All names and images of God must be surrendered at times–that is what the apophatic divinity is all about. “If one person deserves credit for the great Hildegard renaissance in our time, it is Matthew Fox.” – Dr Mary Ford-Grabowsky, author of Sacred Voices. 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. The work of Julian of Norwich, lovingly supported by the genius of Matthew Fox, is a roadmap into the heart of the eco-spiritual truth that all life breathes together.” –Caroline MyssĪn introduction to the life and work of Hildegard of Bingen, Illuminations reveals the life and teachings of one of the greatest female artists and intellectuals of the Western Mystical Tradition. Fox shares her teachings in this powerful and timely and inspiring book. A theologian way ahead of her time, Julian develops a feminist understanding of God as mother at the heart of nature’s goodness. Being an anchoress, she ‘sheltered in place’ and developed a deep wisdom that she shared in her book, Showings, which was the first book in English by a woman. Julian of Norwich lived through the dreadful bubonic plague that killed close to 50% of Europeans. Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic–and Beyond What further lessons do you see in Hildegard’s painting? Notice how her kite that is four-sided also houses a trinity on the inside. 76ff.īanner Image: Hildegard’s depiction of Mother Wisdom, from the manuscript of her Scivias. And from Matthew Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, plate 9 and pp. (John 1)Īdapted from Matthew Fox, Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic-and Beyond, pp. In John’s Gospel she does so in Christ, understood as wisdom incarnate. Wisdom in the Scriptures is said to be seeking to set up her tent-and chooses to do so in Israel. In picturing life’s journey in the right column, she is clear how difficult the journey is-notice the obstacles we undergo–demons to face, rivers to ford, mountains to scale-but eventually the soul sets up the tent and demons are kept at bay. We are born with this tent inside of us, but we are small so it comes folded up inside of us. In this painting the child in the womb is pictured with an umbilical cord connected to what Hildegard calls a “golden tent” or “golden kite” which stands for the “kingdom of God” and for “original wisdom.” Hildegard of Bingen also had a vision of the Quarternity of the divine in relationship to the human person and painted a picture of it. For more of Hildegard’s illuminations, see Matthew Fox‘s Illuminations book. Illumination of the “golden tent” or “golden kite” that Hildegard had a vision of. Thus she introduces a Quarternity as a way to look at divinity. She insists on including what Carl Jung called the “fourth side” of the Trinity, the feminine side that has been missing. In ascribing the divine feminine and motherhood and motherly actions to the entire Trinity, as she does on many occasions, Julian, in many ways, rewrites Christian theology. Again, wisdom and the feminine are united. Nature, love, wisdom and knowledge are all attributes of the Mother, which is God.” To be a mother is to be a source of life, and since divinity is the source of all life, divinity is preeminently a mother. Only he who is our true Mother and source of all life may rightfully be called by this name. The divine feminine permeates all history and all work.įor Julian the word “mother” becomes a special name for the divine-indeed, “this beautiful word ‘mother’ is so sweet and kind in itself that it cannot be attributed to anyone but God. All One Love.” A cosmic vision of the Holy Spirit and of divine love in action for sure. “And the third is motherhood in action, in which she spreads herself throughout all that is, penetrating everything with grace, extending to the fullest length and breath, height and depth.
![divine feminine paintings alex grey feminine divine feminine paintings alex grey feminine](https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/3/sisterhood-of-the-divine-feminine-lila-violet.jpg)
![divine feminine paintings alex grey feminine divine feminine paintings alex grey feminine](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3e/3c/a0/3e3ca03071624c7ec1111b76348b7afa--visionary-art-divine-feminine.jpg)
“The second is that she took our human nature upon herself, which is where the motherhood of grace begins.” Thus, Julian applies the motherly dimension of divinity to Christ. The first is that she created our human nature.” Here she applies the term “motherhood” and the divine feminine to the Creator, or the first person of the Trinity.
![divine feminine paintings alex grey feminine divine feminine paintings alex grey feminine](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bc/73/d8/bc73d8381237932d455f9b8292a42db9.jpg)
She clearly names the Trinity as feminine when she tells us that she saw “three ways to look at the motherhood of God.