Element: Earth
Astrological Sign: Virgo
Planet: Mercury
Number: 9
Crystals: Bloodstone, Clear Quartz, Labradorite
As I write this, we are a little over a week into 2025, and thousands of people in Los Angeles have been displaced by the worst fire in its history. We are soon too see the presidential inauguration in the USA of a true fascist puppeteer at the strings of the Orange Clown.
That being said: WE NEED TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT PALESTINE. In Europe, we have seen the rise in power of various right wing extremist groups. Vlaams Belang and NVA in Belgium have taken firm control with the first Vlaams Belang mayor elected in the country.
Germany’s far right AfD party continues to make huge gains – and the support of the aforementioned fascist puppeteer with his hands in the US’s proverbial cookie jar. It’s obvious, this is going to be another hard year and the beginning of a very dark time. It doesn’t take astrology, tarot cards or a damn spirit board to predict this.
This all feels so heavy, and it is. I’ve been spending a lot of dark nights of the soul ruminating over things, but also trying to find the crack in everything – because, as Leonard Cohen says: “That’s how the light get in.” We simply must find our strategies to persevere through what is happening and what shall come.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t pretend to. As Tarot is one of the methods I use to assess myself and my place in the world, I’m here to share with you Tarot’s take on things. The card of 2024 was ‘Strength’ - Those of us who follow the Tarot card of each year knew it would come with challenges because it was a “Strength” year. 2024 was a year of finding courage and compassion, while at the same time navigating uncertainty and raw emotion. Many of us exited 2024 running on empty. For better or worse, we faced harnessing our inner strength, which the Hermit is here to help us with. Here’s to persevering and thriving throughout this sure to be challenging year. Don’t forget to look for where the light gets in.
Tarot + Numerology
this is based on the SRW tarot deck*
The Tarot card of 2025 is the Hermit card. The Hermit is the 9th card of the Major Arcana. To connect the numerology of this card, we take the year ‘2025’, then add the numbers together (2 + 0 + 2 +5), which breaks down to number 9. In numerology, number 9 exemplifies achievement, spiritual awareness, and altruism. The Hermit values introspection and tranquility. The Hermit invites withdrawing rather than pushing, encouraging us to take a time out for contemplation and becoming more aware of both internal and external influences. This is not giving up, in order to fight – especially after 2024’s year of Strength – we have all earned this. The ever-wise Audre Lorde said it best:
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
This time of withdrawal is not giving in. Instead, it is a time of honing in on the big stuff. This is integral for our survival.
Make no mistake: this does not mean dropping out and becoming apathetic to what is going on around us. Rather, this is the year we must investigate how to keep the balance of caring for ourselves and our community while at the same time facing the challenges we will be confronted with. This is about stepping up our boundaries, and focusing on quality over quantity in whichever way that shows up in our personal lives.
When we merge the numeralogical associations of 9 with the essence of the Hermit (eau d’ermite, if you will), we find 2025 to be a powerful year for collective evolution, personal growth and resiliency.
Element + Astrology
The zodiac sign for the Hermit is Virgo, which is ruled by Mercury – planet of communication. This is a bit strange at first glance, as the Hermit is a decidedly isolated character. Virgo translates to “Virgin,” which isn’t meant to be literally translated as a sexually celibate virgin. The Hermit is a figure who has chosen to separate themselves from society in order to be surrounded by a virgin environment to seek enlightenment. Both Virgo and the Hermit personify a certain sense of purity. As the Hermit has stepped back from the world to rise above distractions, Virgo steps back from distractions to reach their goals in a somewhat obsessive manner. Virgo is known for perfectionist tendencies that can also be a weakness at times. The Hermit also signals excessive self-criticism as well as spending too much time alone to the point of isolation. Both Virgo and the Hermit are earth signs – which pulls them back down to the earthly plane when they are too stuck in their heads.
Virgos can at time seem overly aloof, while the Hermit is very literally perched on a mountaintop. However, Virgo’s positive attributes are care, compassion, self-discipline and intellect. These skills are also shared by the Hermit: both are caretakers of humanity despite their at times secretive and mysterious predilections.
The Hermit
The Hermit shows an elder standing alone on top of a mountain holding a lantern in one hand and a staff in the other. The snow-capped peak they stand on denotes growth, development, mastery and accomplishment. All this experience has led to knowledge and a heightened state of awareness, that allows the Hermit to see the bigger picture from their vantage point atop the mountain. They have chosen a path of solitude and self-discovery, which has allowed them to reach the high level of spiritual enlightenment they have attained. The Hermit has been there, done that. They have chased meaningless pursuits, but have learned what matters. Their experience with life mirrors the journey of life’s ups and downs. They have grown weary of their engagement with trivial pursuits that have left them unfulfilled. They now have made a deep commitment to striving toward a personal goal, and have a solid awareness of the path they are on.
