Hermits around the web – Hermitary
news, sites, and pages of interest about hermits and solitude
On Being features the poem/film “How to Be Alone” by the Irish-born poet Pádraig Ó Tuama. A small short piece reflecting on the topic of self and world.
“How to Be Alone” by Pádraig Ó Tuama, A Poetry Film by Leo G Franchi.
More information on the Youtube page, including links to On Being.
ABC/RN (Australi anBroadcasting Corporation/Radio News) offers a profile of women hermits in New York City and beyond in its article: “A secret society of ‘Hermettes’ is reclaiming and celebrating female aloneness.” From the opening paragraphs:
“Risa Mickenberg lives in a stylish New York City apartment, but she prefers to call the dwelling something else: Her “cave”.
Despite being in close proximity to around eight million other people, Ms Mickenberg shuns many social connections and relationships. Instead, she enjoys time in her cave or experiencing the world outside alone.
And she’s not the only one living like this. Ms Mickenberg is the founder of “Hermettes”, a secret society of like-minded women who are reclaiming and celebrating female aloneness.”
URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-11/hermettes-secret-society-risa-mickenberg/101212682
An article in the Panama City Herald titled “Meet Teddy, the St. Andrews Hermit” describes the Norway-born Theodore Tollefsen (1882-1954). He fished as a young man, sailing the world, settling in 1906 on the northeast Florida gulf coast to live on his boat from fishing. The 1929 hurriane reached this part of Florida and destroyed his boat, but Teddy remained in the vicinity, rebuilding his life, gradually more separate from town and populace by natural and artificial causeways. He became a hermit.
Nippon.com and The Japan Times report on a recent Tokyo (Edogawa municipality) survey on the status of hikikomori:
From this sample, the numberof hikikomori is increasing slightly. According to the survey, one of seventy-six residents of Tokyo municipality Edogawa is living in social withdrawal. More interestingly, perhaps, is the increased age of the hikikomori. When the phenomenon was first observed in the nineties, most hikkikomori were in their twenties. Now the majority are in their forties, followed by fifties, followed by thirties. Perhaps many are the same individuals grown older.
“The most common triggers for becoming a social recluse,” notes the survey report, “included illness requiring long-term medical treatment, not fitting in well at work, or an unsuccessful job search.” The report also pursues responses of hikikomori to their circumstances. “When asked what they want, 32% responded that nothing was needed as the current situation is fine, which is much higher than the 21% who wanted to prepare for a job search or the 15% who hoped to be able to work, even if just for a short period of time.”
Many hikikomori living alone did not seek public assistance, while those living in a household did, or had family members doing so on their behalf. “62% of the social recluses said they had not sought any assistance or support from governmental institutions or other organizations regarding their situation. That contrasted with the responses of people who had a hikikomori in the family, 55% of which said they had sought help from outside parties.”
URL: https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01358/ and https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/06/13/national/social-issues/edogawa-hikikomori-survey/
Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy) offers a report on painter-artist Gabriele, who was a “rising artist.” The article summarizes his artistic life:
“In 2006 Gabriele won the ManinFesto competition at the Villa Manin Contemporary Art Center. In 2008 he was among the seven winners of the Terna 01 award and in 2009 he qualified among the finalists of the second round. Thanks to this recognition he exhibited at the Chelsea Art Museum in New York. He has participated in art fairs in Bologna, Verona, Turin (Artissima), Karlsruhe, and the Pulse in Miami. A canvas of Gabriele appears in the Oscar-winning film La Grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino. His works are part of important public and private collections .”
Then, one day, Gabriele gave it all up — and became a hermit. He became Friar Gabriele (Fra Gabriele) and moved to Romita di Cesi, in the province ofTerni in central Italy. Romita di Cesi was originally a medieval Franciscan hermitage, since long abandoned, only refurbished in 1991 by by its only resident, 83-year old Fra Bernardino. The hermitage today serves as a retreat house. Fra Gagriele lives an eremitic life there but regularlyvhelps Fra Bernardino with chores inthe garden and preparing firewood.