Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen

Matthew Fox

• Publisher: Bear & Company
• Year: 2002
• Print ISBN:
  9781879181977
• eBook ISBN:
  9781591438168
• Edition: 2
• Subtopic: Mysticism

An introduction to the life and work of Hildegard.

• Reveals the life and teachings of one of the greatest female artists and intellectuals of the Western Mystical Tradition.

• Contains 24 full-color illustrations by Hildegard of Bingen.

• Includes commentary by Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing (250,000 sold).

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was an extraordinary woman living in the Rhineland valley during most of the twelfth century. Besides being the abbess of a large and influential Benedictine abbey, she was a prominent preacher, healer, scientist, and artist. She also was a composer and theologian, writing nine books on theology, medicine, science, and physiology, as well as 70 poems and an opera. At the age of 42, she began to have visions; these were captured as 36 illuminations--24 of which are recorded in this book along with her commentaries on them. She also wrote a text describing these visions entitled Scivias (Know the Ways), now published as Hildegard of Bingen's Mystical Visions.

Author Matthew Fox has stated, "If Hildegard had been a man, she would be well known as one of the greatest artists and intellectuals the world has ever seen." It is a credit to the power of the women's movement and our times that this towering genius of Western thought is being rediscovered in her full grandeur and autonomy.

Virtually unknown for more than 800 years in Western history, Hildegard was featured as one of the women in Judy Chicago's Dinner Party in the early 1980s and published for the first time in English by Bear & Company in 1982. In addition to her mystical teachings, Hildegard's music has been performed and recorded for a new and growing audience.

Table of contents

• Cover Image
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Acknowledgments
• Table of Contents
• Part I • Hildegard: Her Times and Her Illuminations
• Part II • Hildegard’s Gifts for Our Times
• Part III • Hildegard’s Illuminations
• Chapter 1 • The Man in Sapphire Blue: A Study in Compassion
• Chapter 2 • Hildegard’s Awakening: A Self-Portrait
• Chapter 3 • Viriditas: Greening Power
• Chapter 4 • Egg of the Universe
• Chapter 5 • The Cosmic Wheel
• Chapter 6 • The Human as Microcosm
• Chapter 7 • Cultivating the Cosmic Tree
• Chapter 8 • The Creator’s Glory, Creation’s Glory
• Chapter 9 • Original Blessing: The Golden Tent
• Chapter 10 • Adam’s Fall
• Chapter 11 • Recycling Lucifer’s Fall Into Humanity’s Glory
• Chapter 12 • Sin—Drying Up
• Chapter 13 • The Six Days of Creation Renewed
• Chapter 14 • Sophia: Mother Wisdom, Mother Church
• Chapter 15 • All Beings Celebrate Creation
• Chapter 16 • Emptying: The True Spirit of Poverty
• Chapter 17 • Strengthening the Soul for the Journey
• Chapter 18 • Powers, Principalities, and Antichrist
• Chapter 19 • The Crucifixion and The Mass: Cosmic Events
• Chapter 20 • The Mystical Body Taming the Devil
• Chapter 21 • Five Virtues Building a Heavenly ...
• Chapter 22 • The Red Head of God Zealous for Erotic Justice
• Chapter 23 • Redemption: Cosmic Healing, Cosmic Regeneration
• Chapter 24 • New Heaven, New Earth
• Chapter 25 • The Communion of Saints in Cosmic Symphony
• A Bibliographical Note for English-Speaking Readers
• Endnotes
• Also by Matthew Fox
• About the Author
• About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company
• Copyright & Permissions