Hortus Deliciarum/Garden of Delights is believed to be the first encyclopedia evidently compiled by a woman, Herrad of Landsberg (1130-1195), a contemporary of Hildegard. She was an Alsation nun in the nearby Vosges mountains of eastern France. She too worked holistically, combining a scientific approach to nature and the created world with a brilliant musicianship. With Hildegard, she also provided some of the first known original polyphony originating in a convent. Classically educated, she too referred to Arabic as well as Greco-Roman learning, respecting and studying great culture from far beyond the confines of the convent.

The Garden of Delights was effectively twelfth century multimedia. It contained enormously intricate illustrations, texts in Latin with an additional layer of notes to the sisters in Alsatian, as well as texts and manuscripts for twenty original polyphonic songs so beautiful and haunting. Only two full songs remain after the burning of the library at Strasbourg during a seige in 1870, but they are the first two pieces in the recording at the top ( Primus parens hominum, and a two-part work, Sol oritur occasus).

I can imagine what fun Harrad and Hildegard would have had with the internet, the research opportunities, the chance to communicate as we can here using images and sound and core text with additional side notes, and different languages. But the way Harrad made her encyclopedia was meditative, the style of illustration was a deeply experienced form of art. Nothing about her work was hasty. It took a long time, and was developed with patience. Any error could mean starting a whole, expensive page again. Everything counted. Everything had to be considered and right. No spell check. 

Both of these women were brilliant, and their work has survived and revives us today. They were more than specialists as we understand it now, with expertise across many fields which enabled their exceptional work in holistic medicine.

What women may have lost since, namely their voice, and the sound of their many voices together, was also central to the whole being of the sisters. In the turn taking, in the complementarity, in the harmony, patience, and holding of notes, and their letting go, there is a sound garden that lifts and feeds the spirit.

I hold on to the idea that the garden was Delightful. Women were so much blamed, though they were not alone in being duped. Childbirth was said to be justifiably deadly dangerous and appropriately agonising, as a penance for the sins of Eve. But Hildegard and Harrad saw ways to mitigate these and other ills, helped by the plants given in nature's garden. The world we see, with scientific eyes, gifted to us by God, provides the means to live with greater health and balance. The garden God gives is a garden of delight.

There are so many ways to read the word of God, in scripture, of course, but also revealed in our world as well. Here is a lovely and touching blog from a priests' magazine that pivots the person and Eden simply, with recognition of our human fragility and strength:

"I was in Dromantine with 60 Augustinians (over a week ago); A motley crew. The walking wounded. Sticks and aids. We were making serious attempts to plan a future. We were surrounded by the beauty of Dromantine which is a Garden of Eden. God was having fun with us in such a place. The artistry of God was everywhere. The Bible of nature was eloquent." ... "We averaged in age, 73. We still wanted, hoped and believed that we could staff and flourish in our various centres for the years to come. 'Rud nach feidir' (Irish) came to mind or maybe 'Impossible Dream.' "

I love how he says that the Bible of nature was eloquent, unlike the impossible dreams of the men.

So what was the forbidden fruit? We often today say apple, others make suggestions from pomegranate to grape, pear, mushroom and quince. How curious it is when you think of it, that the 'apple' is not there in the scripture.  It is simply the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Unnamed and undescribed.

What delight is there in this garden? How is it possible that the creator God can have planted there the seed of temptation, and let the fallen angel creep about there?

A fourteenth century folk song tackles the challenge of what feels at times incongruous in the Genesis story, of what is in the end part of the leap of faith, that somehow the tale can be told in many ways with many fruits, with all the anguish and yet all the praise. It says, Adam was punished for four thousand winters, all for an apple that he took. But then, if he hadn't taken it, Our Lady would never have been made Queen of Heaven, as the mother of God's Son come to earth.So therefore we must sing, thanks be to God!

 Adam Lay Ybounden (English song c1400)

Adam lay ybounden, Bounden in a bond: Four thousand winter Thought he not too long. And all was for an apple, An apple that he took, As clerkès finden Written in their book. Nè had the apple taken been, The apple taken been, Ne had never our lady Abeen heavenè queen. Blessèd be the time That apple taken was, Therefore we moun singen, Deo gracias!

https://youtu.be/azSVHUBHQYY

If the forbidden fruit had never been tasted, Our Lady would never have become Queen of Heaven, so we must sing, and give thanks that the apple taken was!

Disease and the fall are inexplicable, but Harrad created a full encyclopedia cataloging the wealth of creation that benefits health and healing in the garden of delight.

https://youtu.be/6GJFL0MD9fc

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Quote from: https://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2017/07/there-are-more-things-in-heaven-and-earth-than-are-dreamt-of-in-your-philosophy/

Photograph of a bee and two hornets sharing the nectar of the Passion Flower taken in a small garden on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.