The Great Christian Mystics

The Great Christian Mystics

Unveil the profound teachings of Christian mystics like Hildegard of Bingen and Meister Eckhart, guided by the renowned Matthew Fox. This course will empower you to navigate life’s challenges with spiritual depth, live with greater purpose, and respond to the world’s needs with wisdom, courage, and compassion.

Taught by Matthew Fox

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In this course, guided by Matthew Fox, a renowned theologian and spiritual teacher whose work has deeply influenced contemporary Christian mysticism, we will explore some of the richest and most incredible mystic-prophets in the Christian lineage including Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Aquinas, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich.

Course modules

The paintings of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

Hildegard painted numerous images of her dreams and visions. We will spend time meditating on and exegeting what Hildegard is teaching us about life, love, strength, compassion, Christ and evil (the antichrist) in her amazing mandalas and paintings that speak deeply to us today.

Hildegard of Bingen: Grandmother of Creation Mysticism (1098-1179)

Hildegard, the "grandmother" of the Rhineland mystic movement, inspired figures like Aquinas and Eckhart with her creation-centered spirituality. In this class, we’ll explore her teachings on viriditas (greening power) and prophecy.

Thomas Aquinas on Joy, Gratitude, Justice and Compassion (1225-1274)

Thomas Aquinas, a mystic and prophet, bridged science and Scripture, defining religion as "supreme thankfulness" and joy as the universe’s purpose. His teachings on joy, compassion, and justice inspired figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

Mechtild of Magdeburg: the women’s movement of the middle ages. (1210-1280)

Mechtild of Magdeburg, a Beguine from the Middle Ages, was part of a movement of women who lived in community, serving the poor and young. Her teachings, which challenged authority and were condemned by Pope John XXII, focus on the dark night, service, and dancing as a "playmate" of God.

Meister Eckhart and the Sacredness of Being (1260-1327)

Meister Eckhart, called “the Zen thinker of the West,” profoundly influenced figures like Carl Jung, Thomas Merton, and Coomaraswamy. Condemned after his death, his teachings on creation’s holiness, silence, and creativity for justice are resurfacing today.

The Wisdom of Julian of Norwich (1342-ca.1415)

Julian of Norwich, the first woman to write a book in English, centered her teachings on joy and the goodness of nature, even amid the bubonic plague. She developed the concept of the Motherhood of God and profoundly influenced creation spirituality.

Live Conversations

A chance for you to discuss the course contents with your teacher, Matthew Fox, and your peers!

A chance for you to discuss the course contents with your teacher, Matthew Fox, and your peers!

Course information

Carl Jung reminds us, “It is to the mystics we owe what is best of humanity.” In times of challenge and uncertainty we are called to rediscover and embody the best of humanity. Each of us is invited to embrace the path of the mystic—to be lovers of life, beauty, and goodness, saying “Yes” to them wherever they arise.

This is necessary also in order to develop the prophet or spiritual warrior within us who says “No” to injustice and folly and has been defined as “the mystic in action.”

In this course, guided by Matthew Fox, a renowned theologian and spiritual teacher whose work has deeply influenced contemporary Christian mysticism, we will explore some of the richest and most incredible mystic-prophets in the Christian lineage including Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Aquinas, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich.

While the world faces many challenges today—from the harm done to Mother Earth to threats against democracy—we have the opportunity to respond with wisdom, courage, and compassion. Poet, farmer and prophet Wendell Berry says, “one must fight the worst with the best.” We will explore what is best within us by calling on the mystics who came before us and thereby call for the best in ourselves for what lies ahead.

In their creativity and their love of life, each of these mystics offers their own understanding and language and concepts that guide us to our deeper presence in the world, our capacity for “reading the signs of our times” and responding to the news whether it be good or disturbing. Each of these mystics were engaged in struggles of their day and were committed to awakening others to the sacredness of the Earth and the empowerment that comes with claiming one’s creativity, and the responsibility that comes with following the way of Compassion, Celebration, Healing and Justice.

We will explore their teachings and practices that light the fire of spirituality in us, the “spark of the soul” (Eckhart) that culminates in a fire of the divine image burning in us all.

Course Includes

6 modules of pre-recorded lessons
Live conversations with the teacher
Transcriptions
Additional readings and resources
Community discussions
Embodied practices

Teachers

Matthew Fox Picture

Matthew Fox might well be the most creative, the most comprehensive, surely the most challenging religious-spiritual teacher in America.

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What You'll Learn

  • Learn about the lives and challenges of these six remarkable people—their courage and creativity and teachings that inspires our own
  • Meditate on the paintings and some of the music of Hildegard of Bingen
  • Learn about the efforts of each of these mystics to read the signs of the times in their day and respond generously and creatively to them
  • Learn how compassion is the ultimate divine attribute and how humans are called to our own divinity by stepping into compassion (See Luke 6.36)
  • Learn how to endure and grow from experiences of the dark night of soul and society and our species such as we are undergoing today
  • Learn how to read the mystics in order to awaken, sustain and ground the mystic and prophet in yourself