lastly while some may assign this card to someone that follows a religions doctrine — that can be incorrect; for me personally it has never come up to mean this but rather someone that looks within from time to time - contemplating on past experience. (I usually most of the time prefer not to assign signs to the cards - sometimes) Edited May 24, 2020 by Guest
SparklePuffy Posted May 26, 2020 Posted May 26, 2020 To me, Hermit is a seeker who takes the difficult path, to find wisdom instead of pleasure, power, wealth, fame.
Guest Posted February 13, 2021 Posted February 13, 2021 The Hermit for me does not mean isolation. He is the eternal seeker and I often see him pop up when someone is actively looking for answers, looking for a partner, looking for a job, or some lost aspect of themselves. He is first and foremost a character in the dark with a lantern. He's looking for something. When I see him I often draw a clarifier to discover what the object of the search is which brings a whole new light to the spread in question.
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