The Hermit IX in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
The Hermit Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Major
Earth
Virgo
The Hermit, the ninth major arcana, embodies wisdom, patience and the quest for inner truth. He walks alone, not out of rejection of the world, but because he has understood that the purest light can only be found within oneself. This is a card of temporary retreat, of refocusing, often salutary when it appears after a period of tumult, doubt or dispersion. The Hermit invites you to slow down, observe and listen. He urges you to do the right thing, not under external influence, but in accordance with your deepest conscience. In a draw, it can also represent a guide, a spiritual teacher, or simply that part of you that already knows, deep down, what is good for you. This card is both a call to lucidity and an encouragement to move forward without fear in moments of solitude. For the solitude you choose is often the cradle of true enlightenment.
RWS Tarot : Arcana The Hermit readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card The Hermit
In sentimental terms, The Hermit often evokes a period of introspection, withdrawal or emotional solitude, whether chosen or suffered. If you are in a relationship, this card may indicate a time when one or both partners feel the need to isolate themselves in order to find their inner selves. This is not a break-up, but a time to reflect, understand and re-evaluate. This can be salutary if everyone respects each other’s space. For singles, The Hermit heralds a time of fertile solitude: a phase in which we seek to get to know ourselves better before opening ourselves up to love. This is not a sad isolation, but a quest for meaning, which may precede an important encounter, more in tune with your essence. In the event of tension, this card invites patience, calm communication and a search for inner truth rather than impulsive reaction.
Professional / Work reading
with the card The Hermit
At work, The Hermit often indicates a period of retreat, strategic reflection or professional refocusing. You may feel the need to get away from the hustle and bustle, slow down or take a step back from your current goals. This is an ideal card for those in search of meaning in their professional lives, or who are considering a career change more in line with their deepest values. It also favours professions linked to the transmission of knowledge, research, teaching or coaching. If you’re in a job, it can signal a period of solo work, an introspective mission or a voluntary withdrawal from a group. This is not the time to act in haste, but rather to mature your projects. The Hermit urges you to listen to your inner voice before making an important choice. It’s also a wisdom card: the answers you’re looking for are already within you.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card The Hermit
Financially, The Hermit suggests prudence, restraint and sobriety. It does not foretell major losses, but rather a phase of voluntary limitation of spending or austere management. You may have to rethink your relationship with money: fewer impulse purchases, more reflection, simplicity, even a refocusing on the essentials. It may indicate a period of temporary material withdrawal, by choice or necessity. If you are expecting a gain or support, this may take time: The Hermit teaches patience. This card invites you not to seek external abundance at all costs, but to recognise the inner resources that set you free. Sometimes it also advises you to consult an experienced or wise person for an important financial decision. This is the time to be clear-headed, calm and, above all, true to your real priorities. Money should serve your inner peace, not the other way round.
Family reading
with the card The Hermit
Within the family, The Hermit often speaks of withdrawal, distance or silence within the home. This may reflect a personal need to isolate oneself in order to refocus, or the attitude of a loved one who withdraws for emotional or existential reasons. This card may indicate a wise, discreet elder (parent, grandparent) who is a quiet presence, or a time when solitude becomes a necessity to preserve personal balance. The Hermit urges you to seek the light within this silence: family ties are not always noisy, but can be lived in respect for each person’s space. If tensions are present, this card suggests not responding to provocation, but rather waiting, listening and observing. It also invites us to pass on, to teach by example, and to embody wisdom in our daily choices. Here, the family bond is cultivated with delicacy and discretion.
Spiritual reading
with the card The Hermit
Spiritually, The Hermit is one of the most powerful cards in the Tarot. It symbolises the inner quest, the need for sacred solitude and the search for truth beyond the illusions of the world. It calls you to withdraw from noise, distractions and outside influences to listen to the voice of your soul. This card indicates that you are on a path of profound spiritual awakening, sometimes solitary, but profoundly transformative. It is linked to meditation, silent wisdom, mystical traditions and the study of sacred texts. The Hermit is a guide, often an inner one, who illuminates your path with the light of his lantern – that light is your own. He encourages you to slow down, not to look outside yourself for answers, but to plunge into the depths of your consciousness. He reminds you that true spirituality is not a show: it is a slow, humble and luminous journey towards yourself.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
The Hermit and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card The Hermit according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card The Hermit in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
