Though the hermit withdrew from society, he or she did not withdraw from humanity ~ Rachel Pollack (Author of Seventy eight degrees of wisdom - a book I highly recommend if you want to learn more about Tarot).
2024 saw us drawing on the strength card (which is still so needed, wow humanity is going through a lot), and 2025 brings us to the Hermit’s self reflection & guiding wisdom, retreating from our outerworld and exploring our innerworld.
The Hermit card encourages us to look within and to understand that true insight & healing comes from honest self reflection. This year is a Year 9 (2+0+2+5=9) which is why 2025 correlates with The Hermit tarot card (ninth trump in the major arcana), it is also the last single digit number, in numerology, 9 signifies completion and the end of a cycle, making way for a new one. What have we learnt from our past experiences? What do we need to carry with us into this new cycle and what needs to be left behind?
The secondary tarot card for this year is The Moon (eighteenth trump card in the major arcana, 1+8=9), which is directly related to the Hermit - if you look at both cards side by side you see the similarities (mountain peaks, faces are both facing the same way, both are set in the darkness with a guiding light), they both represent solitude and connecting with our higher self. The Hermit holds a lantern in front of us and guides us on our journey along the Moon’s windy path.
Entering a year of solitude and reflection isn't asking us to bury our heads in the sand, it's asking us to take responsibility for past actions, work through both the joys and challenges of our experiences, and uncover deeper truths about ourselves. Creating this space allows the hidden aspects of our psyche to emerge, guiding us toward alignment with our soul's path. It’s an opportunity to reflect on our personal and collective thoughts, feelings, and experiences so we can discover how to truly show up as a beacon in the darkness—for ourselves, loved ones, our communities, and humanity.
Sending you love & blessings for 2025, Shani xx