Matthew Fox
Meditate on St. Hildegard of Bingen’s wisdom, art, and music — as her compassion, courage, and resilience inspire you to become a trailblazer in your own inner life and community.
Humankind, full of all creative possibilities, is God’s work. Humankind alone is called to assist God. Humankind is called to co-create. With nature’s help, humankind can set into creation all that is necessary and life-sustaining.
— St. Hildegard of Bingen
In an era when women were marginalized, 12th-century mystic St. Hildegard of Bingen stood out as an outspoken, controversial figure. At the same time, kings, popes, abbots, and bishops sought her advice.
As a writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, Benedictine abbess, healer, artist, feminist, and student of science — St. Hildegard, known as the Grandmother of Creation Mystics, was a pioneer in many fields.
Hildegard rebelled against the patriarchy of church and society, asserting that God was both female and male — and that God existed in all of the cosmos and everything within it.
She oversaw a Benedictine monastery overlooking the Rhine River in Germany.
For many centuries after her death, Hildegard was ignored and even ridiculed. Today, she’s finally being recognized for her huge contributions to developing both the healthy masculine and the healthy feminine, to understanding of our spiritual relationship with the Earth, and more.
Join us for a 7-module course with renowned spiritual pioneer Matthew Fox. You’ll explore the many ways Hildegard was radical in her day — and how this wisdom speaks to the issues we’re facing in the 21st century.
Hildegard maintained that the outer defiling of the natural world is mirrored by an inner drying up of our souls. It’s time for us to follow in Hildegard’s footsteps and acknowledge and honor our interdependence with all things.
As Matthew will share, Hildegard’s wisdom can help us break the cycle of greed and destruction that’s destroying Mother Earth — and step up to fiercely protect and help her heal.
Where did Hildegard derive her courage from? Her wisdom? As you’ll discover, much of her prophetic work was based on art as meditation.
Each session, Matthew will encourage you to consider the artistic dimensions of Hildegard’s teachings — her music, painting, gardening, poetry — as well as her work in the healing arts and her connection with the universe, which we would refer to as shamanism today.
As you’ll discover, Hildegard practiced prayer and meditation in her music, painting, gardening, music, poetry, and more. She deeply understood that art expands the heart and inspires courage. Join us and experience how the bold, radical life of faith she lived in the 12th century can transform your own spiritual journey.
During this fascinating 7-part course, you’ll discover:
- Hildegard of Bingen’s radical wisdom that holds timely perspectives on how we can heal ourselves, our fractured societies, and our ravaged Earth in the 21st century
- How acknowledging the Divine Feminine impacted Hildegard’s culture, and impacts our culture as we move beyond patriarchy as a philosophy
- Mystic scholar Mirabai Starr’s guided group prayer to Hildegard, and how you can compose your own prayers to wisdom teachers who inspire you — accessing them as living allies on your path
- How becoming a Spiritual Warrior involves fostering harmony within yourself and the greater world
- The Green Man, an essential archetype for recovering the Sacred Masculine and for defending Mother Earth
- Creation Spirituality and how it can connect you to nature’s sacred elements
- How Hildegard’s eagerness to evolve and grow intellectually and spiritually — and her take on individuation — can help you overcome obstacles as you embrace your work in the world;
- How to create your own “I am” poem as an echo of Hildegard’s, exploring the divinity within;
- How to follow Hildegard’s example and teachings to integrate the Divine Feminine and the Sacred Masculine into your life and community;
- Matthew’s (and co-author Rupert Sheldrake’s) discussion of Hildegard’s perspectives on angels, as laid out in their book The Physics of Angels
- How to call in spirits and angels who are eager to assist you
- The ways Hildegard’s shamanic work can inspire you to access your own inner shaman
- Meditations on Hildegard’s art and music
— Mirabai Starr: Matthew Fox Will Go Down in History as One of the True Spiritual Geniuses of Our Age”
— Andrew Harvey: “Matthew Will Illumine Your Life as He Has Illumined Mine”
What You’ll Discover in These 7 Modules
In this 7-part transformational intensive, Matthew will guide you through the fundamental skills you’ll need to put your spirituality into action as you draw inspiration from St. Hildegard’s courage, wisdom, art, and music.
This course will feature training sessions and experiential practices with Matthew. Each session will build harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to answer the call for an uncommon life through the mystical teachings of St. Hildegard.
Module 1: How Hildegard’s Story, Vocation & Life Can Inspire Your Journey
Hildegard’s life (1098-1183) spanned most of the 12th century, a period that historian M.D. Chenu called “the only renaissance that worked in the West.”
