Western Tarot symbolism
The Hermit
The Hermit stands on an eminence with a star shining inside his lantern. The commentary understands the beacon as a sign that others may reach the place he has attained. It rejects a reading limited to isolation or a search not yet fulfilled. The separate divinatory list includes prudence but also concealment, deception, and excessive caution.
Loading your archive…
In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryThe Hermit stands on an eminence with a star shining inside his lantern. The commentary understands the beacon as a sign that others may reach the place he has attained.
Further detail
LiteraryIt rejects a reading limited to isolation or a search not yet fulfilled. The separate divinatory list includes prudence but also concealment, deception, and excessive caution.
Context & interpretation
The active library scan carries L. W. de Laurence’s name and reproduces material associated with A. E. Waite’s Tarot exposition. Its symbolic descriptions and divinatory lists are distinct registers, and neither provides a guaranteed prediction.
Original passages
Source 1
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
I have said that this is a card of attainment, and to extend this conception the figure is seen holding up his beacon onOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Western Tarot symbolism; active reader leaf 59
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0059
- Original scan leaf
- 64
- Recorded leaf number
- 64
- Current Reader position
- 59
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
discord, sometimes even disgrace. 9. The Hermit.—Prudence, circumspection ; also and especially treason, dissimulation, roguery, corruption. Reversed: Concealment, disguise, policy, fear, unreasonedOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Western Tarot symbolism; active reader leaf 148
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0148
- Original scan leaf
- 154
- Recorded leaf number
- 154
- Current Reader position
- 148
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Continue exploring
Justice
Accountability according to deeds, distinguished from spiritual election.
Shared source pageStrength
A woman’s gentle mastery of the lion rather than a contest of force.
Shared source pageThe Chariot
Triumph and directed power whose external victories have limits.
Shared source pageThe Emperor
Seated sovereignty as executive power, reason, and realization.