Alone But Never Lonely: What We Can Learn From Hermits

Alone But Never Lonely:
What We Can Learn From Hermits

Show Notes

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

Major Sources Include:

1. Jeffrey S. Cramer Interview Dec 12, 2019

2. Paul and Karen Fradette Interview Feb 10, 2021

3. Michael Vargas Interview March 24, 2021
4. The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
5. Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Host and Writer: Peg Fong
Director: Callie O’Reilly
Theme music: Ian Lefeuvre and Ari Posner
Engineer: Geoff Devine
Producers: Debbie O’Reilly and Guillermo Serrano
Executive Producer: Terry O’Reilly

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