This newsletter presents a small collection of geographic, historical, archaeological, cultural and/or artistic articles that have caught my attention. As a fantasy writer, I am fascinated by the nooks and corners of our real world and constantly find inspiration for my own world building and storytelling — it’s my hope that these newsletters are an inspirational resource for other writers, too, or for anyone who wants to learn more about our world.
Can a piece of jewelry really bestow special powers on a person? It sounds like something from a comic book or fantasy story, but the women of Umoja, Kenya, have found empowerment through their handcrafted jewelry (see below). In fact, they are not the only people who have found that there is a kind of magic that comes from making something with your own hands.
Making — and I’m using that as a noun here — is a transformative power. You can turn beads into jewelry, shells into a dragon, trees into a bridge. Personally, I favor turning yarn into a blanket, but really it’s less about what you make then how the act of creation transforms you in the process. Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, increased self-esteem, improved cognition as you age… these are all benefits of crafting recognized by experts. This is why “Always be making something” is my life motto — not only do I feel better mentally when I do, but I’m also creating something useful and lovely that transforms my experience in the world.
What have you made lately? Share in the comments!
Necklaces of Power and Beauty
Settled beneath the shade of a gnarled acacia, Lolosoli is the lion-hearted matriarch whose presence exudes as much defiance as the wizened tree that hovers over her. As Umoja’s founder, Lolosoli’s battle for equality began decades ago when she was gifted the beads for her own mporo marriage necklace by her then-husband. As per Samburu tradition, beads are gifted to young women by their betrothed so that they can begin their necklace collection. The more elaborate the gifted beads and subsequent necklace, the greater her husband’s wealth and status. But the women of Umoja no longer need a man to make their mporos. “We buy our own beads now,” Lolosoli says, “because we make our own money.”
Read article: Inside Kenya’s Women-Only Village Where Traditional Beaded Necklaces Are Symbols of Power
The Seashell Dragon
This mussel shell dragon differs greatly from the previously discovered C-shaped jade dragon of the Hongshan Culture [between 4700 to 2900 BC] in terms of carving techniques and styling. It is more delicate and realistic, and the teeth, tail and other parts of the carving are subtle.
Additionally, the shape is not a C-shaped dragon with a curled body, but a spread out image of a dragon.
Archaeologists believe that the previously discovered jade artifacts from the Hongshan Culture were placed at high-grade ritual buildings or ritual sites, while the dragon unearthed during the current excavation is a clue to the spiritual world of people living in low-grade settlements.
This distinction underscores the cultural diversity and societal stratifications of the Hongshan Culture, presenting a richer tapestry of their way of life, beliefs, and rituals.
Read article: Archaeologists Discovered a Dragon Made of Mussel Shells in in Inner Mongolia
The Golden Bridges
In the dawn of times, there were sixteen primordial tribes who lived with their creator in their heavenly abode, the kingdom of clouds. One fine day, one of these men looked down and discovered a lush paradise, filled with mesmerizing waterfalls, luxurious jungle, and abundant food. He asked the creator to conceive the jingkiengjriksiar, a mythical “golden bridge” formed by a majestic tree which connected the two worlds, and moved with some human settlers into this idyllic land…
The jingkieng jri, as the living root bridges are locally known, seem to have sprung directly out of Tolkien’s imagination. The interwoven aerial roots create a pervading fairy-tale atmosphere, appearing to connect myth and reality and the past and the future rather than the two sides of the river.
Read article: The Artisans Behind India’s Living Root Bridges