Becoming a hermit is a difficult and challenging task. It takes a lot of dedication, restraint, and self-discipline. There are many different ways to become a hermit, but the best way to find out is to explore different options and find the path that works best for you.
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What is the best way to become a hermit?
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Becoming a hermit is a difficult task, as it requires a great deal of dedication and self-discipline. Many people view hermits as reclusive and antisocial individuals, but this is not always the case. A hermit can be someone who is simply looking for a quiet and peaceful lifestyle, away from the distractions of the modern world. There are many ways to become a hermit, and each individual will have to decide which is the best for them. Some people may choose to live in a remote location, while others may prefer to live solitary lives within a small community. Whatever the chosen method, the key is to find a way to balance solitude with social interaction.
I view the term “Hermit,” to be describing one who lives a contemplative existence, one who seeks to be away from the world in order to discover their own truth, the truth of God — without all the nonsensical human chatter.
If I had a decision to either be with people or be alone out in the middle of nowhere, I went out in the middle of nowhere.
I’ve done remarkably well, following that archetype. My quest has led me to be an atheist, but I’m still mystified and stand in awe of the universe — and humanity’s impact on our planet.
…Ya know, it just sounds so insane when I think about it, but man, I am an archetype.
…let me get all dramatic here for a moment…ahem…
I live out on the windy plains, miles and miles from civilization, 30 miles from a gas station, and 90 miles from a traffic light. It’s in the Dust Bowl, the part that people just couldn’t live in and left. It can be miserably cold. The swarms of insects come in nightmarish proportions. We’ve been hit by a tornado, lightning, and lots and lots of hail damage. No house insurance.
It’s a rough place to live. It’s an aging and shrinking population. 20 years ago there were about 30 people in a 10 mile radius from my house. I think there’s less than 10 now…maybe 15…I don’t get out much.
It’s a gorgeous here. The night sky is full of stars. I used to do a lot of traveling and didn’t care for a lot of what I saw. Now, I live under the biggest sky in the U.S. The house sits on a little hill where it’s constantly getting hit by sandstorms and blizzards. It’s built out of hand-hewn sandstone. It was originally built without plumbing and electricity.
In other words, I live in an old sandstone hovel out on the prairie, with just a few dying trees whipping around in the wind. (If there’s any interest, I’ll think about a few pictures.)
And after understanding the history of the area and learning about how the Natives lived, nobody has every lived here the way we’ve lived. I am the stupidest of stupid white men.
My wife and I are minimalists, survivalists, and vegan.
I’m a happy little hermit.
I made a friend in the army who’s family homesteaded here. They wanted someone to live in the house. My wife and I gratefully accepted. We live in what looks like poverty. We improvise. (The Internet is so nice to have for inspiration!) Nobody cares what we do or how we live. They’re just amazed that someone wants to live here — it’s not that I want to live here, just I see no other option. It’s insanity, it has to be.
I don’t talk to people unless they show up at the door, which rarely happens. (I do have fun with Jehovah’s Witnesses though…drives my wife nuts.) I have one friend who comes to see me every year or two. We go to town maybe once every three months for dog food. We live on dehydrated food and whatever we grow/forage. (It’s sooo nice being able to order food online.)
I contemplate the cycles of nature, the rhythms of human behavior, the complexities of conflicts. My wife has her own things that she thinks about in her quest. I often think we really don’t understand each other, but I am incredibly grateful to have her around.
I guess my point is that if you’re on the path of being a hermit, you’ll find your way. (And if you’re incredibly lucky, you’ll find one who’s path is next to yours.)
Just be careful, because I’ve found it’s one of those things that once you start, you can never quit — ever.
It’s like, “Um, hey, universe? Hello? Can I do something else now? It’s getting kinda cold.” …and all I hear is laughter.
Once you step onto the path of a hermit, you can’t step off until you’re done. And you don’t get to decide where the finish line is. Don’t say nobody warned you. When you wake up day after day asking yourself and the Universe, “What else do I have to do to get this to stop? Can I come back now?” It’s gonna get cold and lonely. And then it’ll get colder. Sometimes people die. Apparently, that’s a very important part of it.
It’s a rather unglamorous and uncomfortable archetype. But I do feel like an honest-to-god modern-day hermit/scribe…with Internet. How cool is that?
My step-by-step guide on “How to be a Hermit.”
