An Unknown Language & Connections to Bernard de Clairvaux
I like to bring back women from history and some of you may be aware I also work with forgotten and esoteric aspects of history, including symbolism but also writing systems and to an extent, cyphers. Today I'd like to share a post on an incredible medieval woman and prolific writer I have been studying and researching; Benedictine abbess, philosopher, Christian mystic, and visionary Hildegard of Bingen.
Hildegard of Bingen, a remarkable figure of the 12th century, was ahead of her times and divinely guided with ground-breaking accomplishments, like her visionary works, especially "Scivias" (Know the Ways). She was also a composer, and polymath who left a lasting impact on various fields including music, theology, and natural science. Around 1150, she created the Lingua Ignota, or "Unknown Language," deeply intertwined with the act of creating music, which was an inventive secret language comprising about 900 terms primarily for the names of plants, elements, and celestial beings, written in a unique alphabet of 23 characters.
It's believed that through this unknown language, Hildegard aimed to revive the original language that Adam spoke with God before being expelled from Eden, at least according to her claims in a letter to the church leaders in Mainz. In this letter, she also presented a comprehensive theology of music. Hildegard passed away on September 17, 1179, in Rupertsberg, in the company of her fellow nuns. It's likely that Guibert de Gembloux was also there; he had previously questioned her about the nature of her visions, to which Hildegard had responded in depth in a letter titled "De modo visionis suae," offering a precious insight into her mystical experiences. Her biographer, Theoderich, noted that the moment of her death was accompanied by signs in the heavens.
Hildegard of Bingen, from an early age, was deeply affected by her visions. She often grappled with doubts about their origin—wondering if they were divine communications or deceptions from the devil. In her own words, she described herself as "a poor woman, ash of ashes, rottenness of rottenness," highlighting her feelings of unworthiness. Seeking guidance and validation, these causes prompted her to write a letter to the most powerful and charismatic man of the Western spiritual world, Bernard of Clairvaux, head of the Cistercian order who wrote the Latin Rule of the Knights Templar and family of the initial founding knights. A man influential in both religious and secular affairs, his support, along with the Pope's, who even sent a commission to examine her writings, would become crucial in her life. This encouragement not only validated her experiences but also empowered her to take a bold step—leaving the monastery of Disibodenberg to establish her own convent at Rupertsberg with 18 nuns. This move was not just a change of location; it was a significant step towards autonomy, freeing herself from male oversight. By founding her nunnery, Hildegard embraced a tradition of asceticism similar to that practiced by early Christian hermits and ascetics in the deserts of Egypt and later by monastic communities across Europe. These groups, including the Cistercians, sought solitude in remote areas to live lives of poverty, service, and devotion, following the example set by Jesus. Hildegard's journey was marked by her resolve to live out her convictions, setting a precedent for religious women seeking independence and spiritual fulfillment.
Hildegard's innovative work extended to composing transformative music and developing a deep theological philosophy that intertwined her visions with the essence of music. Her contributions were vast, leaving behind a legacy that celebrated the unity of spirituality and the natural world, evidenced through her extensive writings, music, and the mysterious Lingua Ignota. Her life was marked by intellectual brilliance and spiritual insight that continue to inspire to this day.
https://sites.nd.edu/.../letter-i-ardly-know-er-the.../
#knightstemplar #templars #templari #templar #gnosis #gnosticism #cistercian #EsotericKnowledge #ancientwisdom #womeninhistory #hildegardvonbingen