3 Card Tarot Reading

The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning

The Hermit card is often very much underestimated in my tarot experience. I call this the underdog of the tarot that when in a spread and invokes a reaction from readers and querents alike. Often this card is not welcome and that’s just sad.

The Hermit doesn’t hide from people; but merely likes to live life on their own terms. The Hermit is some decks is male and in my deck she is female. She has chosen to retreat into solitude above all of the madness of society. She beckons you to turn your view inward and allow yourself the time and space to think, feel, and meditate on what it is that you truly want in and from your life. By doing this you will be able to unlock your true desires and find complete happiness.

The Hermit looks to be standing on his or her (in my card) own surrounded by nothing and holding only a lamp. Look more closely at the card and you will note that she is standing ready to move to the mountain. These are the very same mountains that symbolize monetary issues or stability in the Rider-Waite deck. His lantern is not to guide his own way, for he’s already where he wants to be. It is there to guide you to him or to his location. Now is a time to advance past trivialities in your life and focus on what really matters. It is not a damning card indicating seclusion, but rather a hopeful card showing you that there is a way to find solutions to your answers if you know the right questions to ask.

The Hermit card in your reading sometimes shows that there is a need for healing and understanding in your life. It is a very personal and spiritual card that shows you that you are not alone right now even if you feel that way. If you are going through a time of loss, feeling insecure or incomplete now is the time to embrace those feelings not as negative aspects but as empowering life-affirming experiences. It is easy to feel abandoned at certain times in one’s life as people can be let down by expectations placed on others, society, or the world. Consider who has let you down or disappointed you and left you feeling as you are.

Do not wallow in this feeling and do not allow it to eat at you. The Hermit has chosen to walk away from it all not for her disdain for mankind, but rather she was seeking answers and understanding through solitude and taking herself away from materialistic possessions. Now is a good time to pick up the book Walden by Ralph Waldo Emerson, grab a cup of tea, cozy up in your favorite chair and embrace the times that you have when you are on your own. Focus on the own inner quiet of your existence and check in on your true self.

The Hermit in Love

The Hermit may be alone standing on top of the mountain looking down at you, but this does not mean that you must do the same. In fact, the Hermit card is a sign for you to take stock in what you have going on in your life’s relationships that are good and revel in them. Rather than focusing on what you WANT now is a time to focus on what you need from love. Knowledge is power and you have the power to get what you want out of life through your relationships.

Since the Hermit card represents focusing on the positive aspects of your life, it may show up in your love reading as a suggestion to stop trying too hard. In a relationship that is rocky for example, the Hermit often advises to take a step back and allow arguments or disputes between two people to die down and to focus on what you brought you together in the first place. Allow yourself to go back to the basics of love and feel them again in retrospect. It is likely that you will find that the arguments in your relationship are not the root of the problem. Often there are outside issues that destroy our relationships such as work stress and finances. Put those issues aside for the time being and focus on the true connection between the two of you.

If you are looking for love and this card comes up it can have one of two meanings. The first is a representation of your lonely feeling by not being in a relationship. The other is a representation of needing to take a break from your search and focus on yourself for a while and allow for love to find its way to you. Maybe consider taking a break from dating and taking up a hobby. Find things in life that truly satisfy you and through those avenues, you will likely find what you are looking for.

The Hermit As Feelings

As feelings, this card can also suggest deeply buried feelings or emotional coldness. If you are asking someone's feelings for you this card can suggest they are finding the time to really look inside before making a decision on you.

By shining the light on the card, this is positive. It is showing they are thinking about their feelings and life's direction, the hermit understands where their feelings lie. Rather than determining if they like you or love you, you need to figure out where the relationship is headed. For those starting new romances this is a positive card.

As his feelings for you, the Hermit card says he is feeling a sense of aloneness, of being alone to figure out what he wants. 

If you pulled this card for her feelings towards you then she clearly has her lantern in hand, seeking  knowledge to understand the future of love. 

The Hermit As Love Recognition

The Hermit tarot card for love recognition is a great card to pull, it is a symbol of being alone to figure out what you want from love. The Hermit in my view places emphasis on empowering and formative solitude that allows the individual to heal old wounds and develop new aspects of personality and skill. 