She was an integral part of that renaissance, which was characterized by the return of the Divine Feminine — and was herself a “renaissance woman” in every sense of the term.
In this opening session, Matthew will share her basic life story and the most foundational influences on her work as she taught a creation-centered view of the world.
These influences include the Celtic tradition (she was raised in a Celtic monastery in Germany), and the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible, including cosmology in Genesis 1.
Hildegard came from the Benedictine tradition — and, as you’ll discover, stories of Native American traditions seem to have influenced her too.
In every session, Matthew will guide you to meditate on Hildegard’s paintings, mandalas, or music (both instrumental and vocal compositions) — depending on what best fits the theme of the class.
In this module, you’ll:
- Learn how acknowledging the Divine Feminine impacted Hildegard’s culture, and impacts our culture as we move beyond patriarchy as a philosophy
- Learn about the Green Man, an essential archetype for recovering the Sacred Masculine and for defending Mother Earth
- Place our modern-day relations with Indigenous people in the context of Hildegard’s paintings of “the red man” and “the red-headed divinity” — and the paintings’ messages of replacing anthropocentrism with cosmology
- Discover Creation Spirituality and how it can connect you to nature’s sacred elements
- Move through a guided meditation on Hildegard’s self-portrait and her paintings of Indigenous peoples — together, they tell the story of her awakening experience at the age of 42
Module 2: Hildegard’s Cosmology & Psychology and the Integration of Science & Spirituality
Inspired by many different Indigenous philosophies, Hildegard’s worldview does not begin and end with the human. Even her psychology is set within the context of cosmology — microcosm (human) and macrocosm (universe).
Matthew will guide you to explore Hildegard’s worldview and how she believed humanity fit into the universe. The concept of humanity's role in the universe is common to both Indigenous and premodern consciousness and it grounds a society’s ethics. Hildegard’s paintings expressed her views on these issues, and Matthew will guide you to meditate on them.
Hildegard declares that “all science comes from God.” Matthew will share about Hildegard’s many books featuring scientific topics.
Hildegard also talks about the “original wisdom” all humans are born with — and how life’s journey is to set up the “tent of wisdom” that comes folded into us as babies.
In this module, you’ll explore:
- How Hildegard’s teachings on holistic health and healing are relevant for us today
- What Hildegard and Einstein have in common, how Hildegard’s science is, in certain ways, a harbinger of our postmodern science — and how it urges us to integrate today’s science into our religious consciousness
- How Hildegard's eagerness to evolve and grow intellectually and spiritually — and her take on individuation — can help you overcome obstacles as you embrace your work in the world
- How Hildegard was inspired by the archetype of the Cosmic Christ (also known as “Buddha Nature” or “Image of God”), and how this can help you understand yourself
- How Mary Oliver and Hildegard see eye-to-eye on the sacredness of the world all around us
- An experiential exercise where you’ll consider some of Hildegard’s praise poems to the Earth and the universe, and her paintings that depicted the universe as an egg, and later the universe as a circle
- How to create your own “I am” poem as an echo of Hildegard’s, exploring the divinity within yourself
Module 3: How Hildegard’s Courage, Wisdom & Creativity Can Illuminate Your Path
Hildegard was both a mystic and a prophet. Philosopher William Hocking called the prophet “the mystic in action.” Jewish theologian Rabbi Heschel said the primary work of the prophet is “to interfere.”
In this session, Matthew will share how Hildegard interfered with patriarchy and other elements of her culture. She wrote letters to popes, emperors, bishops, abbots, and others — all telling them what to do.
When she was 81 years old, Hildegard and her sisters were all interdicted (in effect, excommunicated as a group) for disobeying the bishop. They didn’t back down and were reinstated one year later.
Art expands the heart and teaches trust, which lies at the heart of courage and spiritual warriorhood. Matthew will encourage you to consider the artistic dimensions of Hildegard’s teachings — her music, painting, gardening, and poetry.
Matthew will also share about Hildegard’s work in the healing arts and her experiences with what we call shamanism today.
