A rule for involuntary anchoresses

Crash is working on a podcast episode about Julian of Norwich, a late fourteenth century anchoress. Meanwhile, one of Crash's friends is bemoaning her isolation, she says she feels like an involuntary anchoress. She's right, of course. Our lives are suddenly subject to rules not terribly different from the rules of life kept by the medieval anchoresses walled into the churches of England.

Anchorites — both men and women withdrew into the walls of churches — were at their peak in Julian's time, some churches had a waiting list for their anchorhold. It can sound macabre to us now, to receive the last rites and then to be walled into a small room or rooms off a church's nave, but despite the walls keeping them physically separated from the world, anchoresses remained connected to and were integral parts of the local community. They received guests at their windows, offered spiritual guidance, and shopped in the markets.

Forthwith - my rule for today's cornonavirus-isolated anchoresses drawing on the Ancrene Wisse, an early 13th century guide for anchoresses, which was on my shelf. (Parenthetical references to the text.)

• When you have to take anything, your hand should not go out, nor anyone's in. Neither should one touch the other. (2-10)
• Do not go out to eat at friends' houses. (8-6)
• No parties! (8-7)
• Send only one person out to shop for food, they ought not to linger in the market place. (8- 31)
• If you have a knife or a piece of cloth, or food or drink (or face masks or Chlorox wipes), or anything else that would be of service...you should be willing to do without it yourself. (4-90)
• Keep a cat. (8-11)
• Dress comfortably, skip the wimple and wear a soft cap. (8-19)
• Read assiduously and at length. (4-82)
• Pace yourself. (8-28)
• Take a bath. (8-29)
• Don't snack between meals. (8-33)
• Support each other. (4-64)
• Be grateful. (8-32)
• Pray. 

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Crash's podcast is Missing History, two friends trying to answer the question "Why haven't I ever heard of her?"