The Hermit, to me, is a card of weeping in darkness and feeling frustrated by the difficult times, the Hermit is a sign that “space” is needed in this relationship. I don't want to be all doom and gloom but the hermit tarot card represents being alone and understanding within oneself and allows us to move past any pain or conflict if it appears in a love reading. 

The Hermit in Health

For some true happiness is found simply by following the initial advice of the Hermit card. So many of us are busy day in and day out that worry and stress literally eat us from the inside out. It can be hard to find joy in the simple things as you drive your child to soccer practice after a long day in the office only to get home and cook dinner and finally plop down exhausted wondering where the day has gone. The card in your reading can be a sign that you are doing too much to the extent that you are at risk of health issues and concerns. Exceedingly high levels of stress and pressure can also cause health problems.

Consider taking time for yourself to find your own center and balance. You may want to invest in a low-level fitness program to rejuvenate your mind and body. Daily walks, time to meditate, and time to reflect is important to your mental health at this time. Do not take your own health for granted. You are not expendable.

The Hermit in Work, Money, Business, Career, and Wealth

You may find that you are at a point in your life where you question what everything means. Consider that perhaps you really are running in circles and getting nowhere and it is time to take a new direction in your life. The hermit is also searching for something and is connected to how we reflect "work"in life. This could be inner search for self-confidence or in taking a new step career-wise. In essence, this card often appears when we need to be alone to think. The hermit could in some cases represent unemployment or self-employment for a period of time - in order to reflect what you really wish to do in life.

Money can certainly be the root of all evil if you let it. Consider if you are putting too much focus on money or work at this time. Often this card will come up when a person is feeling desperate to find a job. It’s easy to say that money is not important when you have it. As the hermit relates to Virgo which is the 5th house, this represents employment, it might be time to start a new business? But, you have to find your own way with the light.

The best way to learn to trust your own wisdom is to take a leap of faith and go for it. Depending on your situation, this may mean pushing forward - but it more often refers to taking time out. Remember the sturdiest homes are built on solid foundations. Lay the groundwork before acting, the results will be more fruitful and longer-lasting. 

The Hermit As Action/Advice

The Hermit for advice or action is about disconnecting from the noise of life and instead turning inward, to one's true path. You may not find answers in others or their words; but use the light of the lantern and look only within yourself can you seek out an understanding that will lead your journey towards spiritual growth. 

The Hermit Yes Or No

The Hermit does not deal in yes or no, it can be frustrating to draw a card like this here because it does not point with any certainty to one way or the other. However, just because this card is not a firm answer, it doesn’t mean it lacks guidance. In fact, this card is a big signifier of intelligence and intuition, it is saying trust your gut.

The Hermit As A Person

Hermits are complex and hidden people, often feeling conflicted and helpless when faced with inner problems. As a person they protect themselves from the unknown, preferring instead to be quite. It is difficult for many people to gain clarity about anything when confronted with a Hermit, since these individuals tend to be lost in their own spiritual selves; only by offering patience to yourself and others can one ultimately escape any situation.

The Hermit In Past Position

A time from your past; a quiet point, away from the day-to-day bustle of life and instead meditative, reflective, full of contemplation and inner discovery. You learned many things about yourself in this period, perhaps you spent time studying for a new skill or qualification. 

The Hermit In Present Position

Don’t let your self-doubt stop you from taking this journey of self-discovery on your own, and don’t be swayed by the people who say no is the key message, even  in the chaotic world.If you draw this in the present it can mean that you need time. Time to understand what is going on and how best to focus on your future.

The Hermit In Future and Outcome Position

There is going to be a quite time in the future this is what this card means. It represents a journey that you must take to go within yourself in order to understand what is important. It indicates that something is going to end (which needed to) and you need time to decide that or reflect on it.

The Hermit As Friendship Or Family

Friendship is based on a foundation of genuine connection, not doing things for show. This card is a sign that either you, or one of your friends, is in need of some personal space.

