 |
 |
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