The Hermit holds a lantern in their right hand. The lamp lights their way as they journey along their path. However, the lantern only lights the next few steps ahead, and nothing can be seen beyond that point. But the lantern lets the Hermit journey through this cold, dark mountainous landscape alone. The remainder of the journey remains unknown. In Tarot, night signifies what is unknown. The wandering Hermit must persist and keep walking forward so they know where to step next. The Hermit knows that in order to go forth, not everything will be shown all at once. The Hermit tells us that soul-searching is needed, and the lantern acts as a sort of inner compass that will light our way as we go along our journey. At times, the Hermit’s lantern can sometimes appear as an actual person with important knowledge to share. Inside the lamp there is a 6 pointed star known as the Seal of Solomon, which represents wisdom and the arrangement of the cosmos and humanity’s place within it all. This signifies seeking our own place in the world and the space we take up within our own lives. The staff the Hermit holds in their other hand stands for authority and power that they use to balance and guide them. As we go along our path, it is essential that we find our most important coping tool that we will take on our journey.
In the Tarot water symbolizes emotions, while air the intellect. The ice and snow on the mountaintop represent emotions made manifest, by the cold, clear air of logic. The Hermit signals transition and shows up for us when we are in need of serious alone time. Most importantly, this card tells us to step back from the outer, fast-paced world so we can work on ourselves. There are two directions the Hermit must face: one inner, the other is outer. In order to get a grip, we need to find ways of leaving the outer world so we can work on ourselves.
There are so many strong emotions swirling all around that are straight up overwhelming. It’s key that we try to get a grip on our emotions and the things we let in (or rather, kick the door in and then fuck up our homes). Overwhelm displaces, demoralizes and disempowers us during times like these. In order for us to mobilize and be in community, we must understand ourselves better. There’s a lot of tough shit coming and we need to practice mastering our emotions and not letting them victimize us. We have to create our baseline of sustainable emotions that allow us to go forth and find our place.
In order to let our psyches in, we are required to make some compromises on our social lives. This could be emotionally taking a step back from people or things that may be making our lives feel slightly top heavy. This requires us to be purposeful with our intentions and consciously withdraw a bit to tackle what needs to be addressed to develop our internal landscapes. Techniques such as therapy, meditation or spiritual pursuits are just a few methods that could prove beneficial. The Hermit card also rules over things associated with going back to school, studying a new language or learning a new skill which all require some stepping back from the world for a while. The Hermit aids in getting rid of distractions.
The Hermit also rules over all types of what could be considered “retreats”: health, meditation, silent retreats and artistic retreats. If you’ve been thinking of shelling out for a retreat of some kind and you’ve got the coin (because a lot of places that offer this expect us to have Gwennie Gooptrow funds), all signs point to do it this year. If that is a laughable prospect for your personal situation (which it is for most people), think of creative ways you could try to create an intentional retreat maybe with some friends – which is another way that even if we’re in a Hermit year, is a great way of building and protecting ourselves in community with one another.
The way the year of the Hermit will play out for us depends a lot on personal perspective. This year we are especially asked to examine our relationship with solitude, being alone, and loneliness. For some, the year of the Hermit is a welcome embrace to step back and work on ourselves. Of course, this greatly depends on what access we have to being able to do this. Depending on what your life involves, this is going to require a strategy as to carve away some chunks of alone time whenever we can. It will be easier for some than others because crapitalism.
For others, the year of the Hermit and grappling with loneliness sounds downright horrifying. For some extroverts/omniverts out there, the prospective of being alone is something that might make you break out in a cold sweat. Some will downright hate this. For a lot of us, this evokes painful memories of Pandemdem Days when you might have been super isolated and/or someone for whom social, day-to-day interactions are essential this could trigger our panic responses. As we learned the hard way, being alone can be scary and depressing. But, by now we’ve all learned that being alone is a core part of the human experience – whether we like it or not.
Right now requires us to be alone with ourselves so we are able to learn more about ourselves – about our personalities as well as what personality is in general. It’s so many things that only some deep alone time can help us suss out. Being alone lets us see ourselves as we authentically are: all the strengths, weaknesses, foibles, contradictions and messiness that comes with being a human in the world. Being able to be alone and enjoy our own company is one of the first and most helpful things we learn about ourselves. However, learning this skill requires practice. The Hermit card reveals the potential for all the most intimate and deeply important things we can gain from being alone.