Reversed Hermit in a Reading

The reversed Hermit indicates a dire situation in the extreme; usually representing of someone so far gone off their path that they may be best just wiping their hands clean of a situation and starting over completely. The light of wisdom is snuffed out, the path obscured, and hope gone the Hermit is alone and doesn’t know where to turn. When this card shows in the reversed position it is very important to look to the other surrounding cards for cues as to which way to go to get out of the current situation. The reversed position can also indicate seeking outside counsel or turning your introspection to those around you.

The Hermit Reversed - Love and Romance

When the Hermit card appears in a love reading reversed, it typically means that we are seeking an answer to a messy situation, but don’t know which way to choose. The Hermit can represent someone who is alone and feeling spiritually isolated from others. On my card, you will see she is holding a lantern, this means that the hermit is the “wise guide” or teacher, leading you towards answers while keeping some distance, I also want to add this card could be interpreted in our relationships when we feel that something isn’t quite right yet don’t want to let go of it completely.

The Hermit reversed - Family and Home

There is beauty in solitude, but when taken too far it turns into isolation and can generate selfish emotions. Seeing The Hermit reversed regarding family and the home usually suggests you have taken your solitude too far. We all need time alone, but, especially within the family, there must be community and shared experience, as well. You have an important role to play in your family, you need to support your loved ones and show them your affection (just like they do for you). 

The Hermit Reversed - Work and Finances

While upright The Hermit is all about independence, reversed, it is about not being afraid to ask for help when you need it. There are few times where guidance and mentorship are more beneficial than in work and finances, it is here that leaders can truly lead you to new exciting lands. Ask for help and you’ll reap the rewards, just like an autumn harvest after a warm summer.

When we reverse the Hermit tarot card, it almost always indicates more of a negative outcome, either that something will not happen or that further guidance needs to be found. It could represent the need for caution while taking risks related to your money or career. 

The Hermit Reversed - Health and Wellness

Something has delayed when I see this card. This card is rarely a sign of anything serious to worry about, instead, you should take it as an indication that you need to freshen things up. Try and find a balance between things that you enjoy and things that are good for you (don’t ever forget it’s possible to achieve both, balance lies at the heart of all life). 

The Hermit Reversed - Personal Spirituality

It’s good to expose yourself to the wisdom and experiences of others as this can be spiritually enriching too. Remember that our learning on this earth is never done, so keep your mind and heart open. This means for you, if you draw this as a personality or your own path, be confident, but not arrogant. 

The Hermit Upright Meanings in Keywords

• The need for alone time
• Turned away from the world
• Thinking deeply
• Deciding what to do
• Coming out of you shell
• Mysterious person
• Walking alone

The Hermit Reversed Meanings in Keywords

• Reflecting on inner conflict
• Feelings as oppose to actions
• Withdrawn
• Egotistical
• Self defining

The Eight of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

The Eight of Cups can be a very hard card to have in a reading.

From the looks of the card itself, you can get the feeling of loss. On the Rider Waite deck, a man walks through stagnated water and is leaving the cups behind him. The card symbolism represents that you are moving on by your own accord. The sand around you right now is stagnant like that which the person in the card walks through. This is not healthy emotions in your life and you need to do what is best for you. Often, especially because this is a cups card, it is exceptionally difficult to go through this card because at one time the pools that were around you were wondrous, creative, and positive energies that have now died down.

It is interesting to note that while the blue representing spirituality or emotional issues is still present, the colors are darker. The issue in your life is not an easy one at this time. The card usually comes up during a time of loss and often this is revolving around a relationship of some kind. There is darkness to the card that in turn will usually represent aspects of your life right now. This card represents less of holding on to the past as it is a fear of moving forward. This is something that you need not fight as really, where else are you going to go? Now is the time to seek the higher road for your own health and sanity. It is obvious when this card comes up that you have tried your best and you have taken the steps to make the right choices for you. In the end you cannot change the past and you must accept what is in the present. Our lives are not stagnant things and while the energy around you may be turning sour, it is up to you to save yourself from that around which is unhealthy or holding you back.

