Season 7, Episode 5: The Sweetness of Solitude with Francesca Specter

“ I would have once upon a time gone out sort of looking to meet ‘the one’ in a bar. But you know, I think that now the idea of ‘the one’ you make your own ‘the one’. “

In this week’s episode of Saturn Returns Caggie is joined by renowned podcast host and author of the book “Alonement: How to be Alone and Absolutely Own in”, Francesca Specter. After her breakup several years ago, Francesca coined the term ‘Alonement’ and lives in alignment with finding joy in solitude. Francesca shares insight into the value of self love, making decisions for yourself and thriving in your own company. It is no secret that people often desire love and the comforts partnership can bring us and whilst these are things to be celebrated, there is also great value in creating the space to rediscover parts of ourselves that we may have abandoned in order to mould ourselves in relationships.

They also discuss the loneliness that can stem from the pressure to conform to the life choices that our friends and family have made, for instance marriage and children. This sparked the discussion on the value of diversifying our circle and questioning if we are living in true alignment with our own desires. Caggie and Francesca also delve into the societal stereotypes that contrast the celebrated image of a “bachelor” with the pitiful perception of a “spinster”, and how these stereotypes can be negated by the transformative power of finding joy in solitude.