hildegard's spirituality

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Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) MIDDLE AGES Born in Germany Order: Benedictine

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A short presentation on the life of the middle ages mystic - Hildegard of Bingen and some of the visions she had which relate particularly to feminine spirituality

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Page 2: Hildegard's spirituality

* 10th child in a noble family* Dedicated at birth to the Church* Visions at 3 – (realised this was unusual and hid

the gift)* At 8 years of age Hildegard visits the Benedictine Monastery to be taught by Jutta ( who lived an aesthetic life; confined to a room, prayer, contemplation, solitary activities such as embroidery, studied Latin)* At 14 years of age entered the Benedictine Monastery of Disibodenberg, where (aged 38) she was to become abbess on the death of Jutta.

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In 1511, a vision moves Hildegard to found a new monastery in Rupertsberg.

She dedicates herself to writing books on:

•Ethics•Cosmology•Anthropology•Advised Bishops, Popes and Kings•Physics •Chants (77), Poetry & a Play

•Describes music as the means of recapturing the original joy and beauty of paradise. Her music is described like ‘angels singing’.

Page 4: Hildegard's spirituality

Go to MPEG 4 MovieHildegard of Bingen

Spiritus Sanctusfor an example of her music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJEfyZSvg5c

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•Sex

She wrote that the strength of semen determined the sex of the child, while the amount of love and passion determine the child’s disposition. The worst case, where the seed is weak and parents feel no love, leads to a bitter daughter.

Could this be true?????

Page 6: Hildegard's spirituality

• Medicine– on the curative properties of plants and

animals from a holistic perspective– on the origin of illnesses and their

treatments– the scholarly nun created her traditions

directly from the people as well

as own nature-observations and

views described.

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“With the earth the human being was created. All the elements served mankind

and sensing that man was alive they busied themselves in aiding his life in every way.

And man in turn occupied himself with them. The earth gave its vital energy,

according to each person’s race, nature, habits and environment…

Page 8: Hildegard's spirituality

“Certain plants grow from air. These plants are gentle on the digestion and possess a happy

nature, producing happiness in anyone who eats them…Certain other herbs are windy, since they

grow from the wind. These herbs are dry and heavy on one’s digestion. They are of a sad

nature, making the person who eats them sad… Every plant is either hot or cold, and grows thus,

since the heat of the herbs signifies the spirit, and the cold, the body. (pg 9-10 Physica)

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•Developed the first artificial language in history

In 1165 she founds a second monastery in Eibingen,

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Hildegard’s purpose:

Stir up consciousness of the people of her time

Oppose godlessnessPresent the divine love of God to all – heaven, earth, nature, people all

interconnectedEverything was a mirror of God’s

love

Page 11: Hildegard's spirituality

Visions•Began in full at 42

years of age• Came during severe headaches• Transformed images into poetry and chants

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• During all of her early years Hildegard only confided these visions to Jutta and a monk Volmar.

• Volmar became her secretary who recorded all of her work.

“And it came to pass…when I was 42 years…that the heavens were opened and a blinding light of exceptional brilliance flowed through my entire brain. And so it kindled my whole heart…Like a flame, not burning but warming… and suddenly I understood the meaning…”

Page 13: Hildegard's spirituality

The Visions of Hildegard

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Apologies – but we will only have time to discuss some of

Hildegard’s visions and only a small amount of the meaning

behind her visions. (You can buy a whole book on one of her visions!)

Imagine having a direct link to God like Hildegard did!

Would you be trusting enough to let go and let God??

Page 15: Hildegard's spirituality

Egg of the Universe.

What do you see??

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• In this vision, she shows the universe as a cosmic egg. Just as in an egg everything is connected, she saw the Holy Spirit as "the mighty way in which everything that is in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth is penetrated with connectedness, penetrated with relatedness."

• An egg is also a symbol of life, and for Hildegard the Universe is living, renewing, and creating.

• The egg is surrounded by flames, which represents God burning everywhere.

• In the center is air full of water, giving moisture to the entire egg. In the globe, a mountain divides darkness from light.

