As we step into the Hermit Year, also known as the 9th year in numerology, it’s a time for profound self-reflection, personal growth, and inner exploration.
This year carries the energy of solitude and introspection, encouraging us to step back, reevaluate, and seek deeper understanding.
The number nine signifies completion, wisdom, and integration, making this year a culmination of past experiences and an invitation to prepare for new beginnings.
The Hermit archetype, as represented in tarot, serves as a powerful guide for navigating this transformative journey.
In my initial exploration of tarot, I interpreted the Hermit archetype through a literary lens—as the aloof, mysterious figure who lives perpetually alone on the fringes of society, interacting only through cryptic riddles, like Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird.
While this can be an aspect of the Hermit, it is a narrow understanding of the beauty and depth this card offers.
The Hermit is so much more than a solitary wanderer; it is an invitation into deep personal introspection.
The Hermit asks us to commune with ourselves deeply.
This doesn’t necessarily mean retreating to the edges of society or cutting off all interaction and community.
Instead, the Hermit challenges us to ask: Who are we when we are wholly alone?
It invites us to bear witness to our truest selves—to delve into the recesses of our hearts, minds, and souls, uncovering the layers of our being.
This archetype calls us to embrace and own our authenticity fully and completely.
It is from this place of profound self-awareness that we can bring our true essence into the world.
The Hermit reminds us that the world needs us to be authentically ourselves.
Perhaps the literary hermit is relegated to the fringes of society because only there can he fully embody his individuality.
But the lesson of the Hermit archetype is to tap into that inner sanctum and carry that uniqueness boldly into our everyday lives.
It’s about discovering our own magic—our “special sauce”—and letting it shine in the ways we live, work, and connect.
Today, the Hermit encourages me to find appreciation in the moments we walk alone, without partnership.
In relationships, it’s easy to lose ourselves in the needs of others or to mold ourselves into what we think our partners want us to be.
In doing so, we risk cutting ourselves off from our own unique magic.
How often have you left a relationship and felt a renewed sense of freedom, as if you’re rediscovering yourself and living fully on your terms?
The Hermit teaches us that this version of ourselves—whole, authentic, and self-assured—is who we should strive to be in all relationships, whether romantic, platonic, or professional.
This is the very heart of the Hermit archetype: to uncover and embody our truest self, not just in isolation but within the dynamic interplay of our connections and the way in which we show up in the world.
Maturity lies in maintaining this authenticity within relationships, but that’s easier said than done.
It’s a lesson often learned in the quiet solitude of singleness.
The Hermit’s wisdom nudges us gently to honor this self-awareness and carry it with us, not just in solitude but in connection with others.
This year is a call to retreat into ourselves, not to withdraw from the world, but to emerge stronger, wiser, and more aligned with our truest selves.
The Hermit invites us to walk this path of self-discovery, to embrace the beauty of our individuality, and to bring that power and authenticity into every aspect of our lives.
This is the year to tap into our magic and boldly live it out loud and to look within ourselves to find our way.
Always,
Your Trusted Friend
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