The Eight of Cups vibrates the same goals and lessons of the Hermit card. It is sort of like the beginning of the Hermit’s journey where he heads to solitude to seek out wisdom and understanding. With the Eight of Cups, there is a spiritual sense to the card and the search you could be heading on is one of wisdom, but not wisdom alone. The path you are heading from, even though it did not end well – you will gain knowledge from this strife and grief. Little help is that now while you are still feeling the effects emotionally but with the card coming up now it also appears that you are doing what is best for yourself (or that you will). That can be a lot and later when you look back on this time you will know that you did all that you could.

The Eight of Cups in Love

Since the Eight of Cups is in the cups suit, it is often referring to relationships. In this case, unlike many other cup cards, it isn’t all good. In fact, it’s a pretty negative card for a relationship reading of any kind being that it shows a lack of positive energy in your current relationship if you are with someone. That doesn’t mean that nothing can be saved, but typically it will reflect a very bad place. The stagnation of the card shows that there is no real way to rekindle the fire of the relationship or that the well is poisoned. What has happened in the relationship is something that usually won’t be bounced back from. There are cases when the relationship can be salvaged but it usually indicates a need to start from scratch or that there will be a break up and then time will pass before any hope can be had for the future.

In the case that you are looking for love the card refers to a place for you now that is not one that is truly ready to be in a relationship. You appear to still be moving and healing from a past relationship and you have a bit more work before you are in the right place to start something new. The Eight of Cups in health means it is now is a time to focus on your healing. Not always but usually, the Eight of Cups will come up when there is a known health issue that is especially trying such as a cold that has turned into pneumonia, mental illnesses taking a turn for the worse, or any other health that continues to wane. There can be a sense of increased worry or anxiety over health which will continue to exacerbate the problem. It is important right now to break routines and buck the system. That doesn’t mean to stop following doctor’s orders, but rather… you need to be more compliant and find the desire to get better.

Often with this card there will be a sense of dwelling on the negative which is unhealthy in itself. Work on finding out all you can about what is going on with you as education is the best defense. Take time to focus on the positive in your life and the reasons that you want to be healthy. If you are feeling that you don’t trust those around you, get a second opinion. Do what you can to get in a better place mentally about your health so that you can be in a better place for healing physically.

The Eight of Cups can also refer to negative mental states and increased depression or psychiatric breaks. Since the card comes up often in very trying times in a person’s life, it can also be a difficult time emotionally. The card offers the advice that what you are going through right now is not permanent. Remember that you are not alone in this journey and if you choose to open up there are likely people around that can help and support you at this time.

The Eight of Cups in Work and Wealth

Financial losses and job losses often accompany this card, not because of bad work or poor financial judgment, but because of economy, poor business practices overall, or mismanaging money on a large scale (like in the case that your IRA or 401K made a bad choice with YOUR money). Now is a good time to take a look at your work and finances and get the facts. Know what is going on around you and be prepared for any negative changes that could end up affecting you negatively. Be smart with your finances and keep tabs on what others are doing with your money if they have access. Also, for the person looking for work, be mindful to look at all available career options that you can. Usually job issues – whether losing a job or seeking a job – are most effected by issues of layoffs and economy with this card and it can be a tough time in finding solid footing in work issues.

Reversed Eight of Cups in a reading

The Eight of Cups in reversed is almost a positive card. It does still represent loss, but the loss that is felt is not as deep. While you may find that you are walking away from something in your life, the darkness is not present and the view is bright. It is likely a move for the better on your path and one that you can feel good about. Even if you are feeling sad about moving on, know that the progression you are making now is for the best.

Upright Eight of Cups Meanings in Keywords

• Waking away
• Think about options
• Breaking up with a lover
• Emotional problems
• Abandonment

Reversed Eight of Cups Meanings in Keywords

• Trying once more
• Driving through situations
• Animalification
• Overwhelmed 

The Four of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning

When faced with the Four of Pentacles in a reading it can indicate a great success in your life but also calls for balance.

