Barbara is a long-time Heartfulness practitioner and trainer. She has been a course developer and instructor in art and cultural history at European universities. Barbara has additional training in integrative health and continuous health education. Her passion is to combine ancient wisdom, traditional knowledge, and cutting-edge integrative health science. Through hands-on workshops she inspires and encourages people toward self-empowerment and self-care. She is a Heartfulness trainer.



Barbara-Sonvilla.jpg

Barbara Sonvilla

<h4
 id="h-barbara-sonvilla-writes-about-the-divine-feminine-and-the-global-awakening-of-women-she-celebrates-women-telling-their-stories-and-taking-action-to-bring-alive-a-collective-awareness-of-the-need-to-respect-and-protect-mother-earth-nurture-life-in-all-its-aspects-and-hold-it-sacred-in-part-1-she-presents-hildegard-von-bingen-1098-1179-one-of-the-early-eco-saints-and-her-love-for-mother-earth">
 BARBARA SONVILLA
 writes about the divine feminine and the global awakening of women. She
 celebrates women telling their stories and taking action to bring alive a
 collective awareness of the need to respect and protect Mother Earth,
 nurture life in all its aspects, and hold it sacred. In part 1, she presents
 Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), one of the early eco-saints, and her love
 for Mother Earth.
</h4>

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 Humanity, take a good look at yourself. Inside, you’ve got Heaven and
 Earth, and all of creation. You’re a world – everything is hidden in you.


—Hildegard von Bingen

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 When I was still a student of art and cultural history, I came across the
 wonderful illustrations accompanying the book
 Scivias (meaning “know the ways”), by Hildegard. I was mesmerized and
 wanted to know more about the author. I discovered a giant of a woman, an
 original thinker and mystic, who considered herself “the feather on the breath
 of God.”



 During her lifetime, Hildegard was already famous throughout medieval Europe
 as a seeress, a writer, a philosopher, a mystic, a healer, a herbalist, and a
 health counselor. Today, she is widely known for her sublime choral music. Her
 pioneering and practical works on biology, botany, and medicine, and her
 scholarly writings on theology, reveal a remarkable personality with
 compelling teaching abilities, equipped with fearlessness in dealing with
 church elders and leaders. In 2012, Hildegard was canonized and declared a
 Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming the fourth woman to
 receive such an honor in the Catholic Church.



 What drew me to Hildegard the most was that she was one of the
 “creation-centered” mystics of the West. She considered everything to be
 interconnected with everything else. In her own words:



 “Holy persons draw to themselves all that is earthly … The Earth is at
 the same time mother, She is mother of all that is natural, mother
 of all that is human. She is the mother of all, for contained in
 her are the seeds of all.”


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 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Meister_des_Hildegardis-Codex_001_cropped.jpg
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 As was the custom of the time, as the tenth child of a noble family, Hildegard
 was dedicated to the church. Having had visions of what she called
 “reflections of the living Light” from early childhood, she was reluctant to
 share these visions, which came to her as inner experiences while her eyes
 were open and all her senses routinely engaged. Only at the age of 43, after
 seeking and receiving the blessing from Pope Eugene III, Hildegard started
 writing down her visions and thoughts in her first book, Scivias,
 including images of these visions.



 In her writings, as well as in nearly 400 letters, Hildegard was quite
 outspoken, determined, and bold, yet always ready to help, educate, and uplift
 the correspondent. She loved to mix genres, including music and poetry. People
 would come to seek help and advice from her, and from this her two works on
 the origins and treatment of diseases and naturopathy emerged.



 As an abbess, she asked the nuns in her charge to pay close attention to
 nature and its rhythms, as they hold the secrets to our physical well-being
 and aliveness of our inner world. Hildegard urged them to become partners with
 the natural world, saying:&nbsp;



 “Humankind, full of all creative possibilities, is God’s work. Humankind alone
 is called to assist God. Humankind is called to co-create. With nature’s help,
 humankind can set into creation all that is necessary and
 life-sustaining.”&nbsp;


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 <img width="512" alt="hildegard-ecosaint3" class="lazyload w-100"
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 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:07angels-hildegard_von_bingen.jpg
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 Viriditas, the divine healing power of
 Nature



 One of the most recognizable contributions of Hildegard, her leitmotif, and
 the thread running through all her writings, is the concept of
 viriditas.



