Hildegard von Bingen (1098 – 1179 CE) was born near Mainz, in Germany, and at the age of eight was given into the care of a woman recluse who taught her the fundamentals of spiritual practice. She was gifted with visions, and at the age of 42 received a revelation of divine light, after which she said she ‘understood the inner meaning of the holy books.’ Despite recurring bouts of ill health, she became the head of her monastic community and wrote not only of her visions but also of healing and herbs, and composed music.

Holy spirit, making life alive,
moving in all things, root of all created being,
cleansing the cosmos of every impurity, effacing guilt,
anointing wounds.
You are lustrous and praiseworthy life,
You waken and re-awaken everything that is.

Translation Jerry Dybdal and Matthew Fox