Hildegard von Bingen as a Source of Continuous Inspiration
Hildegard von Bingen is a central inspiration for me and for The Polymath . The profile picture of Polymath shows a stained glass depicting Hildegard, and the cover photo features one of her music sheets. She was born in 1098, in Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Germany, and died September 17, 1179, in Bingen am Rhein, Germany. Hildegard von Bingen was a true polymath: musician, composer, writer, and visionary. She wrote about philosophy, music, medicine, botany and a range of other subjects, creating knowledge that continues to resonate centuries later, including with me. She authored books, developed a new language — Lingua Ignota — and undertook preaching tours when women were not meant to speak in public. She followed her own path, creating space for her voice to be heard. Hildegard is a source of deep inspiration. She created from her own insight and vision, refusing the limitations imposed upon her by society. She was never content to merely fit in. Her music is luminous a...