The Hermit can also manifest in our lives in the form of a teacher, guide, elder showing up to offer assistance in helping us find our way. Often this is quite literal, but not necessarily all the time. We may also find the guide within – be it our inner guide, a spiritual guide, or mystical path. You might even find yourself AS the guide or teacher who by assisting others learns about how to show up for yourself in the process.
The skill of mastering our ability to be alone is a key to maturity and understanding what matters most in life. To take on the practice of solitude requires we draw deep and do this on our own. Only you are able to deal with you.
Meanings
The Hermit Upright
keywords: soul-searching, introspection, being alone, inner guidance, self-reflection, contemplation, withdrawal, solitude, search for self-discovery
As mentioned, the Hermit year is for introspection. This is a year that requires us to turn inward and question the big stuff. Soaking up the knowledge we gain from internal focus will help us better understand ourselves, love ourselves, and consider how happy we are with how things are going. This is going to be one of the toughest years a lot of us have ever faced, and we MUST make time to nurture ourselves and each other and REST. There are bad changes happening this year, but we have to find stamina now and prepare for what’s to come next year. There will be changes: bad but also good. But none of this is easy and we cannot sustain ourselves when we are burnt out. The only way to fight this is with radical self-care, which might sound cliché by now but it’s just. Fucking. True.
One key thing is not to let the outside world distract and derail ourselves. We MUST pay attention. We MUST ALSO learn when to step away from the doomscroll and self-soothe and self-regulate. Working ourselves up into a panic is not sustainable. I say this as someone with a pretty serious generalized anxiety disorder (otherwise known in the DSM-5 as PAYING ATTENTION to the point of hyperventilation). In order to fight this, we need to go deep within to search for truth and knowledge that can’t be found from staring at a black mirror reflecting constant horror.
This doesn’t mean cutting ourselves off from others. Just because we’re in our Hermit Era doesn’t mean that we are alone. This journey will find us more profoundly stepping into our truth, discovering our authenticity and finding that in others we let into our space. Within authentic community we can all connect to that guiding light, that lamp held outstretched in the night. This might feel like a long, cold and scary road – but we also have each other’s backs. Now is the time for genuine friends, the time of fake friends has come to an end.
We are all the Hermit – and now is the time of seeking for the knowledge that comes from within. We are all lonely wanderers stumbling along nocturnal paths in search of our inner truths. We will continue to seek light from the northern star that will guide us home.
How the Hermit Upright shows up in regards to…
Love:
This could be a time to pause in life to introspect. Love is a teacher, and self-understanding in love is something to strive for during this Hermit year. This requires some alone time to gain insight about how we tick in the sphere of love – whether we be paired or single. This is can be a lonely time, but ultimately can lead to finding the right path for you and being able to find what truly matters the most for you in terms of relationships. If in a relationship, this could be something that you can share together. What do you expect out of a relationship? What could make it more fulfilling? This could be uncomfortable, but in the long term will create a solid foundation.
Career:
While thinking about what next steps to take and looking for greater purpose in our paths is always more or less in our minds, the Hermit year brings it all front and center. Things might not feel like they’re working out the way you want them to. You might feel like you’re stuck in a rut and spinning your wheels. You may be struggling to find any sense of fulfillment. Now is a good time to investigate the occupation that would better suit your needs. Of course, many careers are in fact “jobs” – and a lot of us work jobs because we live under crapitalism. It could be that your job is just a fucking job to scrape by from paycheck to paycheck. If you are able to investigate other ways that might not make having to go to your job suck as much, now is the time to do it.
Finances:
There’s a lot to be said with getting your money in order. Accessing financial health is something a lot of us have a hard time with, because if you come from a marginalized identity – chances are you didn’t learn the same shit the fucking billionaires currently destroying the planet did. Because your access was limited. Creating a pathway to financial stability – no matter how humble – is a way of reclaiming your power. Along with work, it sucks that we have to live this way. But we do. Now is a good time to search out resources to help provide you with more financial literacy.
That being said, you (like me) might be really fatigued with the emptiness of materialism. Sure, I like nice stuff – and we deserve nice stuff – but at what cost? Now is high time to drop out as much as possible from the consumerist cycle of buying crap from crappy places. Of finding solace through spending. Take some time thinking of ways you can enjoy yourself that doesn’t mean dropping a wad of cash. Go to a clothing swap or thrift stores if you need more clothes. Or, if you’re in need of something specific that only the Big Box store can offer: shop sparingly. Just get what you need. Use up all your make-up without buying new stuff. Stream that movie with some friends rather than go to the movies (we already do that anyway). Make a potluck with your people instead of meeting up at some bougie vegan eatery. By doing so, even if we have the coin to drop, we are also making space and fostering community with others who do not. There are layers as to how to resist and grow community beyond engaging in capitalist expectations.
