The Historical Library
In ancient times, Priestesses were called “Birds” for their ability to fly between worlds.
The dove is the bird connected with the Goddess of Love Aphrodite, the owl is sacred to Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and the Raven is connected to the shape shifting Celtic Goddess Morrigan, whose name means “Phantom Queen”
On September 17, we honor the birthday of Hildegarde von Bingen, a mystic, composer, healer, and visionary whose legacy continues to inspire. Born in 1098, Hildegarde was a woman who lived in harmony with nature, embodying a profound connection to the divine forces of creation. Her work as a healer and prophetess, combined with her visionary writings and music, positioned her as a powerful figure of the Divine Feminine.
In this depiction of Hildegarde, she stands in the heart of a wild forest, surrounded by flowers and herbs, a symbol of her deep relationship with the natural world. The forest around her teems with life, reflecting her profound wisdom of nature’s healing powers and her belief that creation itself is an expression of divine love. Here, Hildegarde is not merely a scholar or visionary; she is an extension of the earth, drawing strength from the vibrant, living world that surrounds her.
Hildegarde saw all of creation as interconnected—humans, animals, plants, and the cosmos—all intertwined in a sacred dance of life. This holistic vision resonates today, reminding us of our need to realign with the rhythms of nature and the sacred feminine that nourishes and heals. Her teachings emphasize that healing is not just physical, but spiritual and ecological, urging us to care for our souls and the earth with equal reverence.
Her life also reminds us that the Divine Feminine is not confined to one role—it is expansive, encompassing wisdom, creativity, healing, and a fierce love for life itself. Hildegarde, as a woman of many gifts, represents this multifaceted nature, showing that the feminine spirit has the power to bring forth new life in all forms—be it through art, healing, or spiritual insight.
On this day, we are called to remember her not only as a saint or scholar but as an embodiment of the wild, untamed aspects of the feminine. The flowers and herbs growing around her in the forest symbolize her connection to the divine wisdom found in the natural world. They remind us that true wisdom comes not only from books or doctrines but from an intimate relationship with the living earth.
And however we choose to honor Hildegarde on her birthday, may we reflect on how her legacy invites us to reconnect with the wild divine within ourselves. Let her life and teachings be a reminder that the path of the feminine is one of healing, creativity, and profound unity with nature. By attuning to the wisdom she embraced, we open ourselves to the sacred forces of life that flow through the world and through us.
“Hildegarde Von Bingen”
Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
