The Hermit is a very simple card featured in nearly all tarot decks. Early renditions of the card feature an older man gazing at an hourglass and using a walking stick. The card was often called “il vecchio” which means old man or sometimes “il tempo” meaning time. If I were to translate that into Greek a not-so-subtle association is reveal. The Greek word is Chronos, father time. Through the renaissance period, Chronos was often depicted with an hourglass and walking stick just like our hermit or sometimes a scythe in place of the walking stick. Yes as you might have associated Chronos also inspired the depictions of the Angel of Death. From the Italian and Marseille decks the Hermit is instead depicted with a lamp instead of an hourglass.
Waite likes to associate this card with the 4th cardinal virtue prudence which has been missing from the deck for years, however many representations of Prudence were as a woman who was sometimes holding a book as were the representations of the Papess, so I have always felt that the Papess was the missing cardinal virtue, Prudence. One older version, called the Tarrochi of Mantegna, shows Prudence as a man holding a statue and staring at it in a similar way the old hermits stared at their hourglass and the man had an old man’s bearded face on the back of his head. However, this deck also has a hermit-type card called “Saturn” and the deck is very different to the original decks and modern decks.
The Robe
The Hermit is swaddled in grey. His cloak and abandonment of the colourful outfits shown in the rest of the deck indicate his removal from society and lack of need to present himself as anything other than a man trying to make his way in the world. While it is warm, it is plain and simple indicating a monastic lifestyle he has chosen for himself.
The beard
The beard is very symbolic of the divine. Many depictions of god from this era are based on Jove and Saturn so this is symbolic of a divine state of being. It also indicates maturity which has led many to suggest that the fool has become the magician and later become the hermit.
The walking stick
The walking stick is symbolic of age and the weariness of the body. Mortality is indicated by it, but the stick also symbolises willpower and for a wizard, it is a weapon. Interesting how one symbol can both indicate power and fragility.
The light
The light is said by most to be the light of the truth. Sometimes the robe partially conceals it keeping the truth only for the worthy. It’s my own personal thoughts here, but sometimes knowing a truth, of which many willfully choose to be ignorant, can be very isolating. It can push people to stop associating with you because your truth is not what they want to hear. Perhaps the hermit has learned and follows a divine truth that brings his life simplicity, but it has isolated him.
The star inside the light is a 6-rayed star symbolizing the union of the elements and divine light of the Jewish kabbalah. Some also say that the number 6 indicates the 6th star sign which is Virgo the star sign associated with this card.
The background
The background indicates dusk which further symbolises mortality. The sun is setting on this Hermit and he chooses to venture out into the night.
The plain mountain rage behind the hermit furthers his separation from society.