In magical numerology, 2025 is the year of The Hermit, because 2 + 0 + 2 + 5 = 9, which is the number of The Hermit card in tarot.
So, the question is, how might this affect us as individuals, as well as our larger society?
This is just speculation on my part, but we in the U.S. have just gone through a very contentious election, so whether you are happy with the results or unhappy with the results, a lot of people are sick and tired of the social strife, and may decide to just turn inward, focus on their own interests, and avoid friends and family members who still want to argue politics.
Alternatively, it is possible that some situation could arise that would result in enforced isolation, so I hope we won’t be experiencing another pandemic, (though I am optimistic that we’ve gotten better at managing epidemic situations).
Also, in earlier days before the card was labeled “The Hermit,” it just portrayed an old man carrying an hourglass, (the archetype of the “Senex”), so the focus was on aging and the wisdom of elders. For our society, issues around aging and elder care could come into prominence. [I also note that we’ve just replaced one very elderly president with questionable mental acuity with another very elderly one, so that might have some implications for government and for society.]
Regardless of what else is going on in the world, taking some time for quiet reflection is good for introverts and extraverts alike. If you are in a living situation where you feel constantly put upon, and The Hermit card comes up in a tarot reading for advice, you can see the appearance of The Hermit as giving you permission to carve out some time and space alone for yourself.
Here is a snippet about The Hermit from a book I am
currently working on:
Seeking Solitude: In an extraverted society, introverts often
find themselves apologizing for their desire for solitude. If you feel guilty about wanting time to
yourself, let the appearance of The Hermit card signal a time to indulge in
what Nietzsche called, “the good solitude, the free, high-spirited,
light-hearted solitude that, in some sense, gives you the right to stay good
yourself.” If your life circumstances
have necessitated your living alone, you can also find some philosophical
solace in Nietzsche, who noted, “To live alone one must be a beast or a god,
says Aristotle. Leaving out the third
case: one must be both—a philosopher.”
If your circumstances are so unfortunate that you can’t find decent
people to associate with, then take to heart the words of the Buddha, who said,
“Better it is to live alone; there is no fellowship with a fool. Live alone and do no evil; be carefree like
an elephant in the elephant forest.”
