Saint Hildegard von Bingen: herbalist and mystic

O most honored Greening Force,

You who roots in the Sun;

You who lights up, in shining serenity, within a wheel

that earthly excellence fails to comprehend.

You are enfolded

in the weaving of divine mysteries.

You redden like the dawn

and you burn: flame of the Sun.

–  Hildegard von Bingen, Causae et Curae

It’s not often that my herbal, literary, artistic, and spiritual paths intertwine. OK- that is actually a never. However, my studies in herbalism eventually led me to the great St. Hildegard von Bingen: a Doctor of the Church and OG herbal elder. We're talking medieval herbal elder.

As a Catholic, I often come across folks in my herbal/ metaphysical circles who have very strong feelings toward Christianity- let alone Catholicism. It’s taken me years to feel comfortable standing up for myself and my beliefs when confronted with opposition, so when I learned about St. Hildegard I felt a warm wash of pride; it helped embolden me to speak about my faith more openly in uncomfortable spaces. She is a perfect union of my faith and my love of plants, among other admirable qualities and accomplishments. And she’s German, so there’s that (my family is also German).

https://tinyurl.com/ycyyr77e

If I’m going to put it bluntly, St. Hildegard is a pretty freaking badass woman. She is one of the most accomplished figures of the 12th century. Not only was she an abbess, she was also a renowned composer, mystic, scientist, herbalist, and philosopher. Born in 1098 in the Rhineland region of Germany, Hildegard is everything you would not expect from a female during the medieval time period.

From a young age, Hildegard experienced vivid visions in the form of flashes of divine light and symbolic imagery. She understood these to be messages from God, and eventually began recording these visions in a text called Scivias (short for "Know the Ways"). Her work caught the attention of popes, emperors, and scholars. The illustrations for these are pretty mind-blowing. Check some of them out here. This is also on my list of ‘tattoos to get one day’. 

In addition to her role as a mystic, Hildegard was also one of the first named composers in history. Her music is considered haunting, soaring, and remarkably unique for that time. Hildegard's compositions pushed musical boundaries, often featuring wide vocal ranges and ethereal melodies, which differed from the rigid style of Gregorian chants. Hildegard’s compositions are still influencing composers today. Check out this recent NPR post. There’s also a song by Pink Pony Club. Just saying. Also, when did St. Hildegard suddenly become so popular?! My research for this blog revealed a whole lot more interest in her than I ever saw a decade ago. 

Aside from her contribution to the arts and the Church, Hildegard was also respected by the leaders of the time, even as a woman, and involved herself in the political landscape- remarkable given the fact that she was a woman. Hildegard didn't hesitate to call out corruption or speak boldly on moral and spiritual issues, and her fiery letters reveal a woman of deep conviction, fierce intellect, and spiritual courage. 

But my personal favorite version of Hildegard is (not surprisingly) as an herbalist and healer. She was and still is considered a pioneer of natural medicine, and is referenced often throughout the herb world. Two of her major works are texts on healing titled Physica and Causae et Curae, which explore the medicinal properties of plants, animals, and minerals. Using a holistic approach, she describes the connection of the physical body with the soul. As a holistic practitioner myself, this philosophy of understanding wellness is a major component of the way most of us work with our clients. Hildegard believed in the concept of “viriditas”—the greening power of nature and the divine energy that flows through all living things. I. Just. Can’t. This woman! 

She was eventually canonized a saint and declared a Doctor of the Church in 2012. There are very few women in history who have received this title, which is typically given to those whose theological writings are considered universally significant.

I find Hildegard to be of particular importance these days. She is a unifying force. Hildegard is celebrated not just by theologians, but also by musicians, feminists, environmentalists, and holistic healers. Her legacy continues to inspire those who seek to live authentically, spiritually, and creatively. 

An artist, composer, healer, leader, and woman of integrity, St. Hildegard von Bingen’s love of God and others is entwined within her love of the natural world. 

She is all the things I aspire to be. 

And, she just happens to be my daughter’s Confirmation saint.

Not sure where she got that idea… ;)

Self Portrait https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/02/06/hildegard-of-bingen-composes-the-cosmos