Major Arcana · 10 of 78
The Hermit
An old man in a gray hooded cloak stands alone on a snowy summit, a staff in one hand and a lantern in the other. Inside the lantern shines a six-pointed star. He looks down the way he came, lighting it for whoever climbs next.
★ Upright
The Hermit is deliberate withdrawal in search of truth. Upright, it calls for solitude, reflection, study, or the counsel of a wise guide — and sometimes it names you as that guide for someone else. Not every question can be answered in company. Step back far enough and the pattern of your situation becomes visible.
♺ Reversed
Reversed, solitude has soured into isolation, or the retreat you needed has become a hiding place. It can also mark the refusal to reflect at all — filling every silence so the lesson can't land. Come down from the mountain, or finally climb it; either way, stop standing at the base.