Like the man on the card, there is wealth around you and it can be a time to protect your ideas, money, or other material aspects. It is a positive card though as well. Having this card in your reading shows that you actually have items or ideas of in your life value that are worth protecting. Now is a time that you want to focus on bringing together the aspects of your life in which you feel wealth or success and build upon them. The Four of Pentacles is a grounding card and you may want to take stock in the things that you do have in your life, rather than what you do not have.

The Pentacles as a suit tend to have dual meanings to the cards, more so than any other suit. This is because there is difficulty in sorting out the energy at hand. It is very easy to give into the temptations of stability, wealth, or monetary items. More than any other suit, the call of the energy is easy to give into and there is usually not an instant consequence for doing too much when concerning the pentacles. Unlike fire where if you give in, you see passion or anger right away, the pentacles can cause stubbornness or sluggishness in your life before you even realize it.

The Four of Pentacles warns against guarding too much. While you have excess in some areas of your life, it is a call to share your joys rather than hording them to yourself. Consider ways in which you are not giving like you should or where you are being selfish in ways that are not to your benefit.

The Four of Pentacles in Love

In love, especially in a relationship, the Four of Pentacles indicates that you are likely guarding your relationship too close or holding on to someone too tight. It could also be that you are experiencing this from a partner. Either way you are dealing with almost a suffocating aspect in a relationship where there is not room enough to breathe. You need to focus on ways to make your relationship more open and free in order for the relationship to thrive.

When looking for love the Four of Pentacles indicates unrequited love. The energy of the card is intense and often too much for a budding relationship. Be sure that the affections that you are putting out at this time are ones that are working for you. Watch how others around you are receiving your attentions and be mindful of their wiliness to reciprocate. Avoid wasting your own time on avenues that are not going to develop and focus on ways in which you can show your affections without coming on too strong.

The Four of Pentacles in Health

With the Four of Pentacles energy around your health it can give a mixed signal. On one hand there are definitely things to be celebrated in health but then you have to also focus on specific health issues. Rather than having a focus on health and wellness right now, pay close attention to what your body is telling you. It is likely that issues revolving your health are forming due to either high stress or increased worry. You may find that issues related to laziness are also exacerbated at this time.

The Four of Pentacles in Work and Wealth

Like the man on the card, right now is likely a time to be holding on to your wealth and keeping your monies close to you. It is certainly not a time to put yourself out there or to take a risk. Focus on areas of wealth that you can build on in the future and make sure that you sort out any budgeting or planning. In the work arena you want to be exceptionally careful about who is sniffing around your work right now. Either due to keeping a project secret or wanting to make sure that others are not taking your ideas and using them as their own. Not to say to be paranoid, but you really want to cover your behind in the work area to make sure that you are getting the credit where you deserve.

As always you want to be wary of being paranoid or sketchy. The card doesn’t tell you to share at all. In fact, it can be a good idea to give SOME information out to coworkers, especially if you are required to work as a team. It’s just a card to tell you to take extra caution at this time… more than you normally would.

Reversed Four of Pentacles in a reading

The Four of Pentacles in the reversed position is a much more laid back card then when viewed upright. The reversed position says that you need to take time to allow yourself to experience generosity and freedom. Rather than instructing you to old on tightly to things or ideas and to seek balance while keeping these aspects to yourself, the reversed position allows for the sharing of excess. There is still a call to seek out balance but it is more of a suggestion than a demand that is placed upon you. When in the reversed position it can be a great time to plan for the future and start a new project. You have the ability and the time to dally along your path right now and you don’t have to make any hard or fast decisions. It’s a good time to consider the next step in a relationship or be open to casual relationships that have a strong potential to grow into more.

The one big caution found with the reversed Four of Pentacles is that it can represent an abuse of power around you. It is usually less of an indicator that you are the abuser and more of an issue of someone around causing problems because they are abusing their status. Typically this will be seen in the work place as a person who is not a boss or management, but a person who is acting more important than they are.

Upright Four Of Pentacles Meanings in Keywords

• Possessiveness
• Saving Money
• Protecting your assets
• Wealth
• The builder and Worker
• Hard Work
• Miser

Reversed Four of Pentacles Meanings in Keywords

• Greed
• Spending Too Much
• Protecting Assets
• Penny Pinching