New Year 2025: The Year of the Hermit

The Hermit, by Helene Lenoble. Print available for purchase at the artist's website, https://helenelenoble.com/en/

On November 6th, I posted on Threads that 2025's card of the year, numerically, is the Hermit. If you click that link, though, you'll also see my feelings about that in the moment, which were what we might call "unenthusiastic." The Hermit is a card that I hold very dear; it is my birth card, after all, & one of the first that I look at when I'm considering the purchase of a deck. It is a card that traditionally speaks to the search for knowledge & wisdom in solitude, of stepping into a period of recognizing & reclaiming one's own autonomy & authority, & a willingness to move forward little by little, trusting that all that is needed will be revealed in due course, rather than all at once.

The Hermit as depicted in The Housewives' Tarot by Jude Buffum and P. Kepple.

The concept of good things coming from solitude has been expanded upon by many intuitive readers, which has added the context of needing to isolate in order to strip away excess, release baggage, re-examine priorities, & focus on self care, as one might do in, say, a relaxing bubble bath, like the Hermit in the Housewives' Tarot, above.

In general, many readers view this card as a symbol of "walking by faith," hope, the light at the end of the tunnel, & so on, sentiments with which I am inclined to agree. However, in an effort to avoid toxic positivity, I think it's important to consider an additional perspective.

As I mentioned in my post on Threads, my concern for this upcoming year is that times are going to be exceptionally difficult, & potentially very dangerous- even moreso than what some might expect. Looking at the two depictions of the Hermit I've included thus far, that may seem like unfounded skepticism or negativity, but here's the thing: light literally cannot exist without darkness.

The Hermit as depicted in the Waite-Smith deck, illustrated by Pamela Coleman-Smith.

In the illustration of the Hermit created by Pamela Coleman-Smith, we see a robed, hooded figure standing against a gray background. It's not obviously midnight or anything, but we know it's meant to be very dark by how brightly the star within the lantern is shining. This Hermit would have no need of his lantern were things not foreboding, but laid out clearly, unobstructed. There would be no need to search for knowledge if knowledge were plainly accessible. And so, we can only surmise the opposite circumstances are (or are going to be) in place.

The same applies to the Housewives' Hermit. She would not need to let go of baggage if she weren't carrying those bags in the first place. She would not need to seek rest or care if they were easily obtainable prior. Most of us can probably see ourselves in her example the most. When do we most want to withdraw to the sanctity of a hot, uninterrupted shower or bubble bath? When do we find those things most restorative?

Even in the beautiful artwork created by Helene Lenoble which is featured at the beginning of this entry, the Hermit stands against ominous skies, surrounded by fog, her lantern only illuminating the path immediately in front of her, which wouldn't be necessary if the way forward was known to be an easy path to trod, so, again, we know it most likely is not.

Lest you think that I am about to prop up a sign reading, "abandon hope, all ye who enter here" before dashing away into my own little hideaway, there's another facet common to all of these depictions of the Hermit that is, perhaps, the most important: despite the perilousness, the uncertainty, the weariness that has brought all to the point at which we currently meet them, all of them are looking forward. Despite the fact that we've met them all in a moment of introspective pause, all of them are preparing to go further on their journeys. And because they do, there will be discoveries, there will be knowledge gained, there will be new paths forged. Because of the light they carry into the world, even though they feel they are going alone, there will be less darkness for all that they encounter along the way.

This is what I mean when I say I believe that the call from the Hermit this year is to be the light.

The Hermit does not ask us to charge ahead recklessly in our pursuits, to ignore everything we encounter, to embody the proverbial bull in the china shop. Instead, the Hermit reinforces the importance of being as aware of our environment & circumstances as we can be, pausing when we need to, & moving forward with consideration of impact along with conscious intention, because even when we believe ourselves to be completely alone, there is no action we can take that does not impact another in some way (see 'the butterfly effect').

To put it as succinctly as I can, it's about doing what we can, when we can, as thoughtfully as we can.

It's a good reminder any time, really, but one I think we'll find ourselves referencing often as we go into 2025.

May we all find the light we need to guide us in the year ahead. ***

If you are interested in learning more about your birth card, your card of the year for 2025, or would like a personalized reading, please do not hesitate to reach out!

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