In this module, you’ll explore:
- Joy and ecstasy, and how to expand your courage
- Strength and the Sacred Masculine, and how you can stay grounded in your own prophetic and mystical vocations
- The virtues’ powerful positive impact on education and society
- Art as meditation (“the way of the prophets”) and how you can shake up and reform education by bringing wisdom into our knowledge factories — including intuitive ways of knowing alongside analytical ways of knowing
- Shaking up education — and, by extension — transforming every profession
- The 3 rings of humans’ relationship with nature and divinity — experienced through a guided meditation on Hildegard’s painting of the 3 rings
Module 4: Hildegard’s Connection to Julian of Norwich, Mechthild of Magdeburg & More (With Guest Faculty Mirabai Starr)
In this module, Matthew will be joined by Mirabai Starr, a 21st-century woman, mother, grandmother, translator, and lover and student of the mystics. She’ll share what Hildegard means to her and how Hildegard has impacted her life.
Mirabai will also share short passages from Hildegard of Bingen: Devotions, Prayers & Living Wisdom, a book she compiled featuring Hildegard’s writings and her own poetic reflections.
Matthew will dive into a deep discussion with Mirabai about Hildegard’s relationship to the spiritual sisters that came after her — including Julian of Norwich and Mechtild of Magdeburg.
In this module, you’ll discover:
- The women’s movement of the Middle Ages that came about in the century after Hildegard’s death
- How Hildegard’s amazing development of the feminine side of God serves as a model for women (and men) in the 21st century by inspiring gender balance
- The importance of the creative arts in Hildegard’s life, and concrete examples for enhancing your own spiritual journey through the creative arts
- A dialogue between Matthew and Mirabai to illuminate Hildegard’s important role in developing a 21st-century spirituality
- Mirabai’s guided group prayer to Hildegard, and how you can compose your own prayers to wisdom beings who inspire you — accessing them as living allies on your path
Module 5: Practicing the Sacred Masculine, Opposing Matricide & Defending Mother Earth
An essential part of recovering the Goddess and the Divine Feminine, as Hildegard did, is cultivating a healthy, nontoxic masculinity.
Matthew will explain how this is important for both men and women. After all, women have many men in their lives!
As Matthew will share, the feminine soul has a masculine and feminine side, just as men have a goddess within them.
Hildegard led the way by acknowledging the Sacred Masculine within herself — as well as by critiquing unhealthy patriarchal versions of masculinity.
In our current cultural climate — where gender identity and gender relationships are in flux and we need to move from a patriarchal consciousness to an inclusive one if our species is to survive — Hildegard’s teachings hold powerful wisdom for both men and women.
In this module, you’ll discover:
- How to find inner strength from Hildegard’s paintings
- The Blue Man, an archetype of compassion and creativity that we all carry within ourselves
- How to develop the imagination and strength to defend Mother Earth as the Green Man does — and birth a new version of humanity
- How Hildegard’s call that “the Earth should not be injured, the Earth must not be destroyed” can wake us up to our vocation — combatting our current eco and climate crises
- A guided meditation on Hildegard’s images of the healthy masculine — found in women and men
Module 6: Taking on the Shadow of Evil
When Matthew first shared some of Hildegard’s paintings with a Jungian therapist on his faculty 43 years ago, the therapist called Hildegard “the most mature person he’d ever seen” — because she deals so explicitly with the shadow in many of her paintings.
Matthew will guide you to meditate on several of Hildegard’s paintings of the shadow, observing what they have to say about evil.
You’ll explore Hildegard’s teachings about facing evil and not running from it, and preparing the warrior energy to combat evil. Matthew will share Hildegard’s prophetic teachings and the prophetic letters she wrote to emperors, popes, abbots, bishops, and more.
For Hildegard, strong feminine energy comes from the lower chakras and from the Earth. Matthew will guide you to meditate on Hildegard’s paintings that share these powerful truths. You’ll also consider lessons from her poetry, which celebrates the ecstasy we find in nature.
In this module, you’ll explore:
- Hildegard’s teaching that failures in eros and in justice-making are the primary faults of humans — and how you can advance both in yourself and your culture
- What Hildegard teaches about the shadow, helping us address our shadows by facing the violence in our culture instead of repressing it
- Hildegard’s paintings of the Christ who comes from below to combat evil forces, and how redemption comes from the Earth and from below
- A guided meditation on Hildegard’s paintings of the shadow and demons — including violence and war images
Module 7: Hildegard & the Future of Humanity & Mother Earth
In this final session, you’ll explore Hildegard’s deep understanding of angels.
For example, angels delight in ritual, good human work, and helping humans in art, creativity, music, and more.
Matthew will explain the angels’ presence and how they help humans transition to the next phase after death. As you’ll discover, angels move at the pace at which human thoughts travel.
