Twinn Swan

The hermit archetype is found in virtually all spiritual and religious traditions that I can think of. From the sannyasi babas of Hinduism to the Benedictine monks of Catholicism, the path of the hermit is a choice that some select souls choose to make regardless of their religious beliefs and affiliations.

The hermit is particularly prevalent and you could even say held up as an ideal in Buddhism. He is the monk. He has renounced the world, his possessions, his family and sometimes even his culture, his homeland and his traditions. He has left it all behind in search of an even greater treasure. It is not material treasures that he is seeking, but that which exists beyond it.

The hermit is always alone. All he usually has with him is a staff and a lamp. This indicates that he has accepted that some measure of solitude and seclusion will always be a part of his life, even if he is part of a sangha. The hermit archetype grows particularly strong in individuals who will have to contend with some strong measure of solitude in their lives. The solitude I speak of is a conscious choice. It has not been imposed upon them.

Abandonment is usually a strong theme that comes up with the hermit archetype. Either one has chosen to abandon someone or one has been abandoned. This isolation, this seclusion and this solitude is uncomfortable for the vast majority of people. Humans are, for the most part, social creatures. We would rather be with people than be alone. Anyone who has ever mediated knows how torturous it can be to sit still with our own thoughts. And yet, the hermit has made the decision to deal with the vast terrain of his subconscious mind. The truth is that it is the fear of discomfort that stops us from resolving either buried issues or even new issues.

The hermit has chosen to leave something–or someone–behind for a reason. He knows that for some reason or another, he can never go back to what and who he left behind. Part of the reason is that the long period of withdrawal and soul-searching has transformed him. He is now a new person. Once the past is resolved and released, it ceases to be a part of one’s identity. One’s awareness begins to change and one is then able to ‘become’ something else.

Abandonment requires us to walk away from people and situations that were part of our initial plan. It is renunciation that allows us to leave behind all the bad situations that we know cannot come with us as we embark on a new journey. This, in turn, brings us to the voyage of self-discovery. The hermit archetype can be an encouragement and perhaps even a plea to the rest of us to take some much-needed time out to do some soul-searching and introspection.

Moving On

Are you afraid to move on from a past life? It could even be a past life that you’ve led in your current life. If so, be cautioned as that fear of letting go and moving on can lead to stagnation.

Have you explored the other options that are available to you? Are you willing to embark on an entirely new journey? When the hermit appears, one realises that the only person who can make that big change is YOU. No one is going to rescue you. No one will be allowed to hold your hand.

Get ready to make some big changes to the way that you live your life. The hermit archetype can be a lifelong choice or even a significant phase. It may last a few years or till the end of your days. It is a valid choice, and many still make it, even in our modern world.

A profound emotional journey is on the cards for you if the hermit archetype becomes strong in your life–whether it is for a short period or whether it’s a lifelong commitment. This journey is destined to be a significant one. The hermit asks us to reflect on why people choose to stick to traditions and conventions. This is usually rooted in our inability to let go. It is either our strong attachment or our need for control that will not allow us to move forward.

By exploring your deeper emotions, you allow yourself to understand what karmic balancing is required to take place in your life. Karmic balancing is nothing more than releasing that which did not work out for us.

It is abandoning the past and seizing the future.