Gathering a community of women, present or past, has an impactful result. To be reminded of possibilites, our individual potential is a powerful reflection. These women you shared, practiced with risk, their own truth.
Oh, Julie, how I loved reading this post. I feel happier and alive just having spent time with you and these awesome bright lights. Their Eyes Were Watching God is such a brilliant, brilliant piece of writing--one of my faves. Thanks for writing and sharing this!
I loved learning about these remarkable women and their achievements, thank you so much for bringing them to life in your circle. Individually they were incredibly inspiring but together they represent the realms of possibility. Thank you for this fascinating post as part of the daisy chain and beautiful illustration too xx
Love this, Julie, perfect for Women's History Month. The idea of a daisy chain & being in a circle with those five women who influenced you really resonated with me. In my own writing I love tracing literary connections across time and place among different women through history - and your post really brings these five to life by placing yourself among them.
Thank you for this, Julie. I loved learning about the women you chose. I had only heard of two of them and didn't know much about them. Inspiring women, one and all!
Bravo Julie! This walk through history uplifted me at every turn while breaking my heart to learn about Zora's eventual fate. I appreciate you pointing out what each woman brings to our circle while they inspire me to continue to show up fully in my life.
Julie, I somehow missed this post earlier, but loved it. I’ve read several of Wangari Maathai’s books and her thinking is so well grounded in experience. She is a force of good in a region that has suffered so much. And she is only one of the thousands of thoughtful African women whose voices must be heard. I have a draft post on things African women have taught me about life, often with happy laughter, some of which came at my expense. I should complete it soon. Nkosi sikele i’Africa. God bless them all.
Her quote about planting trees is wisdom for the ages. I take it to heart. It’s a small act that is symbolic to a much greater truth. In almost every country where I worked, we always had large reforestation projects, and I have personally planted trees at every house I ever lived in. I didn’t have time this year to start a mini forest of sequoias, western red cedars, and redwoods in my hydroponic tree starters, so I will do double next year. I might even figure out a way to share them with my readers. Planting trees is a virtue next to Godliness.
I wrote a post last week about four women writers who are living rent free in my head lately. Kim Barnes, Alexandra Fuller, Tara Westover, and Cheryl Strayed are in there roiling my thoughts, challenging me with their perspectives and extraordinary writing gifts. There is another woman I didn’t include in the first list, but she belongs on it. Her name is Carrot Quinn and she does have a Substack.
One can only absorb a certain amount of Hemingway before turning to other more subtle, nuanced versions of the truths they see.
This post has absolutely fascinated me… and what an incredible circle that would be. I love your daisy chain artwork as well. Thank you for this generous and inspiring share xx
Gathering a community of women, present or past, has an impactful result. To be reminded of possibilites, our individual potential is a powerful reflection. These women you shared, practiced with risk, their own truth.
Oh, Julie, how I loved reading this post. I feel happier and alive just having spent time with you and these awesome bright lights. Their Eyes Were Watching God is such a brilliant, brilliant piece of writing--one of my faves. Thanks for writing and sharing this!
What inspiring women! It’s made me wonder about who would sit in my circle.
This is great! David knew Donella Meadows and still misses her. Both videos have strong points but I prefer the first one “If the world were” -
Thanks, Julie!
Wow I loved this! What a way to start my morning…now thinking of who I want to call into my circle. Thanks for the inspiration (and education).
I loved learning about these remarkable women and their achievements, thank you so much for bringing them to life in your circle. Individually they were incredibly inspiring but together they represent the realms of possibility. Thank you for this fascinating post as part of the daisy chain and beautiful illustration too xx
Love this, Julie, perfect for Women's History Month. The idea of a daisy chain & being in a circle with those five women who influenced you really resonated with me. In my own writing I love tracing literary connections across time and place among different women through history - and your post really brings these five to life by placing yourself among them.
Such a beautiful gathering and some truly inspirational and groundbreaking (I love this word!) women. Thank you for sharing!
Food for thought on what I would like my legacy and contribution to be
Thank you for this, Julie. I loved learning about the women you chose. I had only heard of two of them and didn't know much about them. Inspiring women, one and all!
Bravo Julie! This walk through history uplifted me at every turn while breaking my heart to learn about Zora's eventual fate. I appreciate you pointing out what each woman brings to our circle while they inspire me to continue to show up fully in my life.
Julie, I somehow missed this post earlier, but loved it. I’ve read several of Wangari Maathai’s books and her thinking is so well grounded in experience. She is a force of good in a region that has suffered so much. And she is only one of the thousands of thoughtful African women whose voices must be heard. I have a draft post on things African women have taught me about life, often with happy laughter, some of which came at my expense. I should complete it soon. Nkosi sikele i’Africa. God bless them all.
Her quote about planting trees is wisdom for the ages. I take it to heart. It’s a small act that is symbolic to a much greater truth. In almost every country where I worked, we always had large reforestation projects, and I have personally planted trees at every house I ever lived in. I didn’t have time this year to start a mini forest of sequoias, western red cedars, and redwoods in my hydroponic tree starters, so I will do double next year. I might even figure out a way to share them with my readers. Planting trees is a virtue next to Godliness.
I wrote a post last week about four women writers who are living rent free in my head lately. Kim Barnes, Alexandra Fuller, Tara Westover, and Cheryl Strayed are in there roiling my thoughts, challenging me with their perspectives and extraordinary writing gifts. There is another woman I didn’t include in the first list, but she belongs on it. Her name is Carrot Quinn and she does have a Substack.
One can only absorb a certain amount of Hemingway before turning to other more subtle, nuanced versions of the truths they see.
I love all of these choices so much. Have you ever encountered Donells Meadows’s talk about visioning? A favorite.
This post has absolutely fascinated me… and what an incredible circle that would be. I love your daisy chain artwork as well. Thank you for this generous and inspiring share xx
Ye Julie, our ancestors are indeed with us, part of our familial, racial and species genetic memory pot....
Aaah yes Julie, such inspiration deliverers live on, our beacons in the quest to Heal our World. Happy to be Restacking you. Maurice