Yes, yes, and yes again. This is a terrific and much needed historical course correction, meaning both a ship and a curriculum. I, too, feel keenly about writing about women and violence. But many theologians and philosophers agree that there are certain conditions where violence is justified—when the intention is to prevent harm. Self-defense, for example, is the lesser evil. But, you make a strong point that violence should not be celebrated but also not erased from our past. History is the story of all of us, flaws and all. We can, and we must, aim to make harmful violence a thing of the past.
Yes, yes, yes! I keep mulling over the idea that if a new future is predicated on violence, then it is no different than our present! This is why we have to envision beyond the bounds of patriarchy - they are so suffocating. It’s such a fine line between violence - and I’m potentially keen to seeing just how fine because I’m reading On Revolutions by Hannah Arendt and this is something she goes into.
I’m always so grateful for your support and constant uplifting of my words! Thank you, Theresa! 💜
Thank you for sitting with my words, Hans! These women were so incredible. I was so struck by the number of intact Beguinages today, it was only just in our lifetime that the last true Beguine passed away! A quiet resistance of community love and support this entire time.
Justin Sledge at Esoteria recently released a 40 minute video describing the mysticism of Marguerite Porete and her "Mirror of Simple Souls." He has three other lectures on female medieval mystics that I look forward to listening to.
I saw this referenced in one of the essays I’d read! Thank you for sharing it! Marguerite was a fascinating figure — as is the research surrounding her!
Very pleased by the note at the end that Marguerite’s book survived. I would love to read more about literature created by women that men have tried to surpress.
Isn’t that phenomenal? The story is even wilder - her work had been attributed to a man up until 1940s when a researcher made the connection that the woman who William of Paris burned (alongside her book) was Mirror of the Simple Souls — one single person placed Marguerite back into the historical narrative and I find that so fascinating! I also thought it was interesting that the apparent heresy was so minor in the book that it was attributed to a religious man that entire time… history is a fickle one, indeed.
Thanks for spending your time here, Parker! I’m grateful!
Allen, I think of this so often! How many words will we never get to read? How many women had revolutionary thoughts yet were denied access to education? We’ve lost so much to patriarchy. Thank you for spending your time with me words!!
Thank you so much for spending your time with it, Jonathan! I so thank you for this note too—I’m never sure if they are listened to or not, this is so helpful. Thank you!
That is so cool! I love that! Do you mind if I ask which language? If you do spend time with her words, I’d love to hear what you think. I made it through one section but felt I’d do better with a translation that also offered notes.
Thank you so much for spending your time with my words, I am so very grateful 💚💚
You're welcome, thank you for writing about such exciting women.
My mother tongue is Serbian.
I remember beginning, but couldn't get around it. I'll look for it again and hope there are notes. Thanks to you, I now have more context, it helps to understand.
Thank you, Simon! I’m so grateful for the time spent!
I can’t stop thinking about Marguerite and her fate — she was potentially 60 years old when she suffered the stake with such bravery! Woof, I can’t even imagine!
I love Marguerite Porette! What a woman. The audacity and nerve to continue printing and preaching her words when she was being threatened to be silent. Such bravery. She is not well known, so it’s such a treat to find her here in your essay!! Thank you for shedding light on her and her story!
Gosh, wasn’t she just incredible? And to think that was in a time when each one of those copies had to have been hand written, either by herself, her connections within the beguinages or churches, etc. The commitment to crafting your own narrative in a time that imposed a strict divine hierarchy — just phenom! Thanks for spending your precious time here, Lydia, I appreciate you!!
Thank you for spending your time with it!! I was so struck by their intentionality in community building. From the homes, to the bequeathing, to the community support beyond the walls of their beguinage — just beautiful in the time of really dreary, oppressive patriarchy.
Yes, yes, and yes again. This is a terrific and much needed historical course correction, meaning both a ship and a curriculum. I, too, feel keenly about writing about women and violence. But many theologians and philosophers agree that there are certain conditions where violence is justified—when the intention is to prevent harm. Self-defense, for example, is the lesser evil. But, you make a strong point that violence should not be celebrated but also not erased from our past. History is the story of all of us, flaws and all. We can, and we must, aim to make harmful violence a thing of the past.
