Here is a little secret. Whenever I feel down, demoralised, there is a medieval painting that I like to look at. It is the image of an extraordinary woman of letters. The writer, poet, intellectual and one of the earliest women’s rights advocates, Christine de Pizan.
Wow, what a beautiful and powerful story, told in such an interesting way. You have opened my eyes to this painting and to the life of Christine de Pizan in a new way. Thank you. 💜🧡💙
Thank you for the treasure of this woman and her painting. Yes, leave her to her solitude. Your creative interpretation speaks to me of my world today. I left Manhattan for an unincorporated village where wild horses roam and the coyotes howl with my dog at night. Yesterday a whole family of quail came to feast on our birdseed. When the world outside is storming, we can create our own paradise.
Elif, thank you for this wonderful piece of writing and for introducing me to Christine de Pizan. Every now and then, I learn about an important historical female figure who’s writing transcends, and it’s like they’re reaching out to me, through the veil of time, and writing just for me. It’s like a nice warm cuddle! But your words also made me feel like that, in a world that is so hard to understand at the moment. Thank you.
You have an incredible gift for making the inanimate and ineffable come to life through the simple force of your words and the wonderful ability to turn your thoughts and reveries into a scene that we can all live in and embrace.
She came of age during the Black Death when half of Europe died from bubonic plague. Every survivor was a miracle and was freed from past social conventions. After losing so many, it gives a deeper depth to the words “though sad at heart, sing joyfully.”
A spiritual ancestor of Christine de Pizan was Hildegarde of Bingen, who died in 1179. From Wiki:
“Hildegarde of Bingen, also known as St. Hildegard and the Sybil of the Rhine, was an enormously influential and spiritual woman, who paved the way for other women to succeed in a number of fields from theology to music. She was a mystic writer, who completed three books of her visions.”
Her life touched mine a few years ago when I was going through a trauma that left me sleepless too many nights until I discovered that her music would lull me to sleep when nothing else but Ambien could turn off my racing mind.
Your dialogue with Chistine de Pizan touches me so deeply on the evening of the first round of general elections, in which a xenophobic, misogynist, homophobic party with rancid ideas is leading the first round in my country. Tonight I'm looking for a place to think, far from this fury.
Wow, what a beautiful and powerful story, told in such an interesting way. You have opened my eyes to this painting and to the life of Christine de Pizan in a new way. Thank you. 💜🧡💙
Elif, your magical use of words is exactly what i needed to read this Sunday morning in California. You speak for so many of us. Thank you
Thank you for the treasure of this woman and her painting. Yes, leave her to her solitude. Your creative interpretation speaks to me of my world today. I left Manhattan for an unincorporated village where wild horses roam and the coyotes howl with my dog at night. Yesterday a whole family of quail came to feast on our birdseed. When the world outside is storming, we can create our own paradise.
Outstanding! 👏👏👏👏👏
Elif, thank you for this wonderful piece of writing and for introducing me to Christine de Pizan. Every now and then, I learn about an important historical female figure who’s writing transcends, and it’s like they’re reaching out to me, through the veil of time, and writing just for me. It’s like a nice warm cuddle! But your words also made me feel like that, in a world that is so hard to understand at the moment. Thank you.
You have an incredible gift for making the inanimate and ineffable come to life through the simple force of your words and the wonderful ability to turn your thoughts and reveries into a scene that we can all live in and embrace.
Love this. Reminds of the John Mayer song "The Age of Worry" - would make for good companion listening!
I love the surprising and joyful ending, it made my heart sing 😊!
She came of age during the Black Death when half of Europe died from bubonic plague. Every survivor was a miracle and was freed from past social conventions. After losing so many, it gives a deeper depth to the words “though sad at heart, sing joyfully.”
A spiritual ancestor of Christine de Pizan was Hildegarde of Bingen, who died in 1179. From Wiki:
“Hildegarde of Bingen, also known as St. Hildegard and the Sybil of the Rhine, was an enormously influential and spiritual woman, who paved the way for other women to succeed in a number of fields from theology to music. She was a mystic writer, who completed three books of her visions.”
Her life touched mine a few years ago when I was going through a trauma that left me sleepless too many nights until I discovered that her music would lull me to sleep when nothing else but Ambien could turn off my racing mind.
We live in the shadows of great souls.
Your dialogue with Chistine de Pizan touches me so deeply on the evening of the first round of general elections, in which a xenophobic, misogynist, homophobic party with rancid ideas is leading the first round in my country. Tonight I'm looking for a place to think, far from this fury.
I relate to the statement ‘I love learning and a solitary life’ on a soulful level. I absolutely adore your writing.
Beautiful picture and wise words in these depressing times of far right leanings.
So beautifully written - and such a perfect reminder. I’d almost forgotten lately to sing a joyful song. Best wishes to you!
I really needed to hear this right now! Thank you, as ever, for being the seeing eye across time and space, Elif. Can't wait to read your new novel.
Oh my god I’m obsessed with her and that painting of her! I have the same one in my library 🥰
Thank you for this guided visualisation, I will call it. A wonderful way to interact with a historical being!
(At first glance, I thought the picture was Hildegarde von Bingen, medieval polymath.)