7.5 The Sweetness of Solitude with Francesca Specter

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. You can find Francesca Specter at @chezspecter on Instagram and Twitter. --- Follow or subscribe to "Saturn Returns" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact of Saturn's return with inspiring guests and thought-provoking discussions. Follow Caggie Dunlop on Instagram to stay updated on her personal journey and you can find Saturn Returns on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Order the Saturn Returns Book. Join our community newsletter here. Find all things Saturn Returns, offerings and more here.