posted October 20, 2007 10:16 PM         

And HSC - true about the solitude aspect of it, but I think people make "being alone" sound way worse than it really is.

People assume that being a loner is some form of disorder or disease...

posted October 20, 2007 10:17 PM         

quote:

---

many people will acknowledge Callas's greatness. But they cannot forgive Callas for one reason above all others: Callas was great, and she knew it. In a culture drowning in mediocrity,... true greatness makes us profoundly uncomfortable. We don't know how to relate to it, and we think it reflects badly on us....
Many of us will permit Callas her greatness, provided she is humble about it.

---

quote:

---

Many of us recoil at the sight of genuine greatness: we seek to minimize it, find fault with it, or diminish it. If actual faults present themselves, we seize on them with an eagerness that is both revealing and deplorable. If those faults are not enough, we invent others.

---

TELL ME ABOUT IT.

posted October 20, 2007 10:25 PM         

The majority of people are extraverts,
and, as the majority defines popular opinion,
it stands to reason that introversion will be popularly misunderstood,
and denounced as an aberration.

But all the truly great ones have sought solitude,
and entered society only to speak great truths,
to minister to others,
and/or to gratify that longing for society
which is present in all of us, to some degree.

posted October 20, 2007 10:27 PM         

"Wise men speak because they have something to say;
fools, because they have to say something."
~ Plato

"We are frequently engaged in many places at once,
and present nowhere."
~ Coltin

posted October 20, 2007 10:31 PM         

oh, great!

posted October 21, 2007 03:13 AM         

Is that so?
In my copy of Jung it is spelled with an "a".

quote:

---

You guys help give Capricorns some people to relate to.

---

DarknessAndLight,

Welcome!

Thank you.

I see a lot of things in those eyes.

But, no, its not too personal.
And, yes, I'm a sad guy.

posted October 21, 2007 03:19 AM         

THE HERMIT
Basic Card Symbols

A robed man or monk carrying a lantern. A barren landscape.

Basic Tarot Story

After a long and busy lifetime, building, creating, loving, hating, fighting, compromising, failing, succeeding, the Fool feels a profound need to retreat. In a small, rustic home deep in the woods, he hides, reading, cleaning, organizing, resting or just thinking. But every night at dusk he head out, traveling across the bare, autumnal landscape. He carries only a staff and a lantern.

It is during these restless walks from dusk till dawn, peering at and examining whatever takes his fancy, that he sees and realizes things he's missed, about himself and the world. It is as if the secret corners in his head were being slowly illuminated, corners he never knew existed. In a way, he has become the Fool again; as in the beginning, he goes wherever inspiration leads him. But as the Fool, his staff rested on his shoulder, carrying unseen his pack. The Fool was like the pack, whatever it was he could be was wrapped up, unknown. The Hermit's staff leans out before him, not behind. And it carries a lantern, not a pack. The Hermit is like the lantern, illuminated from within by all he is.

Basic Tarot Meaning

Represented by Virgo, the Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. This is not a time for socializing; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. Nor is it a time for action, discussion or decisions. It is a time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent during this time of withdrawal. But such times lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

In regards to people, the Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist, someone the Querent usually sees alone, someone the rest of the Querent's friends and family may not know about. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing. They will help the Querent find what it is they are seeking.

Thirteen's Observations

One of the important things about this card is that the Hermit is always shown on the move. He's never locked away in his reclusive cell, he's always out wandering, searching. That, to me, is a Virgo. I'm married to one, I know. The Hermit is the restless mind of the Virgo, always gathering information, analyzing, making connections. Virgos are skeptics, and if anyone is going to stick a lantern into a dark place and take a good look at what's going on, it is a Virgo.

The Hermit is a card of connections and enlightenment. Combined with a desire to just "be alone," the Querent who gets this card is probably feeling impatient with people who disturb their peace or who can't see what they're seeing ("Are you blind?" might be their refrain, or, more typically, "You just don't get it, and I can't explain it to you."). In typical Virgo fashion, they're likely to be grumpy and anti-social. But for the Querent (if no one else!) this is a special time. Like an artist who hides for days then emerges to paint a masterpiece, this quiet time allows all the pieces to fall into place. So go ahead and encourage them to go on late night drives, long walks, hide in their room or go on retreat for a month. When they come back, they'll see everything in a brand new light. It'll be the best thing for them, and for everyone else in their lives.

I am also married to a Virgo and I think it is true about the hermit card being the card of Virgo.

I am an introvert by nature but I am also at times very extroverted. I do like people. Though not all people. Some people are just plain annoying. They just seem to work at being that way. I do withdraw from the world at times. But I am never alone so I have find ways to retreat into my mind.

I think that true hermits withdraw, not because they don't like other people, but because they know they can't find themselves in others.

posted October 21, 2007 03:44 AM         

quote:

---

I think that true hermits withdraw,
not because they don't like other people,
but because they know they can't find themselves in others.

---

Well said.