• Think also here of the colors which are used: the vivid golds and the purple-reds. With what natural objects is gold associated? Gold is also associated with fire, which brings warmth and also sustains life. The colors here speak of a vibrant universe pulsating with life.

http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/ids/fap/hildegard.htm

Page 17: Hildegard's spirituality

The Cosmic Wheel

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• The cosmic wheel in her fourth vision, explains the celestial influence on Men, animals and plants. Here Hildegard shows Man's activities within the natural cycle of the seasons, again corresponding to their natural qualities, temperaments and elements. If Man sins, he will disrupt the harmony of the cosmos. Nature will be too dry, too wet, too hot or too cold.

• "The ball in the midst of the circle... represents Earth... such a ball, which is round and rotating, most resembles that form of the world in all its details. It is maintained on all sides by these circles, is tied to them, and receives constantly from them the greening freshness of life and the fertility needed for the Earth's support."

• Man is framed by the elements in the traditional manner, except for one significant difference: "The figure in whose breast the cosmic wheel appears is the source of true love in whose knowledge the wheel rests. And this order... preserves and nourishes everything." The head on top represents the Godhead, the source of Divine Love. The feet of "true love" represent thrones of justice and righteousness that support the universe.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2465/is_1_30/ai_59520592/pg_3/

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The Man in Sapphire

Blue

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• Here again, the color blue is very important, and creates a soft, maternal feeling when looking at it. Although the figure is male, and represents Christ, the feeling is more female and maternal. There are several layers of concentric circles here, emphasizing the idea of eternity, infinitude, and completeness that is expressed in Christ.

• The circles are superimposed on a square, which has four corners, and is, therefore, reminiscent of the earth itself.

• Also, squares provide a feeling of stability. The union of the circle and square, a common motif in many cultures, represents that harmony of heaven and earth.

• As Christ is in the center, the suggestion here is that Christ unites heaven and earth -- he was fully divine, but also fully human.

• Suggests that Christ has a maternal, soft, and loving ethos. Nevertheless, the image is a powerful one; note the use of the color gold in some of the concentric circles, reminding us that love is, indeed, a powerful force in the universe.

http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/ids/fap/hildegard.htm

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Sophia: Mother Wisdom, Mother Church

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• Another image of this life-giving power is Ecclessia or Sophia, the Church and wisdom of God. Both are feminine images. Look at the "clothing" on the female image. The designs here are strikingly like those of fish, which live in the ocean. Look also at the "arms" of the figure, which look like fins.

• The color blue is very prominent, which also recalls the sea. The apostles were fishermen and Sophia almost looks like a mermaid here.

• Three groups of people around the head:

1. Apostles & Clergy2. Virgins & Virgin Martyrs (maiden in red

at forefront –courageous, wise)3. Lay persons – build the churchhttp://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/ids/fap/hildegard.htm“Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen” Bingen & Fox

• The use of blue here and the fish-scales on the clothing of Sophia provides a nurturing, mother-like image of the divine which is feminine in nature. Blue is a soft, gentle color associated with the ocean, from which comes life and which has so many Christian connotations.

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Strengthening the Soul for the Journey

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• On our journey we feel like a ‘stranger away from home’ The goal of the journey is the ‘crowning with the brightness of virtues’.

• 2 White columns- symbolic of eternal stability & space between them is the entrance to eternity.

• 2 columns into 1 stands for ‘self affirmation’ – making good choices.

• Choosing life and passion over death, laziness, sleepfulness.

• Phallic symbol of male and female together on the journey.

• Called to ‘hurl away from the devil’• Heavenly inspiration keeps us strong for

the journey – develops our soul.“Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen” Bingen & Fox

‘The body of a person is made solid and is sustained by the soul’ Hildegard

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What can Hildegard teach us about

“Feminine Spirituality”

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Hildegard of Bingen

Want to know more??Check out some other visions??

Just Google Hildegard!Let’s end with something a little

different – Whatever would Hildegard think of this??

Page 27: Hildegard's spirituality

Go to Hildegard von Bingen

‘Vision’MPEG 4 Movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icPvmq7SvwQ&feature=related

Hildegard’s music with a funky twist!