Yes, yes, yes! I keep mulling over the idea that if a new future is predicated on violence, then it is no different than our present! This is why we have to envision beyond the bounds of patriarchy - they are so suffocating. It’s such a fine line between violence - and I’m potentially keen to seeing just how fine because I’m reading On Revolutions by Hannah Arendt and this is something she goes into.
I’m always so grateful for your support and constant uplifting of my words! Thank you, Theresa! 💜
I loved reading this variety, and in these days I'm especially intrigued by the subversive writing and sharing of books by Marguerite Porete.
Thank you for sitting with my words, Hans! These women were so incredible. I was so struck by the number of intact Beguinages today, it was only just in our lifetime that the last true Beguine passed away! A quiet resistance of community love and support this entire time.
Justin Sledge at Esoteria recently released a 40 minute video describing the mysticism of Marguerite Porete and her "Mirror of Simple Souls." He has three other lectures on female medieval mystics that I look forward to listening to.
https://youtu.be/l5uK4qa-BWA?si=9h8z-5m2JcyZFw-b
I saw this referenced in one of the essays I’d read! Thank you for sharing it! Marguerite was a fascinating figure — as is the research surrounding her!
So appreciate the time spent 💜
Very pleased by the note at the end that Marguerite’s book survived. I would love to read more about literature created by women that men have tried to surpress.
Isn’t that phenomenal? The story is even wilder - her work had been attributed to a man up until 1940s when a researcher made the connection that the woman who William of Paris burned (alongside her book) was Mirror of the Simple Souls — one single person placed Marguerite back into the historical narrative and I find that so fascinating! I also thought it was interesting that the apparent heresy was so minor in the book that it was attributed to a religious man that entire time… history is a fickle one, indeed.
Thanks for spending your time here, Parker! I’m grateful!
Imagine how many more Marguerites we lost because their words burned before they reached us.
Allen, I think of this so often! How many words will we never get to read? How many women had revolutionary thoughts yet were denied access to education? We’ve lost so much to patriarchy. Thank you for spending your time with me words!!
Another excellent essay! Your voiceover brings the work to life.
Thank you so much for spending your time with it, Jonathan! I so thank you for this note too—I’m never sure if they are listened to or not, this is so helpful. Thank you!
A few years ago I found Marguerite Porete's book in my mother tongue, but never got to read it. Looks like it's going to change
Thank you for writing about these amazing women 💜
That is so cool! I love that! Do you mind if I ask which language? If you do spend time with her words, I’d love to hear what you think. I made it through one section but felt I’d do better with a translation that also offered notes.
Thank you so much for spending your time with my words, I am so very grateful 💚💚
You're welcome, thank you for writing about such exciting women.
My mother tongue is Serbian.
I remember beginning, but couldn't get around it. I'll look for it again and hope there are notes. Thanks to you, I now have more context, it helps to understand.
An absolutely superb read that enlivened my lunch hour. Thank you so much!
Thank you, Simon! I’m so grateful for the time spent!
I can’t stop thinking about Marguerite and her fate — she was potentially 60 years old when she suffered the stake with such bravery! Woof, I can’t even imagine!
I love Marguerite Porette! What a woman. The audacity and nerve to continue printing and preaching her words when she was being threatened to be silent. Such bravery. She is not well known, so it’s such a treat to find her here in your essay!! Thank you for shedding light on her and her story!
Gosh, wasn’t she just incredible? And to think that was in a time when each one of those copies had to have been hand written, either by herself, her connections within the beguinages or churches, etc. The commitment to crafting your own narrative in a time that imposed a strict divine hierarchy — just phenom! Thanks for spending your precious time here, Lydia, I appreciate you!!
Thank you for this story. I had not heard about the beguines.
Thank you for spending your time with it!! I was so struck by their intentionality in community building. From the homes, to the bequeathing, to the community support beyond the walls of their beguinage — just beautiful in the time of really dreary, oppressive patriarchy.
That's a very happy ending, that her book survived.
Bit like Boudicca and the spirit of resistance. After all, how many - or few, rather - remember the name of her evil adversary Roman general...