It was initially fairly eremitic or reclusive in nature. Here, they founded an eremitic cell. He decided to take up the ascetic and eremitic life of a stylite. Early Maronite settlement in the valley combined both community and eremitic life. After Francis's stay the site housed some eremitic female followers. "Eremitic" monks, or hermits, are those who live solitary lives. Eremitic monasticism, or solitary monasticism, is characterized by a complete withdrawal from society. The eremitic life was apparently healthy for some, but led to imbalance in others. The older style of monasticism, to live as a hermit, is called eremitic.