(Please bear in mind that this is what I’ve defined for myself, what I strive for —and often fail to do.)
Put yourself as far away from civilization as you possibly can. Always look for ways to get out there. Go spend time in nature, away from all the noise and lights — go as far as you possibly can. Ideally, until you see no lights on the horizon.
Live there. Find a cave, old house, something nobody else wants. Figure out how make a living for yourself. Grow a garden for food. (I still have to use money, but I don’t like it. I find what my tax dollars are used for to be abhorrent. I don’t like the fruits of my labor to be used for harm. But the world is what it is.)
Forsake all desires and human comforts. Live without hot water, laundry machines, TV’s, electronic devices, furniture, refrigeration, all the good stuff that humans make. One way or another you will learn that your wants are asinine. Don’t worry, if you don’t understand it, the rats will teach you. The things you do get from humans, appreciate the hell out of.
Learn to use clay, wood, stone, and how to make simple tools to minimize your demand on mankind. Learn how to innovate with local materials.
Minimize your demand on mankind. Take nothing, but give everything. (It’s quite a challenge.)
Spend time with the plants. Grow things. Care for them. (So much wisdom is gained from gardening, even when the crop is decimated by locusts overnight…)
Read. (I don’t do this nearly as often as I want to, but then I’m also a transcriber, so my type of hermit is a little weird…twitchy eye and crazy hair weird.)
Take long walks. Observe sunsets. Pay attention to what the birds have to say. (By the way, I’m a little freaked out by what’s going on with the insects this year. Something is really off.)
Scream your soul out into the wind and weep copious tears for the suffering in the world.
Play music and dance in the moonlight.
…and about 15 years later…from the other direction…I like rainbows 🙂
And if you look real closely at that the clump above, there’s that dead looking tree thing to the left of the rainbow. The one below was taken from between the house and that fuzzy thing. This is that dead looking tree.
”How do you become a hermit?”
There are a few different levels to hermitage – the hermit lifestyle; some will simply live away from others but keep some technology around, while others may be completely tech-free to the point of going without power, without running water, and only eating basic foods grown on their own land.
There is no clear answer to this question. Some people may choose to become hermits because they find the lifestyle peaceful and calming, while others may do so because they want to escape the hustle and bustle of society. Ultimately, becoming a hermit is a personal choice that depends on a variety of factors, including the individual’s temperament and interests.
Do hermits live longer?
Social butterflies live longer than hermits. That’s what scientists, researchers and any person over age 90 will tell you. Certainly, good habits like nutrition and exercise play a role in your longevity. But it appears that eating right and getting the old heart pumping will only take you so far.
The average lifespan of a hermit is much longer than the average lifespan of a person in the general population. This may be due to a variety of factors, including the fact that hermits are generally healthier, more active, and have a lower rate of chronic diseases. Additionally, hermits tend to have a more positive outlook on life, which may lead to a longer life.
How do hermit people live?
(Caves are a popular dwelling for hermits of yore, and occasionally, hermits of today.) There are Buddhist hermits and Hindu hermits. There are hermits who live alone, and hermits who live in close proximity to other hermits. Many hermits live mostly in silence, but they aren’t all cut off.
Hermit people live a solitary life in order to have peace and quiet. They may live in a small area or in a cave. They may have few possessions and may have to find food and water.
Are hermits lonely?
Hermits have never been quite as isolated as many assume: They have often attracted devotees and have always had to earn their own living, which means allowing for some contact with the outside world. Contemporary hermits might take jobs that require little human interaction, like cleaning houses.
Are hermits lonely? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the answer will depend on the individual hermit’s personality and lifestyle. However, in general, it is likely that many hermits are lonely, as they tend to live isolated lives and eschew social interaction. Some hermits may find solace in their beliefs and find joy in solitude, while others may find the isolation too overwhelming and instead yearn for human companionship. Regardless of the hermit’s individual feelings, it is safe to say that being lonely is a common challenge for those who live a solitary lifestyle.
What do hermits do all day?
As for the interior, generally hermits desire simple lives. Some have cable, computers, and are connected, while others spend their hours praying, gardening, and being entirely removed from the outside world.
Hermits spend their days in quiet contemplation, reading or writing, tending the gardens or animals they care for, or simply enjoying the peace and solitude of their surroundings. Many hermits also practice a form of self-denial, foregoing material goods in order to focus on spiritual growth.