The Hermit Reversed
keywords:
isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, reclusiveness, being anti-social, rejection, concealment, disguise, policy, fear, unreasoned caution, treason, dissimulation, corruption, cannot be alone, out of touch with inner guidance, dependent on a guru, fearful of others, not learning from mistakes, ignoring your own inner wisdom, not learning from the past, repeating your past mistakes due to a refusal to get the clue
So far we know the Hermit guides us to stepping back and reflecting on ourselves. On the other side of the coin, the Hermit Reversed may signal you’ve been doubling down on isolation too much. When reversed, the Hermit can be a corrupted concept of solitude that becomes total withdrawal.
Balance is essential, and if you find that you’ve been cutting yourself off from your closest loved ones, this could signal that it might be a good idea to make space for those who care for you. If taken too far, there’s a danger that you could become so self-absorbed that you shut people who care about you out. Cutting off toxic relationships is one thing, but cutting off the chance for love and connection is another. As mentioned before, part of this soul-searching is looking out for connections that light you up – and those connections are important. If you cut out everyone, that could result in unwelcome isolation and further loneliness. It’s important to not let your seclusion end up making you feel trapped and alone. We must stay mindful of maintaining the balance of solitude and human connection.
The Hermit Reversed can pop up as social phobia, or even more severe fear of other people. If we spend too much time sequestered from others, when we are faced with the basics of day-to-day interaction we can be jarred and terrified of any social interaction. This can also create paranoia and distrust of everyone. Even if day-to-day encounters with strangers, for example, are unwanted it’s important to try to regularly engage in some form with people – even if it’s just at the grocery store. We must not become locked in and totally cut off from human interaction.
The Hermit Upright is a sign of maturity, but the Hermit Reversed suggests the opposite. This isn’t a criticism of keeping an open, childlike sense of wonderment in perspective, but more of a Peter Pan attitude to life where one clings to childish perspectives that ultimately limit their growth and create meaningless cycles of avoidance that don’t enrich or aid in anything productive. This could be demonstrated by pretending to be super whimsical and childishly enthusiastic in a performative way that refuses to face reality. These kind of patterns can also lead to nowhere and result in sitting around spinning your wheels and not making any meaningful developments in life.
How the Hermit Reversed shows up in regards to…
Love
The Hermit Reversed can show up when there is an extreme disconnect between one partner and another. One may want to make things more serious while the other wants to GTFO, which all leads to romantic rejection. This requires respect for each other’s space and alone time while also being actively present for the other or others. This is a stressful fucking time, and even though a relationship isn’t working out, the idea of breaking up and being alone feels terrifying. I can’t tell you what to do in this kind of situation, but it’s important to work out what is and isn’t sustainable. The Hermit Reversed could signal reconnection and working together to strengthen bonds if need be. It all comes down to approaching things with an equity-based mindset rooted in mutual respect.
The Hermit Reversed can also manifest itself as a prolonged period of isolation and loneliness, usually against your wishes. If it shows up in this regard the best way to deal with it is to lean into it instead of resisting. This might feel counter-intuitive, but by doing this you will be able to better focus on your own goals and get clear about what you want the most out of life and a partner. All of this will lead to standing stronger in your truth in the future.
Career
The Hermit Reversed speaks to feeling out of alignment in work, feeling like you don’t belong and working alone. Solo working can be a choice, but when the Hermit Reversed steps in this signals feeling like you’re doing all the work without the proper amount of credit or support. Maybe something has been bothering you for a long time at work, and some major recalibrating needs to be done in order to realign career and internal goals. The reversed Hermit can also show that you are on your way out from a phase of contemplation. It could be that the big change you need to make is time to be made, and you’re ready to direct your energy towards what you want to do next. Maybe you’ve already decided what you want in terms of your career, and now is the time to declare it. Conversely, it could be that you need to take some time off due to burnout, or you need to switch roles and work in a more solitary direction. All of this could feel overwhelming and limiting, so it’s important to maintain strong social support from your peers.
Finances
Now is time to take some time to think about what money and financial security means to you. It may be time for you to get a better understanding of your financial situation, and when it comes to this, now is a good time to seek out a financial advisor you can trust who has your best interests at heart. This can all lead to healthier relationships with material situations further down the road.
