The Great Christian Mystics
Step into the teachings of mystics like Hildegard of Bingen, the fierce, prophetic abbess, and Meister Eckhart, the master of inner awakening with legendary radical priest and activist theologian Matthew Fox.
Module 1The paintings of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Hildegard painted numerous images of her dreams and visions. We will spend time meditating on and exegeting what Hildegard is teaching us about life, love, strength, compassion, Christ and evil (the antichrist) in her amazing mandalas and paintings that speak deeply to us today.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Awakening
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Wisdom, Cosmos & Ecology: O Virtus Sapientiae
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Viriditas, The Cosmic Wheel, The Human as Microcosm of the Macrocosm
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Original Blessing: The Golden Tent, Love & Mantras
Module 2Hildegard of Bingen: Grandmother of Creation Mysticism (1098-1179)
Hildegard, the "grandmother" of the Rhineland mystic movement, inspired figures like Aquinas and Eckhart with her creation-centered spirituality. In this class, we’ll explore her teachings on viriditas (greening power) and prophecy.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Egg of the Universe & Caritas Abundat
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Hildegard's Battle for Justice: her Critique and Letters to the Tyrants & the Antichrist Painting
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Her Eco-Prophecy and her Poems
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Strengthening the Soul for the Journey
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Blue Man & the Power of Compassion
Module 3Thomas Aquinas on Joy, Gratitude, Justice and Compassion (1225-1274)
Thomas Aquinas, a mystic and prophet, bridged science and Scripture, defining religion as "supreme thankfulness" and joy as the universe’s purpose. His teachings on joy, compassion, and justice inspired figures like Martin Luther King Jr.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Aquinas' Life
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Aquinas' Cosmology
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Teachings on Joy, Compassion, Justice and Art
Module 4Mechtild of Magdeburg: the women’s movement of the middle ages. (1210-1280)
Mechtild of Magdeburg, a Beguine from the Middle Ages, was part of a movement of women who lived in community, serving the poor and young. Her teachings, which challenged authority and were condemned by Pope John XXII, focus on the dark night, service, and dancing as a "playmate" of God.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Mechtild's Life and Theological Context
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Poems and Teachings on Creation and Staying Young
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Via Negativa
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Via Creativa, Via Transformativa and God Mother
Module 5Meister Eckhart and the Sacredness of Being (1260-1327)
Meister Eckhart, called “the Zen thinker of the West,” profoundly influenced figures like Carl Jung, Thomas Merton, and Coomaraswamy. Condemned after his death, his teachings on creation’s holiness, silence, and creativity for justice are resurfacing today.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Tracing Eckhart's Influences in Compassion & Justice
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Four Paths of Creation Spirituality
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Seeing with the Eye of Is-ness
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Via Positiva
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Via Negativa
Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Via Creativa
Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Via Transformativa
Module 6The Wisdom of Julian of Norwich (1342-ca.1415)
Julian of Norwich, the first woman to write a book in English, centered her teachings on joy and the goodness of nature, even amid the bubonic plague. She developed the concept of the Motherhood of God and profoundly influenced creation spirituality.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: A Light in the Bubonic Plague
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: On Suffering & The Dark Night
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: On Drinking the Goodness of Life & Nature
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: "Between God & the Soul, There is No In-Between"
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Motherhood of God
Chapter 6
Chapter 6: The Power of Love over Evil
Live ConversationsLive conversation with Matthew Fox: May 27th & June 24th, 6PM BST
An opportunity for you to discuss course contents with your teacher and your peers.
Q&A 1
Live Conversation with Matthew Fox: May 27th, 6PM BST
Q&A 2
Live Conversation with Matthew Fox: DATE TBD
Carl Jung reminds us, “It is to the mystics we owe what is best of humanity.” In times of challenge and uncertainty we are called to rediscover and embody the best of humanity. Each of us is invited to embrace the path of the mystic—to be lovers of life, beauty, and goodness, saying “Yes” to them wherever they arise.
This is necessary also in order to develop the prophet or spiritual warrior within us who says “No” to injustice and folly and has been defined as “the mystic in action.”
In this course, guided by Matthew Fox, a renowned theologian and spiritual teacher whose work has deeply influenced contemporary Christian mysticism, we will explore some of the richest and most incredible mystic-prophets in the Christian lineage including Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Aquinas, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich.
While the world faces many challenges today—from the harm done to Mother Earth to threats against democracy—we have the opportunity to respond with wisdom, courage, and compassion. Poet, farmer and prophet Wendell Berry says, “one must fight the worst with the best.” We will explore what is best within us by calling on the mystics who came before us and thereby call for the best in ourselves for what lies ahead.
In their creativity and their love of life, each of these mystics offers their own understanding and language and concepts that guide us to our deeper presence in the world, our capacity for “reading the signs of our times” and responding to the news whether it be good or disturbing. Each of these mystics were engaged in struggles of their day and were committed to awakening others to the sacredness of the Earth and the empowerment that comes with claiming one’s creativity, and the responsibility that comes with following the way of Compassion, Celebration, Healing and Justice.
We will explore their teachings and practices that light the fire of spirituality in us, the “spark of the soul” (Eckhart) that culminates in a fire of the divine image burning in us all.