Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars.
Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.
Now, think.
What delight God gives to humankind
with all these things. . . .
All nature is at the disposal of humankind.
We are to work with it. For
without we cannot survive.
~ St. Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard of Bingen was a Benedictine abbess of a monastery in the 1100’s and one of the most remarkable women of the Middle Ages. She was a mystic, musician, artist, writer, and preacher, and she also advised kings, bishops, and popes. Hildegard is considered a scientist and healer; she promoted natural medicine that integrated physical, psychological, and spiritual healing. She explored the curative power of natural objects, wrote about medicinal uses of plants, animals, and trees, and proposed principals for a balanced diet. {taken from a Monastery of the Holy Spirit placard; image from: commons.wikimedia.org}