Pagan asceticism/monasticism?

[Starting Once Again]

This may sound like a weird question, but I was wondering if anyone has ever encountered anything resembling any kind of pagan asceticism/monasticism?

I realize that most pagan traditions maintain that everyday life, and the pleasures it brings are just fine, and one need not deny oneself in order to connect spiritually with one's higher power(s), but as far as I know, there is no precedent which would cause it not to exist.  

[Jezehbelle]

I'm sure at some point in the past, there were.

But all of this is too new to have any well established ones. Other than built cult compounds and hippie communes (which might go in the opposite direction), I really can't think of anything close to it... gonk Sorry.