The Hermit
An old man, a Hermit, stands on a stone arch in the midst of a bleak landscape. He has removed himself from society to seek answers within himself. He uses a glowing wand as a staff and also clutches another staff topped with a snake' head. Nearby are books, representing the knowledge he has gathered through study. The atlas is a record of the many journeys he has taken and the experience he has gained. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the background also speaks of his vast experience. He has, in his day, eaten quite a few metaphoric apples. The magnifying glass symbolizes closely examining all the beliefs to see if they are good ones. The pencil and paper show his desire to keep a record of his findings, so that nothing is lost due to forgetfulness. Also, he values clear and concise thought and practices the motto, "writing makes an exact man." The Hermit uses the few humble items to review and assess everything he has ever learned, thought, felt, and experienced, in order to understand his own beliefs and to seek truth.
This card is about seeking truth. Not the intuitive truth of the High Priestess and not the learned truth of the Hierophant. The truth you need is your own truth. You need to withdraw from the situation for a time. Use this time to review all your knowledge, understanding, and experience. When you figure out how it all work together, you will have the answer you need.
If reversed, this card warns of withdrawing too much, or for too long, or for the wrong reasons. Spending time alone in order to avoid people, put off making decisions, or procrastinating is not going to serve you well in this case.
Use your intuition:
The Hermit clutches a tall staff with a snake-head on it. What does it symbolize?
The Hermit stands on an impossibly constructed stone arch. Why is it constructed like that? The arch seems so small - is it going over the ground, a stream, a deep crevice, or something else?
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