Erin Risch Zoutendam joins AJ Langley to discuss the German mystic and beguine Mechthild von Magdeburg (c. 1207-282). We talk about flowing light, getting on the Virgin Mary's level, poor girls getting nice clothes in heaven, and why being a human is better than being an angel. 

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This week AJ Langley is joined by Pablo Acosta-García to discuss the Franciscan abbess, preacher, and mystic Juana de la Cruz (1481-1534). We talked about her mystical preaching, God's voice speaking through her body (in a deep register), a reader scandalised by God being compared to things, and how entertaining a sermon would have to be in order to keep audience's attention for six hours! We also chat about the need to view the mystics of the late-medieval period as interconnected, rather than separating them along regional lines, and the complex issue of translating an experience into words. 

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Sam Dubbelman joins this week to speak with AJ Langley about the German philosopher, mathematician, and mystical theologian Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464). We talk about how to know God, "learned ignorance", breaking down the wall of logic and reason, and  that in the end it is always a leap of faith. We also talk about the power of good networks filled with good people. Shout out to the Cusanus Society (@CusanusSociety) and the Mystical Theology Network (@MysticTheology) for being so welcoming to new scholars.

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AJ Langley is joined by Ilona Gerbakher to talk about the Jewish philosopher (and mystic) Moses Maimonides (1138–1204). We discuss the influence of Sufi mysticism on his work, why he believed that Jews had lost the ability to achieve mystical connection, and how they could learn to get it back. We also discuss antinomianism and AJ's hypothetical reaction to public nudity. 

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AJ Langley is joined by Sean Field to discuss the visionary Margherita Colonna (c. 1255-1280). We discuss her Franciscan influences, her family connections (for better and worse), the differences between her two hagiographies, three year old Jesus taking up space, and being a teenage rebel in the thirteenth century. Also, bonus woman of note: Isabella of France!

If your interest in Margherita has been piqued, check out: Visions of Sainthood in Medieval Rome: The Lives of Margherita Colonna by Giovanni Colonna and Stefania (https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268102029/visions-of-sainthood-in-medieval-rome/)

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Host AJ Langley is joined this week by Joel Hecker to discuss the Zohar, an essential work of Jewish mystical thought. We discuss the complexity of its authorship, the concept of radiance, the difference between meditation and drugs, sex in mystical texts, and balancing an ascetic life with a wife and kids. 

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CW: Mentions of SA, self-mutilation, and removing teeth from a corpse

This week AJ Langley speaks to Lydia Walker (@LydiaMWalker) about Marie of Oignies (c. 1177-1213), a devout religious woman whose dedication to God earned her two hagiographers, Jacques de Vitry and Thomas of Cantimpré. We talk about the difference between the life she led and the priorities of her hagiographers, the discussion of "crusades" in her work, her vita as an exempla, and the bodily autonomy of (prospective) saints. 

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This week AJ Langley speaks to Samuel Baudinette about Albert the Great (d.1280), a German Dominican friar, philosopher, mystic, and accused sorcerer! We talk about the difference between a philosopher's comprehension of the divine and the beatitude of the Christian, his massive corpus of writings, his time walking around as bishop of Regensburg, and how being a man of means sometimes means that you can travel the countryside doing experiments. 

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Content Warning: Domestic Abuse

This week AJ Langley speaks to Subhasree Chakravarty about the mathematic and mystic Khona. We discuss her sayings, poetic couplets, and advice for all areas of rural life. We also discuss disguising mathematical brilliance as mystical inspiration and calling out your father-in-law for being bad at his job.

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This week special guest host Robert Dickins interviews the regular host, AJ Langley about the mystic commonly known as Agnes Blannbekin. We discuss confession, anonymity of mystics, bodily reunification, and Christ's foreskin. 

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