Matthew will also share how a shaman is (among many things) one who’s undergone deep initiation and emerges to serve and heal the community — as Matthew will explain, this description fits Hildegard perfectly.
In this module, you’ll discover:
- How to follow Hildegard’s example and teachings to integrate the Divine Feminine and the Sacred Masculine into your life and community
- Matthew’s (and co-author Rupert Sheldrake’s) discussion of Hildegard’s perspectives on angels, as laid out in their book The Physics of Angels
- How to call in spirits and angels who are eager to assist you
- How Hildegard’s shamanic work can inspire you to access your own inner shaman
- A final guided meditation on Hildegard’s paintings that depict community and the Divine Feminine
The Mystical Teachings of St. Hildegard Bonus Collection
In addition to Matthew’s transformative 7-module virtual course, you’ll receive these special bonuses to complement the course and take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.
5 Sessions From the Mystics Summit
Selected Sessions From the 2021 Summit
At a time when it’s easy to lose hope and feel dismayed by the world’s crises, we can glean strength and invoke personal liberation by understanding the experiences of mystics who survived imprisonment, poverty, and other disasters — and often emerged even more rooted and in love with the Divine. Join Matthew Fox, Greg Boyle, James Finley, Alexander John Shaia, and Devi Mathieu as they lead you through the lives and times of ancient mystics, their “ordinary heroism” — and lessons you can apply in these tumultuous times.
Plus... you’ll receive these bonuses too!
Musician Mimi Dye on Playing Hildegard’s Music
Video Dialogue and Music With Matthew Fox and Mimi Dye
Drop into this fascinating conversation and celebration of Hildegard of Bingen’s music with Matthew Fox and Mimi Dye. A violist, violinist, and composer, Mimi is a celebrated soloist, chamber musician, and jazz performer who’s been playing Hildegard’s music on the cello and viola for many years. In this interview, Mimi talks about how it feels to play and truly experience Hildegard’s music. She also performs one of Hildegard’s beloved compositions, “Kyrie Eleison.”
Plus... you’ll receive these bonuses too!
The Music of Hildegard of Bingen
Audio Teaching With Music and Commentary From Matthew Fox
Travel back to 1985 as Matthew provides commentary on the lyrics and theological teachings of Hildegard’s songs — and as they’re performed by a choir during a live event at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union. The choir features students from an Art as Meditation class at ICCS in Holy Names University, and took place shortly after Matthew’s first book on Hildegard, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, was published.
Unleashing the Power of Hildegard of Bingen
2-Part Video Dialogue With Matthew Fox and Andrew Harvey
Enjoy Matthew’s lively chat with fellow mystic scholar Andrew Harvey, as they discuss Matthew’s most recent book on Hildegard, Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our Times. You’ll discover more about Hildegard’s prophetic teachings and actions — and how she took on abbots, popes, emperors, and kings. Matthew and Andrew reflect on the ways Hildegard lived out her visions of the “living light” and Cosmic Christ. As they share, she offered a spirituality that was not creation-denying or women-denying or body-denying — and she invites us into that same lineage.
Who Is Hildegard?
PDF Excerpt From Matthew Fox’s Book Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our Times
This fascinating excerpt of Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our Times includes all of Chapter 1, “Who Is Hildegard?” It features a running summary of Hildegard’s life, work, and impact. Matthew introduces the woman who sang that all of creation is a symphony of joy and jubilation. You’ll discover how Hildegard got herself and her entire abbey interdicted — a kind of group excommunication — by the archbishop for a full year when she was 80 years old, and much more.
Commentary, Letters & Music of Hildegard of Bingen
PDF Excerpt From Matthew Fox’s Book Hildegard of Bingen’s Book of Divine Works
Matthew’s second book on Hildegard includes 50 of her most important letters, 12 of her poems put to songs, excerpts from her first book, Gregorian chants, and much more. This excerpt offers a sample from the Book of Divine Works, part of her commentary on the first chapter of John’s Gospel, her letters to the archbishop of Cologne and King Conrad III, and two songs in Gregorian chant modality.
What Graduates of Matthew’s Courses Are Saying…
— Amy Van Linge: “Matthew Is an Amazing Scholar, a Mystic, a Prophet, and a True Visionary”
— Steve Mortimer: “Matthew Fox Is a Spiritual Obi-Wan Kenobi”
— Dominic Flamiano: “Matt Has Walked His Talk. He Has Preached and Paid the Price.”
“I’m really looking forward to the course on The Shift Network to continue my journey with Hildegard.”
