Indian weavers, Yazidi history, and autumn journal prompts

The Week That Was

Sep 23, 2024

‘The Week That Was’ is a free weekly newsletter that includes a selection of things on my mind (books, art, culture, slow life(style), global affairs, learnings, travel, etc.) as well as articles and podcasts I enjoyed during the week, an album of the week, and other recommendations. If you enjoy these topics, consider becoming a paid subscriber. For $5 a month, you can access the rest of the We, Renaissance Women content, including my monthly book round-up, travel guides, life(style) essays and interviews, and the country bulletin series.

1. Hiking in Starved Rock State Park

Making the most of the remaining summer weather is a priority for the next few weeks. Last weekend was beautiful and provided us with the perfect opportunity to visit Starved Rock State Park, about an hour and a half's drive from Chicago. Despite being one of (if not the) most popular places to hike around Chicago, neither of us had visited before, so we were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves walking in and out of canyons and along the Illinois River.

There's something about a Saturday afternoon spent in nature that feels like a retreat for the soul. As I wandered, I let the rhythm of nature set the pace—no rush, no destination in mind, just the simple pleasure of moving through the landscape.

We hiked for just over five miles, taking in the scent of pine and earth, the way the light filters through the trees, and other hikers enjoying Earth’s playground. State parks in Illinois are completely free (including parking), and this was a really great place to hike.

I’m curious - where would you like to hike in autumn?!

2. Learning About The Yazidis

After The Island of Missing Trees (2021), I knew I had to read everything Elif Shafak writes (she has published 21 books…and counting). Her latest, There Are Rivers In The Sky, is absolutely magnificent, and I managed to demonstrate an ounce of self-control and savor the 460 pages over the course of a couple of weeks.

There is much to say about the book, but I will refrain and save that for my monthly book round-up. For this purpose, I will say that it revolves significantly around the history and culture of the Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking religious group indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran.

The Yazidis have been the victims of genocide over 70 times, including in 2014 by ISIS, when thousands of Yazidis were massacred, thousands of women and girls were kidnapped, and many, many more were displaced.

To learn more about the horrific acts of violence that ISIS committed during this time, I read The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against The Islamic State by Nadia Murad.

This memoir is a firsthand account from Nadia, whose family was massacred and displaced, and she herself kidnapped and forced to be a sex slave for the ISIS militants. (Eventually, she was able to escape and has gone on to be a human rights advocate and won the Nobel Peace Prize for "her efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.")

The book is devastating reading but—as with many of these things—incredibly important. Pairing these two reads together is an excellent idea, and they will help you learn about and understand a group and a history that is not often taught.

As I am now deep into research about the Yazidis and the war in Iraq in general (me? obsessive? never!), I came across a Kickstarter for a photography book that documents the destruction of the city of Mosul and the long-term effects of the war against ISIS in Iraq. I am supporting! Maybe you will, too?

3. Feeling Through Fibre in Mumbai

Textiles are endlessly fascinating, especially because they often have such a long cultural history. Feeling Through Fibre is a new exhibit at Mumbai’s 47-A showing the work of 11 women weavers from all over India who use textiles as a form of self-expression.

“I hope the show inspires viewers to appreciate the magic that comes from hands, the connection between what the artist feels and what she creates, and the wonderful range of emotions that are on display from a wide variety of very different and empowered women,” says Chatterjee {co-founder of 47-A}.
via Vogue India

While I will sadly not be seeing the show in person, reading this Vogue India article about it was satisfying enough. They asked each of the 11 weavers a question about their work and traditions, and the answers are quite delightful. Give it a read!

Your weaves highlight the female experience in a world built for men. How does self-love manifest in your own life?
Modern weavers address weaving in a more relaxed manner which allows traditional practices to be presented in a contemporary language. More often than not, my work is an extension and expression of myself, my experiences, contemporary realities and women’s untold narratives. To me, self-love manifests in taking pride and ownership of my thoughts, which ultimately result in my creations. - Pragati Mathur

4. My Go-To Elevated Tees

Due to my wardrobe being 80% secondhand, I own very few things in multiple colours. Yet, with increasing frequency, the things that I do go back and re-buy in another shade are from Everlane. I have their ballet flat in two colours, a brown and coral version of their way-high tailored shorts, and will most likely be purchasing another pair of their day boots this autumn.

But it is their luxe micro-rib crew that has become a workhorse in my day-to-day wardrobe. For someone who does not wear T-shirts, the fact that I love these is a testament to how good they are.

