The Hermit
The Hermit is the tenth Major Arcana card, numbered IX. Present since old Italian decks, he is shown as an elderly man leaning on a staff — in older versions, associated with Time itself.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-18
Historical fact
The Hermit has been present since old Italian decks, shown as an elderly man leaning on a staff. In older versions, this card was sometimes called 'Time' (Il Tempo, or Le Temps in French decks), holding an hourglass instead of the lantern that the 1909 Rider-Waite version established as the card's main symbol.
Interpretation — Rider-Waite-Smith / Golden Dawn
In the 1909 version, an elderly, hooded man stands alone atop a mountain, holding a staff and a lantern containing a six-pointed star. He represents introspection, a solitary search for truth, inner guidance, and wisdom gained through withdrawal rather than outward activity.
Interpretation — Thoth (Aleister Crowley)
In the Thoth deck, the card is tied to Virgo and the Hebrew letter Yod. He represents the seed-bearer, the solitary light amid darkness, and an esoteric knowledge transmitted discreetly, almost invisible to the ordinary eye.
This section presents one tradition's interpretation, not a verifiable fact.
Frequently asked questions
- Was the Hermit ever depicted as a figure of Time?
- Yes. In older versions of Tarot decks, this card was sometimes called 'Time', shown with an hourglass. The lantern with a six-pointed star, today the symbol most associated with the card, was established by the 1909 Rider-Waite version.
- What does the Hermit represent in a Tarot reading?
- It typically indicates a period of introspection, a temporary withdrawal from social life, or a search for internal answers before acting — a moment of reflective pause, not stagnation.
Sources
- Michael Dummett. The Game of Tarot: From Ferrara to Salt Lake City (1980).
- Arthur Edward Waite. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910).
- Aleister Crowley. The Book of Thoth (1944).
- Stuart R. Kaplan. The Encyclopedia of Tarot (1978).