The Hermit is the 9th card in the Tarot's Major Arcana. It reminds us of the deep inner wisdom we all hold. It encourages us to become familiar and comfortable with tuning in to our inner knowledge. The Hermit is not about being solitary or disconnecting from the world. It is about building our relationship with ourselves so we are aligned and fortified in our relationship with the world. For the Hermit, there is no teacher, no priest, no guru, no guide - you are the mentor you seek.
 
Turtles are one of the oldest living species. They originated during the Permian period and are older than dinosaurs, crocodiles, sharks, and of course much older than the first living Homo sapiens. Unlike their land-going siblings, sea turtles do not tuck their heads into their shells. They are air breathing reptiles with lungs so they regularly surface to breathe and have an amazing capacity to hold their breath for long periods. Six out of the seven species of sea turtles are now threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List.