Hildegard has inspired my creative juices. Dance, poetry, enhancing my spirituality, and love of all beings. I was introduced to Hildegard through Matthew Fox’s Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen and, more recently, Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our Times. I’m really looking forward to the course on The Shift Network to continue my journey with Hildegard. She calls us, wake up! Be a weaver, web of life. Veriditas, delights.
— Jean MacKenzie, LICSW, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
“I feel more connected to the Earth and all of creation from having taken this course.”
I appreciated how Matthew’s teaching honors the sacred in all, and in all world religions. I feel more connected to the Earth and all of creation from having taken this course.
— Mary Kay, York, Pennsylvania
“... I never tire of reading his books, and taking any of his classes.”
I am an interfaith minister wishing to have a deeper focus in Creation Spirituality ever since I read Matthew Fox’s book Original Blessing some years back, and I hope to start an Order of the Sacred Earth here in my own community in the future. Because Matthew Fox has been an inspiration for me for some time, I never tire of reading his books, and taking any of his classes. What he has offered me, and can offer others, is a more informed and joyful existence on this Earth. He does this by telling the truth of how and why we are in this state of affairs we are in, as well as offering answers to a more informed, inspired, and joyful life.
— Margie , High Springs, Florida
“Matthew Fox is an inspiration and a delight to listen to, and he leaves you always wanting to hear more.”
Matthew Fox is an inspiration and a delight to listen to, and he leaves you always wanting to hear more. Through Matthew’s course, my spirituality has been enhanced to include joy, creativity, truth, justice, awareness, and action.
— Carole Ann Ogilvie, Niagara Falls, Canada
“I found myself thinking deeply between class sessions about the topics he raised the week before and looked forward to each next session.”
I found the course with Matthew Fox to be interesting and it motivated me to learn more on the topics covered. The intellectual concepts combined with his broad knowledge and personable delivery of the content stayed with me throughout the week. I found myself thinking deeply between class sessions about the topics he raised the week before and looked forward to each next session.
— Diane, Salem, Massachusetts
“Matthew Fox’s work has enriched my life for many years.”
The course was very meaningful for me. Matthew Fox’s work has enriched my life for many years. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to listen to his teaching for the past seven weeks.
— Phyllis, Calgary, Canada
“This course opened my mind and heart to a larger cosmic spirituality where there’s enough grace for all.”
Mathew Fox is a much-needed elder in our shifting world. I’m inspired by his wisdom and the way he can hold the liminal space between the four paths with humor, creativity, and yet deep conviction to action and service. This course opened my mind and heart to a larger cosmic spirituality where there’s enough grace for all. It introduced me to mystics and prophets that still lead the way and move the soul after their death. Very rich and inspiring!
— Cristina, West Palm Beach, Florida
“Having a course taught by Matthew Fox available right in my own living room was a rare treasure.”
Having a course taught by Matthew Fox available right in my own living room was a rare treasure. I saw him speak many years ago and attended a course at ICCS in 1990. To spend time with his wisdom over seven sessions without having to leave my chair was a spiritual treat.
— Mary Claire, Walnut Creek, California
“I have found new confirmation and courage to act on my inner calling and numinous experiences.”
Matthew Fox is a comprehensive researcher and thinker, which makes him a modern-day mystic and prophet by sharing his new concepts with us. I find his work so inspiring because it resonates with my own experiences. His bravery to stretch beyond the conventional in order to be true to his soul’s truth and essence is a model for me to do the same. I have found new confirmation and courage to act on my inner calling and numinous experiences. Thank you, deeply.
— Jayni, Ottawa, Canada
Here’s What You’ll Receive
Seven 90-Minute Class Sessions With Matthew Fox
Experience a unique opportunity to be mentored by and learn from renowned spiritual pioneer Matthew Fox, author of over 30 books — from the comfort of your own home. Each class session includes a streaming video option and guides you to discover specific skills and abilities to become a trailblazer in your own inner life and larger community, following in the footsteps of Hildegard.
Seven Transcripts of Class Sessions
In addition to the high-quality videos and MP3 audios, you’ll also receive the entire class transcription after each session is completed. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given.
Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
Between modules, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each lesson.
The Mystical Teachings of St. Hildegard Bonus Collection
- 5 Sessions From the Mystics Summit
Selected Sessions From the 2021 Summit
- Musician Mimi Dye on Playing Hildegard’s Music
Video Dialogue and Music With Matthew Fox and Mimi Dye
- The Music of Hildegard of Bingen
Audio Teaching With Music and Commentary From Matthew Fox - Unleashing the Power of Hildegard of Bingen
2-Part Video Dialogue With Matthew Fox and Andrew Harvey - Who Is Hildegard?
