The Year of The Hermit
2025's Tarot theme and how to work with the energy of The Hermit
There’s a practice among tarot readers where we combine numerology and the Major Arcana to determine the “card of the year”. This card acts as the theme of the year and encompasses the collective energy we’re all moving through. Of course, every person will move through their own nuanced experiences this year, but the idea is similar to that of zodiac seasons—it’s an energetic signature that adds a shared texture to what we, as a collective, will face.
A given year’s card is found by adding the digits of the year together until it’s distilled down to a number between 0-21 (the numbers of the Major Arcana). For 2025, that means adding 2+0+2+5 to get the number 9 which, in the Major Arcana, is The Hermit card, making 2025 the Year of The Hermit.
I could be considered somewhat of a devotee of The Hermit, and not just because I really love being alone. The wisdom and message of The Hermit resonates with me on a deep, soul level, so I was thrilled to learn it is this year’s theme. But I’ve learned over nine years of reading tarot for others that not everyone feels this way. There seem to be a lot of misunderstanding around my favorite cloaked baddie, and as we enter into a year dedicated to his wisdom, it seemed important to take a moment to break down exactly who The Hermit is and what he can teach us.
Who is The Hermit
When we look at the traditional Rider Waite Smith deck, we see a lone figure cloaked in a hooded grey robe. He sports one hell of a white beard and bows his head in reverence as he lifts a lantern to guide the way forward. A golden, six-pointed star shines from within the lantern, and The Hermit carries a matching golden staff, or walking stick, in his left hand. He stands atop a snowy, barren landscape with a cloudless sky behind him.
The imagery of this card evokes a sense of isolation. Almost every card in the tarot features some combination of plants, water, man-made structures, animals, and/or people. But not The Hermit. In this card, our subject is shown wandering on his own amidst a snowcapped, lifeless landscape. His bowed head and empty surroundings give the sense that he’s been traveling for a long time and has yet a long way still to go.
There’s something about The Hermit that feels almost eerie. In its isolation and unique imagery, it evokes a sense of not being quite of the world that the rest of the tarot inhabit. It’s othered in a way that I can never quite put my finger on, but can’t quite shake, either. The Hermit is not quite of this world, even as a child born from and to this earth. He has deliberately chosen to step away from the world and its people; he has chosen to take a quiet, solitary path guided by his own shining, golden light.
Which brings me back to the two tools The Hermit wields. The Hermit is one of only five characters in the tarot that carry a staff or walking stick (not including wands or scepters): the Six of Swords, the Eight of Cups, The Fool, and The Chariot. All of these are characters known for their decision to turn away from what is known and comfortable in order to pursue a better, more aligned future.
The star, as shown in The Hermit’s lantern, is another rare symbol in the tarot, this one only appearing on three other cards: as the crown on the head of The Empress, on the Chariot’s headpiece and adorning the fabric above him, and, of course, throughout The Star. In the tarot, the star is a symbol of one’s connection to the celestial realm; of Divine will and spiritual wisdom.
Together, these two symbols tell the story of a person who has left behind everything the known world has to offer in search of a path guided by their connection with Spirit. It is a card of turning away from the distractions of the mundane and the expectations and opinions of others to foster one’s own connection to the wisdom of the divine. It’s about trusting your intuition and letting Spirit lead the way.
When we look at The Hermit in context of the story of the Major Arcana, we see that it is followed by Wheel of Fortune and Justice. Wheel of Fortune is a card of accepting that some things are out of our hands, surrendering to the unknowable turnings of fate, and trusting the machinations of Spirit. Justice, on the other hand, is a card of clarity and decisiveness; of acting on what we know to be Right and True.
Knowing this, I see The Hermit as our call to journey inward and learn the unshakeable trust in self and Spirit that is necessary for us to embrace our fate and uphold our Truth.
Working with The Hermit
2025 being the year of The Hermit does not mean I’m advocating that you leave behind everything and everyone you know to wander around an arctic landscape (though, if that resonates, more power to you). In fact, The Hermit doesn’t even necessarily mean spending more time alone. Sure, alone time can help facilitate the process of looking within and attuning to your intuition, but you do not have to cancel all your social plans to embrace the wisdom of The Hermit (though, again, if that resonates, you do you).
Rather, The Hermit is about how you spend your alone time. This year, we’re being invited to spend more time exploring our inner landscape. 2025 is an opportunity to cultivate a stronger relationship with your guides and learn to hear (and actually follow) the wisdom and guidance of spirit. It’s your chance to level up your intuition from some tingle at the base of the spine to a fully formed inner compass that can show you the way.
In the “magic” section below, I’ve outlined a few tangible ways to work with the lessons of The Hermit, but ultimately, this is the invitation the year of The Hermit has to offer:
Look within and find your guiding light. Then, learn how to follow it.
Tangible ways to embrace The Hermit’s wisdom
The Hermit is all about cultivating your intuition and trusting the wisdom of your guides. Below are five of my favorite methods for building stronger intuitive abilities and creating more meaningful and lasting relationships with your guides:
Create an altar for your Ascended Ancestors. Our Wise and Well Ancestors are often the guides we have the easiest time connecting with and are regularly the most eager to work with us in turn. When we create and tend an ancestral altar, it enters us into reciprocal relationship with our Ancestors and gives us a tangible place to sit and connect with them.
Go on a Spirit Journey. These regular trance meditations were (and still are) a huge part of building my intuitive abilities and unlocking direct access to the wisdom of my guides. Whether you journey once a month or every day, this is a great practice to get more comfortable communicating with your guides.
Start working with divination tools. Whether tarot cards, a pendulum, runes, scrying, or something else, exploring divination tools is a great way to learn how to engage your intuition in meaningful conversation.
Try the “human pendulum”. This is a technique (outlined in the “magic” section of this post) that I find really useful for learning how to feel intuitive messages in my body and start making simple yes/no decisions from a place of intuition.
Start a daily journaling practice. The more time you spend sitting with your thoughts and feelings, the more you’ll start to understand the patterns of how your mind works which, eventually, will bring insight into how your intuition shows through.
☕ January 26th - Tarot + Tea
Wondering what February will bring? Want advice from the Tarot on how to lean into the energy of the month, and what to leave behind? Have personal questions you want to ask the Tarot? Join us for our monthly Tarot + Tea gathering and enjoy delicious tea, yummy snacks, powerful tarot readings for both the collective and you as an individual, and a chance to mingle and bond with your fellow mystics!
Sunday, January 26th from 5-7pm at Spirit Rebel in Truckee
sliding scale $25-40 per person
🔮 Just ONE Private Session Slots Remaining in January!
I only have ONE private session slots remaining in January, so book now if you want to secure a reading! It’s a great time for year-ahead spreads, or book a mediumship session to get to know one of your guides and/or ancestors. House call and virtual readings are available if you can’t make it to my space in Downtown Truckee.
I just came home from a beautiful celebration of life for a dear family friend. There were many tears, but there was even more laughter, and I was grateful for the chance to gather with those I love to remember that there are some bonds that transcend one lifetime. We will miss you, Sue, but thank you for all you’ve given us in the years we’ve known you, and for using this time to remind us what medicine awaits when we open our arms to one another.
Local: I recently started volunteering with North Tahoe-Truckee Homeless Services and it’s an awesome organization doing great work. They are seeking monetary donations, volunteers, and in-kind donations, so head to their website and see how you can help!
Collective: Donate to We Need Diverse Books to help send care packages with mental health resources to LGBTQIA+ teens in need. No one deserves to feel alone, and this is a great way to help queer youth feels seen, cared for, and loved.
I am reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle and this really resonates!