Hermits

Hermits are individuals who choose to live in seclusion from mainstream society, often to pursue spiritual, philosophical, or personal goals. The term implies voluntary withdrawal from regular social contact for extended periods and a deliberate program of contemplation or discipline. Hermits are distinguished from recluses, who withdraw for reasons such as anxiety or fear without a stated spiritual or practical aim.

Historically, hermitic life is linked to ascetic traditions around the world. In early Christianity, the Desert Fathers and Mothers withdrew to deserts in Egypt and the Levant to practice prayer and ascetic discipline. During the medieval period, anchorites and anchoresses enclosed themselves in small cells attached to churches, sometimes for life. Similar patterns occur in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and other traditions, where renunciation of household life is pursued to seek liberation, enlightenment, or detachment. Hermits also inhabited remote mountains, forests, or caves, often living under vows or rules.

Practice and daily life vary, but common elements include long periods of meditation, prayer, study, or mindfulness, with possessions kept to a minimum. Contact with others is usually restricted to mentors, patrons, or occasional visitors, and many hermits sustain themselves through subsistence work or charitable support. In contemporary contexts, some hermits live off-grid in cabins or retreat houses, while others maintain a hybrid lifestyle that allows limited communication or travel. Safety, health, and legal considerations are factors in modern arrangements.

See also: anchorite, anchoritism, asceticism, solitude, hermitage.