Upon listening about Hildegard of Bingen’s life, her story is revealed through the unique circumstances in which she grew up. Hildegard’s early life is far from normalized regarding her inability to interact with others and learn from her external influences. As a German Benedict Abbess, she and other women lived on the back of the monastery in an enclosure, never being able to see or be seen the outside world. A slot in their doors was the only connection nuns of this practice had with the outside world. It is also noted that Hildegard experienced detailed visions which influenced her opinions on the patriarchy and fueled her oppositions to the church. While as a young child such visions terrified her, she eventually learned to embrace them and utilize their impressions to form her own individual opinions of the church.
Especially in comparison to growing up in modern times, Hildegard’s life seems drastically controlled by her church and the higher authorities which raised her. I believe this lifestyle contributed greatly to her ability to align with her true passions, influencing her to voice her controversial opinions through writing. Her disconnection from the outside world likely catalyzed her ability to think clearly and make use of her insightful visions. Personally, removing myself from possible distractions only serves to improve my train of thought and is easier to assert my inner thoughts on a subject. It’s hard to fathom the mental strength Hildegard built through her isolation, which, in the end, most likely helped her gain clarity in her ideals.