For awhile now I’ve pondered developing two new “Pages” in which I’d share thoughts and information on two hermit topics. Some of you may not know much about actual hermit life, today.  Wh0 is a hermit…and why?  Where does a hermit live, and what does a hermit “do”, and when?  How does a hermit live, and what is a hermitage of today?

For now, I’ll title this “Page” of on-going sharing as, Inside the Hermitage: Circa 21st Century.  Giving the time period is necessary, for many have perceptions of the what, where, who, why, when and how of a hermit that simply are out-dated or inaccurate.  I will share results of a simple, online survey that, while not statistically definitive, did tell me that perceptions of hermits are what we would term a flawed stereotype.

The other “Page” being developed is titled:  Hermits to Know and Love.  In this topic, I will write of various hermits in recent and past history–many of them probably unknown to most readers but very much worth getting to know…and come to love.

Perhaps the more we understand about the vocation and life of hermits now and then, the more we may discover there is a hermit in each of us to varying degrees.  Maybe the topics of these two, new Pages will stir some of you to strive in some aspects of hermit life in the tangible temporal, as well as in the interior, spiritual ways. The writing of these topics will certainly be of benefit to this hermit, as it will help me with daily discerning and living the vocation–also called the eremitic life.

You will no doubt have some surprises coming your way, for most of us (even this Joyful Hermit) have not discovered fully the benefits of being a hermit–in little ways or on a larger scale.  While perhaps none of you will realize a spiritual vocation as a hermit, by getting to know historical hermits as well as a glimpse inside the life and times of a contemporary hermit, the information might be applicable in some way to anyone’s life.