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.

<p><b>Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen</b> </p><p>I. HILDEGARD: HER TIMES AND HER ILLUMINATIONS<br />II. HILDEGARD'S GIFTS FOR OUR TIMES<br />III. HILDEGARD'S ILLUMINATIONS <br />with Text by Hildegard of Bingen <br />and Commentary by Matthew Fox<br />1. The Man in Sapphire Blue: A Study in Compassion <br />2. Hildegard's Awakening: A Self-Portrait <br />3. Viriditas: Greening Power <br />4. Egg of the Universe <br />5. The Cosmic Wheel <br />6. The Human as Microcosm of the Macrocosm <br />7. Cultivating the Cosmic Tree <br />8. The Creator's Glory, Creation's Glory <br />9. Original Blessing: The Golden Tent <br />10. Adam's Fall <br />11. Recycling Lucifer's Fall into Humanity's Glory <br />12. Sin--Drying Up <br />13. The Six Days of Creation Renewed <br />14. Sophia: Mother Wisdom, Mother Church <br />15. All Beings Celebrate Creation <br />16. Emptying: The True Spirit of Poverty <br />17. Strengthening the Soul for the Journey <br />18. Power, Principalities and the Antichrist <br />19. The Crucifixion and The Mass: Cosmic Events <br />20. The Mystical Body Taming the Devil <br />21. Five Virtues Building a Heavenly City in the House of Wisdom <br />22. The Red Head of God Zealous for Erotic Justice <br />23. Redemption: Cosmic Healing, Cosmic Regeneration. <br />24. New Heaven, New Earth <br />25. The Communion of Saints in Cosmic Symphony <br /><br /><i>A Bibliographical Note for English-Speaking Readers <br />Acknowledgements <br />Index </i></p>

I. HILDEGARD: HER TIMES AND HER ILLUMINATIONS

II. HILDEGARD'S GIFTS FOR OUR TIMES

III. HILDEGARD'S ILLUMINATIONS
with Text by Hildegard of Bingen  and Commentary by Matthew Fox

1. The Man in Sapphire Blue: A Study in Compassion
2. Hildegard's Awakening: A Self-Portrait
3. Viriditas: Greening Power
4. Egg of the Universe
5. The Cosmic Wheel
6. The Human as Microcosm of the Macrocosm
7. Cultivating the Cosmic Tree
8. The Creator's Glory, Creation's Glory
9. Original Blessing: The Golden Tent
10. Adam's Fall
11. Recycling Lucifer's Fall into Humanity's Glory
12. Sin--Drying Up
13. The Six Days of Creation Renewed
14. Sophia: Mother Wisdom, Mother Church
15. All Beings Celebrate Creation
16. Emptying: The True Spirit of Poverty
17. Strengthening the Soul for the Journey
18. Power, Principalities and the Antichrist
19. The Crucifixion and The Mass: Cosmic Events
20. The Mystical Body Taming the Devil
21. Five Virtues Building a Heavenly City in the House of Wisdom
22. The Red Head of God Zealous for Erotic Justice
23. Redemption: Cosmic Healing, Cosmic Regeneration.
24. New Heaven, New Earth
25. The Communion of Saints in Cosmic Symphony

A Bibliographical Note for English-Speaking Readers

Acknowledgements

Index