PDF Excerpt From Matthew Fox’s Book Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our Times - Commentary, Letters & Music of Hildegard of Bingen
PDF Excerpt From Matthew Fox’s Book Hildegard of Bingen’s Book of Divine Works
An Unprecedented Opportunity to Join the Answer the Call for an Uncommon Life Through the Mystical Teachings of St. Hildegard Online Training
We feel honored that Matthew Fox has chosen to partner with The Shift Network to offer this exclusive online training. This is a unique opportunity to interact directly with a renowned spiritual pioneer and author of over 30 books whose powerful insights and pioneering work are helping us heal and awaken ourselves and our world.
If you’re serious about answering the call for an uncommon life, then you owe it to yourself, your loved ones, and our world to take this one-of-a-kind training.
If you’re ready to take the next step in evolving yourself, click the register button below to reserve your space now.
Your Satisfaction Is 100% Guaranteed!
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed! If you don’t absolutely LOVE Answer the Call for an Uncommon Life Through the Mystical Teachings of St. Hildegard — or don’t feel that it meets your needs — please submit your refund request form 2 weeks from your date of purchase and we’ll happily issue qualifying customers a refund.
More Praise for Matthew Fox…
“(Matthew is) a major teacher and guide.”
I think of Matthew Fox as “God’s Talent Scout” for all the pivotal figures and ideas he has reclaimed for the reform of Christianity. He knows the sources and translates them into modern idioms for the rest of us! What he has done with Hildegard, Eckhart, and Aquinas himself makes him a major teacher and guide.
— Richard Rohr, OFM, Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico
“If one person deserves credit for the great Hildegard renaissance in our time, it is Matthew Fox.”
If one person deserves credit for the great Hildegard renaissance in our time, it is Matthew Fox. Here in the long-lost legacy of Hildegard of Bingen, Fox found blindingly beautiful paintings, radiant writings overflowing with fresh insights of the deepest kind, prophetic wisdom, and engaged political spirituality. Here was a mystical genius who could help to illuminate the human soul spirituality, ecologically, politically — in every dimension of life.
— Mary Ford-Grabowsky, author of Sacred Voices
About Matthew Fox
Matthew Fox is a prolific author of books dedicated to renewing the ancient tradition of Creation Spirituality, including Original Blessing, A Spirituality Named Compassion, and Christian Mystics. This earth-based mystical tradition is feminist, welcoming of the arts and artists, honors Indigenous wisdom, works with science, and is committed to interfaith approaches and eco, social, and gender justice.
Matthew’s effort to reawaken the West to its own mystical tradition has sparked awareness of Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, and the mysticism of Thomas Aquinas, as well as the wisdom tradition that nurtured Jesus. His work helps reconnect science and spirituality by honoring the sacredness of the cosmos and interacting with contemporary scientists who are also mystics. He believes that “by reinventing work, education, and worship, we can bring about a nonviolent revolution on our planet.”
He has written three books on Hildegard: Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, Hildegard of Bingen’s Book of Divine Works, and Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our Times.
Matthew received his doctorate summa cum laude in the History and Theology of Spiritualities from the Institut Catholique de Paris. A member of the Dominican Order for 34 years, he established an Institute in Culture and Creation Spirituality that operated for seven years at Mundelein College in Chicago, and for 12 years at Holy Names University in Oakland.
He founded the University of Creation Spirituality in Oakland in 1996, and was president and professor until 2005, when he left to create a pilot project to reinvent the educational experience for inner-city teenagers.
Matthew is a recipient of many awards, including the Gandhi King Ikeda Award from Morehouse College, which is awarded for dedication to peace, unity, nonviolence, and justice. He also received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award; other recipients have included the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, and Rosa Parks. He is currently a visiting scholar at the Academy for the Love of Learning in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is your refund policy?
A: Your satisfaction with The Shift Network and this course is our highest priority! We offer a satisfaction guarantee for a full two weeks so that you can try out the course risk free. The deadline to receive a refund is two weeks from your date of purchase. To request a refund, please click here to submit your Refund Application Form. Your refund will be processed within five business days and we will send you an email confirmation when your refund has been completed. However, we’d love to have a chance to address and resolve your concerns first. If there’s something we can assist you with, please email us at support@theshiftnetwork.com, and we’ll be happy to help!
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