From Yoda to Henry David Thoreau, hermits have something to teach us about loneliness. For centuries, in religious and in secular life, there are people who chose to remove themselves from society.  It could be for long periods of time. Karen Fredette entered a monastery after high school and then to a cabin by herself for six years. Henry David Thoreau lived for two years, two months and two days in the woods.  If you are a hermit, being alone is an option to consider when the world around you doesn’t feel quite right, when there’s something that troubles you.  Solitude can, for some of us, be a better companion than company. Hermits have led the way and they want to share what they’ve learned. Guests:  Professor Michael Vargas, History Department, SUNY, New Paltz Paul and Karen Fradette, Ravens Bread Ministries  Jeffrey S Cramer, Curator of Collections at the Walden Woods Project's Thoreau Institute Library If you liked this episode, please subscribe and follow us wherever you get your pods or at https://apostrophepodcasts.ca/alonetogether Be social with us at @apostrophepod   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.