LONESOME TAROT: THE HERMIT

What better aegis for the first issue of Lonesome than the figure of The Hermit—solitary, standing aside from the world for the purposes of reflection and commitment to process. 

The Hermit, however, can guide their way back to the world by following this purpose, which is symbolized by the lantern they hold out, casting light into the night that surrounds them. The lantern may not illuminate the whole path ahead, but it certainly lights the next few paces, encouraging a trust in intuition, personal resources, and ability to move into the unknown in pursuit of a goal. The Hermit’s remove is not necessarily permanent and often involves separation from the world in order to give back to the world. It is the position of those who see beyond the social sphere in order to better understand and care for it—the witch at the edge of town where she can commune with plants foraged for healing; the sage living deep in the mountains with maximal space for philosophical contemplation; religious ascetics in convents and monasteries pouring days into careful work; writers and artists burning midnight oil to keep company with just their thoughts. 

The Greek roots of the word also connect the Hermit with wilderness and wild places, referencing devotees who lived in the desert (erēmitēs). The traditional design of the card shows a hooded figure standing on a snow-covered mountain top holding their lantern and a staff for balance: hermit but also wanderer. The figure of the crone, the recluse, the drifter is often met with anxiety and mockery. However this contempt reflects little more than the fear of being alone, a fear that may prevent us from seeing the bigger picture, as the Hermit does from their remote vantage point.

Immersed in day-to-day life we risk missing, as Michelle Tea writes, “the deep and deeply important things we gain from our time alone.” The Hermit on their journey carries the lessons to be learned when we choose to be lonesome.