Interpretations
As we journey forth into 2025, we will shift from the exterior world of the daily grind to the internal world of self-exploration and reassessing our values. We may very well notice this in the wider collective. From brightwalldarkroom.com:
“A remarkable moment occurs during the fourth episode of the miraculous new season of Twin Peaks. David Lynch, returning to the role of FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole after a quarter of a century, utters a line that it so perfectly calibrated to this current moment in history that he seems almost to be speaking directly to us watching at home.
While conversing with fellow agent Denise Bryan (David Duchovny), who since we last saw her 27 years ago, has not only made a full transition into her proper gender identity, but has also, against the odds, risen to the position of Chief of Staff for the Bureau, Cole reminds her of his support throughout the years. It’s here that he speaks the line that, in a perfect world, would be adapted and take up as a wide-ranging and unifying rallying cry:
“When you became Denise, I told all of your colleagues, those clown comics, to fix their hearts or die.”
The Year of the Hermit repeats this message: “fix your hearts or die.” In order to truly thrive, we need to put in the work. This year calls for us to prioritize what it means to face fascism and embrace radical, collective empathy. This will show up in practicing mindfulness to not let our spirits be dragged down into the abyss, engaging in spiritual practices (if that is something you individually gravitate to), and working on our mental health. This doesn’t mean turning away from community, it means showing up for authenticity and fostering healing and reflective environments.
This is time to reassess our interpersonal as well as parasocial connections. While this is a year that prioritizes solitude, the Hermit also encourages us to share our healing and processing with others and giving space for that exchange in return. This is all soul work rooted in community. It’s important to do the solo work (the micro) in order to recognize who and what is most authentic in the outer (macro) world. All this shows up in sharing our knowledge and creating safe spaces for collaboration.
We all need to look at the ways we can “fix our hearts” and become more collectively aware at the sacredness of cultivating emotional intelligence, compassion and care. In fact, the symbolism found in the Hermit card speaks directly to the collective consciousness. Via the light from the Hermit’s lantern, we search for the light of knowledge as it cuts through the dark haze of distraction, confusion and chaos. By following this path, we will be able to better navigate through the uncertainty, fear and darkness.
As we make our way through the Year of the Hermit, let us honor our need for introspection and our wisdom. May we stay informed of current events by reliable sources – and nurture our critical thinking skills – but taking a step back before we are overwhelmed by anxiety and hopelessness. Now is not the time to give in. Now is the time to make our journey through the darkness. Honor your need for quiet and solitude. Before we can support our community, we have to take care of ourselves first. Like on a plane, put on your own mask first before assisting others. Engage with those who gas you up and share and grow your knowledge in safe spaces with authentic community. As we are guided by the shining light of the Hermit’s lantern, let’s make 2025 a year of transformation, connection and fixing our hearts.
Sources
Esselmont, Brigit. “Biddy Tarot.” Biddy Tarot, www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/hermit . Accessed 16 January 2025.
Gong, Tina. “Labyrinthos.” Labyrinthos, https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list/the-hermit-meaning-major-arcana-tarot-card-meanings?srsltid=AfmBOoocHCN-uNFyL2387j59uR4baSK_5CgeQYdQ5EXK2JOyWW-bbEuh. Accessed 12 January 2025.
Hanley, Alexandra. “Grace Through Gravity.” Grace Through Gravity, https://gracethroughgravity.com/the-hermit/ . Accessed 14 February 2025.
Luna, Bri. “The Hoodwitch.” The Hoodwitch, https://www.thehoodwitch.com/blog/2025/1/3/embracing-2025-the-year-of-the-hermit-in-tarot . Accessed 14 January 2025.
Miro, Shaheen. Reed, Theresa. Tarot For Troubled Times. Newburyport. Red Wheel/Weiser. 2019.
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot. London. Thorsons. 1997.
Reed, Theresa. “The Tarot Lady.” The Tarot Lady, https://www.thetarotlady.com/the-tarot-card-of-the-year-for-2025/ . Accessed 2 January 2025.
Tea, Michelle. Modern Tarot. New York. Harper. 2017.
Waite, Arthur Edward. Instructions excerpted from The Key to the Tarot. U.S. Games Systems Inc. 1991.
Vasquez, Zach. “Bright Wall Dark Room.” Bright Wall Dark Room, https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2017/09/25/fix-heart-die-startling-empathy-david-lynch/ . Accessed 4 February 2025.
This is meant to be read as inspiration. Takes what works for you, and leave the rest. If you want to share this work, please credit the source by quoting it and providing a link to this post and website. Thank you for your support and for spreading the work around. We really appreciate it and you.