Most mystics are hermits, or at least semi-hermits. A hermit is an individual who intentionally withdraws from ordinary social life in order to cultivate silence, solitude, and simplicity, with the aim of deepening their spiritual life.
This withdrawal may be physical, living in remote or sparsely populated places. But it can also be social, living quietly within society while deliberately limiting interaction. This is the case for most modern hermits.
A hermit may have a spouse or partner, provided the relationship supports rather than obstructs the contemplative aspiration. What defines a hermit is not geography or marital status, but the deliberate orientation toward solitude as a primary mode of life.
Most of the world’s religions have their hermits. These hermits tend to be—or eventually become—mystics. Spend enough time alone, and you begin to encounter Ultimate Reality. You cannot spend much time with people and much time with reality; eventually, you have to choose.