I remember Liz Greene, in "Astrology For Lovers", says that the original meaning of the word "virginal" was something like "self-contained", and that this is the sign most content with aloneness. Definitely, the themes of purity and criticism of all that is less than pure, fall under the sway of Virgo. Its hard to tell them apart from Capricorns, though. Both aspire to the heights. Virgos seek to quietly and humbly perfect themselves (this is the meaning of the 6th house), while Capricorns want to make an indelible mark on the world (10th house). Likewise, there are affinities between Virgo and Scorpio. I would argue that it is Scorpio, and not Virgo, who is most likely to shine that lantern into the darkest places.

posted October 21, 2007 06:15 AM         

I wouldn't mind her being an introvert so much if I were convinced that she were doing something with her life, or had some ambition of sorts, but she doesn't appear to do much except play with the dog, watch TV, and talk endlessly about her garden fence, or her house being painted...(My parents are growing old. You can tell from the enthusiasm with which they talk about gadgets they find in the back of the Telegraph Magazine.)

I myself haven't seen a lot of *friends* lately. I got in a fume a while ago with a couple of them over what I perceived to be their wanton stupidity. But then, it is difficult to make, and retain, genuine *friends* in London, it being a transient city; that's just the culture, and you either love it or hate it; you come to accept it after a while. Not that I couldn't have socializing if I wanted it; but I choose not to, as drinking, pubs and clubs are not my thing. I hang out mostly in my room, and in libraries or museums. Occasionally music nights if I have the time. Like I said, I don't go to pubs just to drink - my hands need to be occupied, LOL. In fact I spend so much time working in my room that my landlord says I would be good in solitary confinement...Perhaps it's the result of being an only child.

Lately, upon meeting people, I have also been on guard against spilling my guts. For example, I no longer have the desire to talk about my divorce, or other private stuff. I'm nice, but incredibly detached and self-contained. People try to provoke me to get a reaction, and can't. There's the possibility that some might say I'm cold. I don't give a stuff.

Love,

X

Asc in Virgo
Moon, Venus, Jupiter in 6th House (Pisces)
Mars & Saturn in 10th House (Gemini)
Neptune in 3rd House (Sag)

posted October 21, 2007 07:09 AM         

quote:

---

Extroverted people are SO boring. Really, did I ask for your life story? Do I care? Why are you engaging me in social contact just to talk about yourself endlessly??

---

posted October 21, 2007 09:20 AM         

A. Hermit

posted October 21, 2007 09:46 AM         

quote:

---

Are you a hermit?
Do you think people talk to much about themselves and its really annoying?

Do you find them to be fake and phony for the most part, and do you prefer the solace of social isolation?

If that's the case, post your experiences here.

Extroverted people are SO boring. Really, did I ask for your life story? Do I care? Why are you engaging me in social contact just to talk about yourself endlessly??

---

LMAO, introvert here. Is it evil of me to say that I find this post to be mad funny?

And another Cappy rising here and I'm feeling that same way about a certain Sagitttarius I know. Maybe it has something to do with saturn currently passing over my moon but I'm just tired of this one-sided shiite where EVERYTHING has to be about her. She always wants to pour out all her problems but when I bring up something about my life....suddenly she goes silent. How f%&ked up is that?

And of course she doesn't like going out w/ my bf and I coz she hates being the third wheel (understandable). But one day she asks me to go out with her on a Saturday night. So I meet up with her only to find she's brought along this guy who practically worships the ground she walks upon..........and I ended up being the third wheel. The only highlight of that night was his ass payin' for dinner.

posted October 21, 2007 10:43 AM         

DL said:

"This is why I actually prefer being alone to spending time with her. I actually like spending time alone but I still love spending time with my bf....does that make me less of an introvert now?"

No, I think that makes you normal, DL

I think too much withdrawal from other people can drive you mad in time. I think we were created to be in community. Human's are like wolves in that we are pack animals by nature. We need other people. We introverted people do tend to form smaller packs to hang with though. I do feel we need a balance in life between socializing with others and liking our own company. Really, if you like yourself ( in a healthy non-narcissitic way ) you are most times your own best friend and your own best company.

I think that introverted people get a bad rap in our society. They even have a designer drug for it. LOL Take this pill and you will become a social butterfly.

Yet all the spiritual writings talk about silence and being introspective. They speak of God as being a small, still voice that you can only hear in silence.

Hermitizing is part of the spiritual journey but few people can endure the life of a monk. I am an introverted, introspective person but I went on retreat once for just a weekend at a Franciscan retreat house. There were other people around me there on retreat as well. But we were not allowed to talk to each other even during dinner. The grounds are beautiful and you could walk the paved paths or go into the woods and walk. Reading and walking and thinking was the order of the day and evening on the most part. I also spent a week in the seminary and the nights there were quite spooky to say the least. Plus the showers were always cold. Guess that is for the guys studying for the priesthood. LOL

posted October 21, 2007 01:00 PM         

Surely Capricorn is one of the most social signs - 10th house=social status/position
and they're all about climbing the social ladder and marrying up. My two uncles are cappys and they're VERY social...and yes, many of their friends have high social status.

are you guys in denial?

posted October 21, 2007 01:21 PM         

There are those who are naturally social, but they don't try as hard so have fewer friends than those who make it their job

+ genuinely social creatures=nicer than the average person

posted October 21, 2007 02:16 PM         

Of course, I do think you tend to get over these things with age. I don't think I'd join the hermit club despite my self-contained nature. I learn a lot through interacting with people, so I embrace that idea of interacting more rather than less (even if I don't always practice). My default mannerism tends towards friendly disassociation. My co-worker recently compared my personality to Tim Robbins' personality in The Shawshank Redemption the other day. It's not the first time I've been compared with him. I think I'm going to continue to increase my social activity through taking classes.