 The origin of “viriditas” may be the union of two Latin words
 meaning&nbsp;“green” and “truth.” The definition is both literal, as in
 “green” and “growth,” and metaphorical, as in “freshness” and
 “vitality.”&nbsp; The term is difficult to translate, and it has rich and
 poetic connotations. I simply fell in love with the word. It represents the
 life force at work in all creation. For Hildegard, this green energy is love
 pulsing through the entire universe. It is the creative principle itself,
 sustaining her soul and her work.


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 <img width="272" alt="hildegard-ecosaint4" class="lazyload w-100"
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 Hildegard saw viriditas as animating every living being, inherent in
 everything, including humans. Much like gardens, farmlands, and forests need
 cultivation, Hildegard saw viriditas as something also to be
 cultivated in our bodies and our souls. For her, a healthy human body is
 “green,” our blood possessing special greening power, and the life force, the
 soul, being&nbsp;“green.” It is the very same greenness that connects
 us all together as humanity. It shines forth, giving us the common purpose of
 creating a joyful, peaceful, and productive life. It is the&nbsp;strength
 within us manifesting as a strong and&nbsp;healthy life.



 “O most honored Viriditas, 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.”



 For Hildegard, green was not just a color – it was the universal life force.
 “Creation is the song of God,” she said, and
 viriditas its breath. If we could wish to describe a flavor that
 comes with this greenness, it would be the joy of being alive. Hildegard
 defines joy as an “awareness of God’s secrets.1”


As the Voice of the Living Light revealed to her:


 “I am the breeze that nurtures all things green. I encourage blossoms to
 flourish with ripening fruits. I adorn all the Earth. I am the rain coming
 from the dew that causes the grass to laugh with the joy of life.”


How is this vital greenness sustained?


 “The soul is the greening life force of the flesh, for the body grows and
 prospers through her, just as the Earth becomes fruitful when it is moistened.
 The soul humidifies the body so it does not dry out, just like the rain which
 soaks into the Earth.”



 This belief in viriditas&nbsp;led her to become an herbalist also.
 She wrote extensively on the importance of selecting foods with curative
 properties, and in accordance with the Hippocratic tradition, she prioritized
 preventive medicine and remedies based on plants. As an example, she
 considered fennel to be a plant with truly holistic health benefits.&nbsp;It
 was one of her primary healing foods after surgery, for convalescence and
 immune building. In her own words:



 “Fennel does not harm the body in any way. In whatever way it is eaten, it
 makes people happy and gives warmth, a good skin color, and promotes good
 digestion … it reduces the evil mucus and suppresses the foul odor of the
 breath.


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<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 The soul is the greening life force of the flesh, for the
 body grows
 and prospers through her, just as the Earth becomes fruitful when it is
 moistened. The soul humidifies the body so it does not dry out,
 just like the rain which soaks into the Earth
</h4>

<hr />

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 Hildegard thought that when the soul, body, and mind are equally strong, the
 four life juices (humors) and elements are balanced. This allows the organism
 to work optimally and operate harmoniously. Because of our connectivity with
 the universe, Hildegard believed the soul to be the source of everything and
 thus essential in achieving harmony. For her, what we now call the autonomic
 nervous system is the connecting language between the body and the soul.
 Hildegard described in detail how lifestyle affects that communication. The
 balance is easily disturbed through incorrect eating and drinking habits, but
 also through thoughts, emotions, and living against the principles of a
 virtuous and pious life.


To be continued. 

<hr />


 1Butcher, C.A., 2007.
 St. Hildegard of Bingen. A Spiritual Reader. Paraclete Press.


