Hildegard of Bingen's Book of Divine Works: With Letters and Songs (Original) by Fox, Matthew

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Mysticism

Hildegard of Bingen's Book of Divine Works: With Letters and Songs (Original)

Name: Hildegard of Bingen's Book of Divine Works: With Letters and Songs (Original)
Price: 25.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (3 reviews)
Author: Fox, Matthew
ISBN: 9780939680351

Fox, Matthew

Reader rating

4.6

(2 reviews) 76 sold

$25.00

Editorial score How we rate

In stock

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Hildegard’s cosmic vision bridges ancient mysticism and modern physics in this stunning first English translation.

Matthew Fox presents the first English rendering of Hildegard of Bingen’s third major visionary work, a text composed between 1170 and 1173. This volume completes a trilogy begun with Scivias, offering a profound cosmology that dissolves the barriers between sacred theology, natural science, and artistic expression. Beyond the visionary cosmology, the edition enriches the reader’s experience by including fifty-one epistles exchanged with medieval political and ecclesiastical leaders, alongside twelve of her musical compositions. It stands as a testament to her role as a healer, prophet, and social critic, inviting us into a world where spiritual insight and empirical observation are inseparable.

Key themes

Cosmic Harmony Feminine Mysticism Sacred Science

Historical context

This work emerges from the high medieval period of Christian mysticism, representing a unique synthesis of theological vision and natural philosophy. It serves as a pivotal text bridging ancient contemplative traditions with early empirical observation.

Fox, Matthew

📚 all books by this author (10) →

Difficulty

●●● Demanding

Fans will love it

Meister Eckhart · Dionysius the Areopagite · Thomas Merton · Scivias

🌌 Mysticism

🏛 Bear & Company 📖 432 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780939680351

Fun fact

Fox’s translation is a vital contribution, making Hildegard’s complex cosmology accessible without diluting its mystical depth. The inclusion of letters and songs adds necessary dimension to her persona as a multifaceted visionary. While theologians may find the interpretations slightly liberal, general readers will appreciate the seamless blend of history and spirituality. It sits comfortably alongside Scivias as an essential text for those exploring the roots of Western esotericism and feminine divine imagery.

📚 This book appears in Esoterica Books

🌀 Mysticism 🌱 Inspiration & Personal Growth

📝 Description: Hildegard of Bingen's Book of Divine Works: With Letters and Songs (Original)

Hildegard of Bingen, a Rhineland mystic of the twelfth century, has been called an ideal model of the liberated woman. She was a poet and scientist, painter and musician, healer and abbess, playwright, prophet, preacher and social critic. The Book of Divine Works was written between 1170 and 1173, and this is its first appearance in English. The third volume of a trilogy which includes Scivias, published by Bear & Company in 1985, this visionary work is a signal resounding throughout the planet that a time of healing and balance is at hand. The Book of Divine Works is a cosmology which reunites religion, science, and art, and readers will discover an astonishing symbiosis with contemporary physics in these 800-year-old visions. The present volume also contains 51 letters written by Hildegard to significant political and religious figures of her day and translations of twelve of her songs.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Matthew Fox’s translation offers a stunning first English rendering of Hildegard’s visionary cosmology, completing a significant trilogy. The inclusion of epistles and musical compositions enriches the experience, showcasing her role as a social critic and healer. However, this text is not suited for readers seeking straightforward historical narratives or those uncomfortable with dense, allegorical mystical prose. Those expecting modern scientific analysis may find the theological framework archaic. It demands patience for its poetic structure and complex metaphysical ideas. While intellectually stimulating for scholars of esotericism, casual readers might struggle with the abstract nature of her cosmic visions and the medieval context required to fully appreciate her empirical observations.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to the intersection of spirituality and science will find profound resonance in this volume. It is ideal for those seeking a holistic worldview where sacred theology and natural observation are inseparable. By presenting Hildegard as a healer, prophet, and social critic, the book offers a multifaceted portrait of medieval intellectual life. The inclusion of her letters and songs provides intimate access to her relationships with political leaders and her artistic expression. This edition invites you to explore a cosmology that dissolves barriers between disciplines, offering fresh insights for modern physicists and mystics alike who wish to understand how spiritual insight can inform empirical observation in the 12th century.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Readers fascinated by medieval female mystics, those seeking to integrate spiritual practice with scientific understanding, and anyone drawn to the intersection of art, theology, and natural philosophy in historical contexts.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 2 reviews

Owen D. ✓ Verified purchase

January 5, 2025

Worth every penny

My book club chose this last month. The historical context alone makes it worth the price. Plenty of passages worth underlining; my copy is already full of margin notes. Well worth it.

Esoterica Books editorial team

Matthew Fox’s translation offers a stunning first English rendering of Hildegard’s visionary cosmology, completing a significant trilogy. The inclusion of epistles and musical compositions enriches the experience, showcasing her role as a social critic and healer. However, this text is not suited for readers seeking straightforward historical narratives or those uncomfortable with dense, allegorical mystical prose. Those expecting modern scientific analysis may find the theological framework archaic. It demands patience for its poetic structure and complex metaphysical ideas. While intellectually stimulating for scholars of esotericism, casual readers might struggle with the abstract nature of her cosmic visions and the medieval context required to fully appreciate her empirical observations.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. Matthew Fox provides sufficient context for modern readers to engage with Hildegard’s visions without needing specialized academic background in medieval studies.

Yes, alongside the visionary text and letters, this volume features translations of twelve of her original songs, offering a glimpse into her multifaceted artistic genius.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Cosmic Harmony

Feminine Mysticism

Sacred Science

💬 Quotes from the book

“The Book of Divine Works is a cosmology which reunites religion, science, and art.”

“A signal resounding throughout the planet that a time of healing and balance is at hand.”

📜 Historical context

Hildegard of Bingen emerged in twelfth-century Germany as a rare female voice in a patriarchal religious landscape. Her writings challenged contemporary norms by blending rigorous theological inquiry with observations of the natural world. This volume follows Scivias, establishing a unique tradition of visionary literature that influenced later Christian mysticism and continues to resonate with modern seekers of holistic spirituality.

📚 Glossary

Viriditas
Scivias
Rhineland Mystic

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do your own experiences of creativity intersect with your sense of the sacred?
In what ways can you observe the 'greening' of your own life and environment?
How might Hildegard’s integration of science and spirit challenge your current worldview?