Lesley Black

Miniature from a 14th century manuscript of Ruusbroec's works. On the left it shows him sitting under a tree writing on wax tablets. The Holy Spirit, in the shape of a dove, hovers above him in the middle of the picture. On the right one can see Ruusbroec slightly smaller, transcribing his notes from the tablet to parchment. He holds a quill in his right hand and with his left index finger he is following words on the wax tablet.

Happy John of Ruusbroec day - 14th c Low Countries mystical writer who died otd in 1381. "Insofar as the spirit burns in love it will find a distinction and an otherness between itself and God when it examines itself. But insofar as it is burnt up it is one-fold and there is no distinction left."

Brilliant. I look forward to listening to this later.

Looks like a really interesting paper.

Another birthing girdle complete with obligatory side wound. I must go and see this.

In this picture the heavenly choirs are arranged in nine concentric rings around an empty circle in the middle. The outer two are visibly angelic with wings and a human type face. In the inner rings some show faces but are less distinct. The rings differ in colour from fiery orange and red to pale and then dark blue. For a full description of Hildegard's vision see her own words in Scivias Book One, Vision Six.

On the feast of St Michael & All Angels, here's the celestial hierarchy from Hildegard of Bingen's Scivias. "And all these armies were singing with marvellous voices all kinds of music about the wonders that God works in blessed souls, and by this God was magnificently glorified."
#HildegardofBingen

Eurostar train at Brussels Midi station

Outside of German ICE train with quiet coach sign. This is an outline of a person head with a finger to their lips and the word Psst

Inside of a German regional express train. This is a low floor section with huge windows. Through the window is a view of the Rhein with a rocky outcrop on the far bank. This compartment has fold down seats and can accommodate up to twelve bicycles. One bike can be seen in the picture.

Night time view from hotel bedroom. In the foreground is on the left a large dark tree. On the right is a grey building with some windows lit up. Above the town can be seen a castle, Burg Klopp, which is illuminated and stands out against the dark sky.

Arrived safely in Bingen am Rhein where I am spending a few days on the trail of #HildegardofBingen By train from St Pancras via Brussels, Cologne and Koblenz. My room doesn't face the river but I have a good view of the Burg Klopp above the town.

Picture from the facsimile of the lost Rupertsberg Codex. This shows Hildegard, dressed in a nun's habit, sitting within the arch of a building. She is writing with a stylus on a wax tablet. Tongues of flame representing the Holy Spirit descend upon her head and face. To the right of the arch, looking in through a window, is Hildegard's secretary, the monk Volmar, clutching a book.

Happy Hildegard of Bingen day to all who take her as an inspiration. Polymath, visionary, prophet, composer, writer on nature and medicine, advocate of measure, balance and wholeness, her voice is needed now more than ever in our fractured world #HildegardofBingen

Que sais-je? Michel de Montaigne, French Renaissance philosopher, whose gentle scepticism shaped European thought; died #OTD 1592. Many books originally in his library at Tour Montaigne are now in the University of Cambridge Library @theUL.bsky.social

+Marianne was amazing: quiet, measured, yet with a core of steel. A refreshing change from the stridency of so many voices at the moment. I loved the music too, Palestrina and a highly apposite Bruckner Os justi (the mouth of the just).

I highly recommend this course to anyone who has a vague interest in mystical theology or the history of Christian spirituality but doesn't know where to start. Michael is a brilliant course leader and there are some great speakers. I particularly enjoyed Julia Konstaninovsky on Evagrius Ponticus!

Happy St Augustine of Hippo day to all who seek the God within. *text and trans C Hammond - Loeb Classical Library #Augustine

Sero te amavi, pulchritudo tam antiqua et tam nova, sero te amavi! Et ecce intus eras et ego foris, et ibi te quaerebam;
Late have I loved you, O Beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you! And look! You were within me, and I was outside myself: and it was there that I searched for you.*

I have at last finished my cycle ride in easy stages round the perimeter of the Diocese of Southwark @southwark.anglican.org For a map of my route go to umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/tour-... Click on the cross icons for a photo of each church I passed. More photos on Flickr flic.kr/s/aHBqjBE4rq

Hope you have a good break

Brown wooden desk surface with, from left to right: Warburg Institute library information leaflet on top of grey laptop, Library card with Warburg Institute emblem and a book on Jan van Ruusbroec. The emblem features the words mundus, annus, homo, referring to the four elements, four seasons and four bodily humours.

I have acquired yet another library card and can now use the library at @warburginstitute.bsky.social Thanks to @mshahn.bsky.social for bringing it to my attention. I think I shall be spending a lot of time here while I'm writing my dissertation over the next year.

Feeling v excited. I have just booked a four night trip in September to Bingen in pursuit of St Hildegard. I am, of course, going by rail including down the scenic Rhine valley. #Hildegard

That's a huge achievement. I hope you get a bit of a break now. When's the book coming out?

Five plastic containers on a wooden slatted table containing clockwise from top left: jostaberries, cherries, more cherries, blackcurrants, and a few red gooseberries

I had a fruitful morning at the allotment today, cherries 🍒, blackcurrants, jostaberries and a few gooseberries. I'm amazed that the birds have left the cherry tree alone. We've already had loads of redcurrants with more to come as well as the spineless blackberries. Yum. #allotment

I am utterly livid as I have to say goodbye to my trusty Hercules bicycle, which I bought in 1976. An idiot in a DPD van knocked me off last week at the end of our road. I am absolutely fine, but the bike is a write-off, as part of the frame is bent. Good thing I have the Brompton as well.

About time too. This junction is horrible by bike

Hildegardian viriditas indeed!

On the escape train out of London. I am heading to Salisbury for a teaching week at @sarumcollege.bsky.social on Hildegard of Bingen's Scivias. I am hoping to uncover the 12th century Hildegard from the reinventions as proto-feminist and wellness guru

Manuscript from Curious Cures exhibition at Cambridge University Library. It shows Vein Man at the top and Zodiac Man at the bottom so you know when bloodletting is safe. The whole thing folds up for portability.

I enjoyed this too. Went on Tuesday to catch it before it shuts next week. I had great fun folding and unfolding the facsimiles. I then got a further dose of medievalness on Wed at the Curious Cures exhibition at the UL in Cambridge.

I'm on the train to Cambridge. Having a day out at the UL @theul.bsky.social to consult some books I can't find elsewhere and to see the Curious Cures exhibition on medieval medicine.

I hope at least you get the adjustments you need - not least sufficient time to prepare for potentially stressful events!

What would be your playlist for Holy Saturday?

"This day[...]whatsoever our haste, yet to stay a little, and to spend a few thoughts in calling to mind and taking to regard what this day the Son of God did and suffered for us; and all for this end, that what He was then we might not be, and what He is now we might be for ever" Lancelot Andrewes

The Tallis Lamentations were utterly exquisite

About 20 years ago I used to work opposite Mary's and have fond memories of their doorstep sandwiches. Long may they flourish.

Flooded path with Hammersmith suspension bridge in the background.

Flooded path with trees

I'm now on the Thames Path near Barnes. There is an extremely high tide with water covering the path. I made it through on my bike but some other poor souls had to take their shoes and socks off and walk through the freezing water. They had very red feet when they merged.