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Hildegard, an eco-saint

<h4
 id="h-barbara-sonvilla-writes-about-the-divine-feminine-the-global-awakening-of-women-and-their-growing-role-in-leadership-she-celebrates-women-telling-their-stories-and-taking-action-to-bring-alive-a-collective-awareness-of-the-need-to-respect-and-protect-mother-earth-and-nurture-life-in-all-its-aspects-and-hold-it-sacred-in-part-2-she-shares-more-of-the-wisdom-of-the-medieval-eco-saint-hildegard-von-bingen"
>
 BARBARA SONVILLA
 writes about the divine feminine, the global awakening of women, and their
 growing role in leadership. She celebrates women telling their stories and
 taking action to bring alive a collective awareness of the need to respect
 and protect Mother Earth and nurture life in all its aspects and hold it
 sacred. In part 2, she shares more of the wisdom of the medieval eco-saint,
 Hildegard von Bingen.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 “In a true vision I saw and heard the following words: 



 “O daughter of God, out of your love for God you call a poor creature
 like myself, ‘Mother.’ Listen then to your mother and learn
 moderation! For moderation is the mother of all virtues for
 everything heavenly and earthly. For it is through moderation that the
 body is nourished with the proper discipline.” —Hildegard von Bingen


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<h4 id="h-moderation-discretio-the-mother-of-all-virtues">
 Moderation (discretio), the mother of all virtues
</h4>

“As there is order in the cosmos, there is balance in the body.”


 This is one of Hildegard’s guiding principles. The basis of this orderly
 structure depends on the interrelationship of the human and the Earth’s four
 primary elements, where everything has its place, meaning, and purpose. It is
 from this order, this balance, that we seek divinity.
 Discretio (seeking the right measure and moderation in everything we
 do) is the practice of living the balance and bringing the union between
 divinity and humanity back to order.


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<h4 id="h-what-does-hildegard-mean-by-back-to-order">
 What does Hildegard mean by “back to order”?
</h4>


 When viewed from Hildegard’s idea that human beings are the microcosmic
 representation of the macrocosm, the “fall from the Garden of Eden” disrupted
 our originally perfect relationship with Nature, and consequently led to
 physical and spiritual changes in us, physical fragility, suffering, and
 disease. But we can restore the relationship through diligent efforts from our
 side. Hildegard believed that we could strive to bring moderation into our
 behavior, thoughts, and actions. She taught that a life of measure and
 spirituality is the right path toward a healthier state of being.



 Thus, Hildegard’s practice of discretio is a strength of the soul, a
 virtue of the mind, and a mode of action. For her, discretio is the
 mother of all virtues.



 “And so the soul loves the discreet measure in all things. Whenever the body
 of the person eats or drinks without discretion, or does something else of
 this kind, the forces of the soul are injured, because everything is to be
 done with measure, since humans cannot always dwell in
 heaven.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;


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 rel="noopener"
 ><img
 decoding="async"
 width="532px"
 alt="love_the_earth3"
 class="lazyload w-100"
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<h4 id="h-hildegard-s-golden-rules-for-living">
 Hildegard’s golden rules for living
</h4>


 Hildegard’s principle of moderation is deeply rooted in medieval spirituality,
 and yet it is timeless in its value as an actionable practice for modern
 living. It is especially timely now as we face climate change and
 environmental destruction. Finding moderation is a unique challenge in today’s
 lifestyle. It is worth looking at Hildegard’s guidelines, which are simple:


Benefit and draw energy from nature’s life force (viriditas).

Learn moderation:

<ul>
 <li>by healthy and balanced nutrition,</li>
 <li>by balancing periods of activity with periods of rest, and</li>
 <li>by cultivating healthy sleep patterns.</li>
</ul>

Detox and purify yourself regularly.

Strengthen the soul:

<ul>
 <li>through prayer and meditation,</li>
 <li>through encouraging your innate talents and virtues, and</li>
 <li>while keeping a check on your shortcomings.</li>
</ul>


 Above all, love the Earth and “welcome all the creatures of the world with
 grace.”


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 “We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If
 we&nbsp;fall in love with creation deeper&nbsp;and deeper, we will respond to
 its endangerment with passion.” —Hildegard von Bingen


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<h4 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-artwork-by-hildegard-von-bingen">
 Artwork by Hildegard von Bingen
</h4>

<hr />

Barbara Sonvilla

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