The Hermit represents the inner search for self.  It is the solitary quest many people experience when they are trying to gain insight into their life.  It can also symbolize the need for guidance, wisdom and caution.  I can symbolize temporarily withdrawing from others or from your normal environment in order to get some perspective on your situation.  You already have all the knowledge and wisdom needed to understand what has been happening but not it's time to think things through before rejoining others.  The Hermit is also the 9th card in the Major Arcana.  9 (1+8=9) is a mathematically magical number - its square root is three and the sum of any number multiplied by nine equals nine when added together (e.g.. 9 x 8 = 72, 7 + 2 = 9).  Nines can represent struggle, attainment, having the end in sight, bringing things to an end, completion and conclusion.  The Hermit is about seeking your inner self, the knowledge that will allow you to learn more about yourself and what you truly wish to achieve in your life.  

"Reversed:  You are withdrawing within yourself to think things through.  You may be going through the motions of your everyday activities but, emotionally, you have withdrawn.  You feel this is necessary in order for you to sort things out alone.
Negative:  Separation from your regular activities and friends is a problem for you at this time.  By removing yourself from others, you are depriving yourself of the perspective that they can give you.  You really don't have enough information to figure things out alone" - Gail Fairfield.

The Wormweird Hermit sits there in all his skeletal glory with a bottle of absinthe at his side.  He is alone, solitary but not necessarily lonely.  He feels the need to explore absinthe's effects on his own without the influence of anyone else.  The bottle of absinthe is bigger than the Hermit's head.  And his top hat adds an element of whimsy and class at the same time.  He seems like a decayed, ragged bon vivant who was willing to stride forth into the darkness that absinthe provides so that he could light the way for others and explore uncharted territory.  I would bet that he had every intention of returning even after death to share what he learned with others.  Or perhaps he planned to hoard it for himself but he would definitely let others know that he had learned something.

The pumpkin-head figure on the All Hallows Hermit reminds me of Jack Skellington - King of Halloween Town in Nightmare Before Christmas.  Jack was willing to explore uncharted and unknown territory in his quest for knowledge and experience.  He went beyond the borders of his own existence to see what was there and ultimately bring that knowledge back to his subjects.  

In both cases the sense I get is that these figures were willing to put themselves at risk by entering the darkness in search of answers.  I think that is the point.  I need to look into the darkness within myself and find the answers I seek.  The reality is that they are within me but I need to shine a little light on them.  Due to its reversed nature, I think The Hermit is letting me know that I need to explore my internal world rather than an external one.  I need to find the answers I seek and the only way to do that is to shine some light into those dark spaces inside myself that I prefer to avoid.  It can be a scary and lonely experience but ultimately will allow me to find the answers I need so that I can move forward.  Of course it's also interesting that this is a Major Arcana card which suggests that even accepting that I need to brighten up those dark spots is a step in the right direction and can lead to some major changes in my life.  Right now, that sounds like a wonderful thing.

This card also ties in quite nicely with the message I received from the Page of Ghosts on Saturday.  It reinforces the need to explore areas within myself that I've been avoiding or perhaps more accurately , letting lie dormant.  Being in a bit of a period of hibernation means I've let quite a few things fall by the wayside.  I guess it's time for that to stop.