ABSTRACT
Saints and hermits often spent years alone in caves, or in the case of the somewhat exhibitionistic Simeon Stylites, on top of a pillar in the desert. People came to the bottom of the pillar to visit him so he was not that alone, but he was part of a spiritual tradition. Many ‘holy’ women and men have claimed that being alone brings them closer to God. Some scholars believe that spending time alone can be good for creativity, self-insight, self-development, relaxation and spirituality if spending time alone is out of choice. Solitude-seekers may, in fact, be feeling lonely, anxious and depressed if they choose to be alone, because they don’t think other people like them, they feel like they are always saying the wrong thing or they can’t be themselves when they are with other people. For many people who choose to be alone, it’s a choice at a particular time.