The material is incredibly soft and feels/looks/is high quality. The cut is slim (but not tight) and flattering, ensuring it tucks perfectly into all my high-waisted pants, jeans, and skirts. The fact that they are ribbed elevates them a bit, so I feel comfortable wearing them to work.

I now own the crew in black, navy blue (no longer available), and heathered tan, so I have all my staples covered. For an easy office outfit, I style one with a rotating selection of high-waisted, wide-leg pants and throw a blazer or summer cardigan over the top. Boom—outfit done.

For the autumn, I will layer with a thicker cardigan or light sweater. For the winter, I may look into the long-sleeved version.

I am PASSIONATE about these tees.

5. Ralph Lauren Fashion Show

Twenty minutes of beautiful clothing.

A commenter understood the assignment and broke down the set list, and I am now adding to the collective work and linking each one for you:

"Sailing" by Christopher Cross. "Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart. "Next to Me" by Delilah Montagu. "You'll Accomp'ny Me" by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. "Boys of Summer" by Erin O'Neill. "Holding On" by Leona Naess.

6. Miniature Paintings

Recently, at Renegade Craft, I encountered many brilliant creatives in food, art, decor, jewelry, and more. One of my favourite booths was that of Lydia Anderson Studio, an artist in Northeast Wisconsin specializing in miniature painting.

On her website, she explains, “Representational painting and still life have always been my preferred style and subject matter. I find inspiration from the everyday things around us, whether it be food, flowers, or found objects. I love the challenge of capturing the subject’s details and form.”

In her “Paint Chip Series,” she paints miniature everyday items on commercial paint chips inspired by the paint color and name. A shrimp on the colour “VR007D-Shrimp Shell” and Birkenstock-looking sandals on “0199-Sandy Shoes”. I was tempted to get a nature print for myself, which features six different images, but opted instead to get an original (a painting of Louboutins) for a friend’s birthday.

These are such fun paintings, not too big, and have so much personality.

7. Questions to Ask Yourself for A More Intentional Autumn

Hello Autumn! I appreciate all four seasons (and really enjoy living in a city that experiences them all), but I always look forward to the transition. We all know Autumn has something extra delightful about it, so in preparation, I have been sharing some autumn intentional living content on the clock app.

One of my favourite types of posts to make is questions to ask yourself/journal prompts, so I am sharing below some of the questions I am reflecting on as we move into the new season.

- What do I want autumn to represent for me this year?

- How can I use this season as a time to slow down and reflect?

- How can I deepen my relationships with loved ones over the coming months?

- What activities bring me comfort and peace as the days grow shorter?

- How can I be more intentional about my consumption during this season?

- What practices can I adopt to nourish my mind and body as the weather gets cooler?

- How can I engage with art, culture, or learning to expand my knowledge and deepen my curiosity?

- What books and films do I want to spend my time with over the next few months?

- What simple autumn rituals can I incorporate into my daily or weekly routine to stay grounded?

- What seasonal foods and ingredients can I cook with that align with slow, mindful eating?

- What shared experiences or traditions can I create with loved ones during this time?

- What creative projects do I want to nurture during autumn?

- What seasonal activities can help me connect more deeply with nature?

- How can I cultivate contentment with the simpler, quieter pleasures of the season?

- What areas of my life need more attention and reflection as the year comes to a close?

8. Staying Out Late

Earlier in the summer, during a Bachelorette in Chicago, the girls hit the town, went to a club, and stayed out late—I’m talking about 4 a.m. In my 20s, this was a somewhat frequent occurrence, but now it is a rare beast. That night, we talked about how doing it every once in a while is still very fun, but we also lack the desire to do it weekend after weekend.

Personally, I think it is one of the biggest lifestyle changes I have had in the past couple of years.

Anyway, this past Friday, we had another late night to see DJ Nora En Pure play at a new venue in Chicago, the Ramova Theatre. Located in Bridgeport, the venue was great, with a nice outdoor patio area, fantastic speakers, and a dispensary giving out free joints if you followed them on Instagram.

There were a few opening acts - Nora did not come on until after midnight - and I thought Sohmi, a DJ from LA, was fab. As was Nora, her set was just as vibrant as I hoped it would be, along with the underwater and nature visuals that she is known for. It was worth the late night, but I’m good for another few months.

What wardrobe item are you PASSIONATE about? Seen any good documentaries lately? What else is on your mind? I would love to know!