There are studies of Hildegard of Bingen's visions, based on the theory
that she suffered from migraine and that it was a factor in how she
perceived them -- see Barbara Newman, “Introduction”, Hildegard of
Bingen: Scivias, trans. Mother Columba Hart and Jane Bishop (New York:
Paulist Press, 1990) 11-12, citing Charles Singer, “The Scientific Views
and Visions of St Hildegard”, Studies in the History and Method of
Science 1 (Oxford, 1917) 1-55 and Oliver Sacks, Migraine: Understanding
a Common Disorder (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985) 106-8.
Abigail
Jennifer Roberts-Smith wrote:
>> Dear list:
>>
>> Can anyone suggest a reliable, scholarly evaluation of the (I think
>> mostly popular?) theory that the spiritual experiences of medieval
>> mystics may have had physiological causes?
>>
>> (I am currently working as a dramaturge with Rosa Laborde, an up-and-
>> coming Canadian playwright - her play Léo toured Canada this year and
>> was nominated for a Governor General's Award - I recommend it! Rosa's
>> current project - in very early drafts - is about a medical historian
>> and his daughter, who are experiencing mystical visions.)
>>
>> Many thanks!
>>
>> Jennifer
>>
>>
>> Jennifer Roberts-Smith, PhD
>> Assistant Professor, Drama
>> University of Waterloo
>>
>> Modern Languages Building 131A
>> 200 University Avenue West
>> Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
>> 519-888-4567 ext. 35785
>> fax: 519-725-0651
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
--
Abigail Ann Young (Dr), Associate Editor/ Records of Early English Drama/
Victoria College/ 150 Charles Street W/ Toronto Ontario Canada
Phone (416) 585-4504/ FAX (416) 813-4093/ [log in to unmask]
List-owner of REED-L <http://www.reed.utoronto.ca/reed-l.html>
http://www.reed.utoronto.ca/ => REED's home page
http://www.reed.utoronto.ca/stage.html => our Web guide
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~young => my home page
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