Hildegard described not only how the elements combined to form the cosmos, but also how they helped to shape and give life to our ...human bodies: (Schipperges is maddeningly awkward and I hate his unnecessary writing style, but commend him on his knowledge). "when God made humanity, the earth out of which it was form (limus) was glued together by water. God sent the breath of life - fire and air - into this form made from earth and water. Because the human form was made from Earth and Water, the earth became flesh through fire of this breath and through air. The water that held this together became blood. When God made Adam, His radience instantly embraced the entire earth out of which Adam was made. This earth showed itself outwardly in Adam's fashioning - in the shape of his limbs - but Adam was hollow within. (Curae et Causae 42,)
Hildegard went on to describe how the heart, liver, stomach, bowels, brain and other inner organs were made: the soul filled the human heart which pumped elements throughout the body. The liver heated the heart, the lungs covered it...
The heart was thought to be the seat of all knowledge, the liver the seat of all emotions. This we know to be false today...but in medieval times...well...hmmnnn...
I don't like this source one bit, honestly. Schipperges insisted that psychologically analyzing Hildegarde was a bad idea but it seems that he does so throughout the book himself, whether he realizes it or not. Perhaps he doesn't use psychological terminology, but he seems to make his own inferences, all of which are based in the context of psychology today. I wish I had more time to read in depth his book however, at least so that I could further disagree (or change my mind and agree) with him.
I guess I just don't like it when scholars use words like "puny" and "libido"
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