AJ Langley speaks to Alexandra Verini about the sixteenth-century Hindu mystic Mira Bai. We discuss her marriage to Krishna (and denial of her worldly husband), her poetry, the disapproval of her in-laws, and the connections to be found between medieval mystics of all denominations. 

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Alexandra Verini: @AlexandraVerini

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AJ Langley speaks to Georgia van Raalte about the British occultist, spiritual advisor, and author Dion Fortune (1890-1946). We discuss her construction of British spiritualism, her rejection of Indian "Masters" in favour of British "Masters", how novels can stimulate mystical experiences, and Christian esotericism. CW: racism/eugenics and how the people we study are often quite problematic. 

Georgia van Raalte has recently finished her PhD at the University of Surrey and her work focuses on Dion Fortune's occult novels. 

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Georgia van Raalte: @RaalteGeorgia

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AJ Langley speaks to Lydia Shahan about the 13th-century mystic, poet, and holy woman Hadewijch. A woman of mystery, we talk about how little is known about her life, about paradox, about desire, and about the joy of rendering a category useless. 

Lydia Shahan is a second year PhD student in the Study of Religion at Harvard University. She looks are mysticism and devotional literature in the Low countries and Northern Europe. 

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Lydia Shahan: @lydia_shahan

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AJ Langley speaks to Liam Temple about the mystical writer and Benedictine Augustine Baker (1575-1641). We discussed his conversion experience, his eagerness for a quiet life of contemplation, the repeated thwarting of that desire, his advise to nuns on achieving mystical contemplation, his understanding of the varieties of mysticism, and how anyone who criticises is a scholastic who just doesn't understand mystical experience.

Dr Liam Temple is Capuchin Fellow in the History of Catholicism at Durham University. His first book, Mysticism in Early Modern England, was published with Boydell and Brewer in 2019 and he has published widely on the influence of the Benedictine monk Augustine Baker and the role mysticism played in early modern English convents. His book can be ordered at: https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781783273935/mysticism-in-early-modern-england/

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AJ Langley speaks to Dr Laury Silvers about the Sufi mystic Shawana (9th century). We discuss the challenges scholars face when trying to find early Islamic female mystics, the impact of regional history on the articulation of mysticism, Shawana's weeping, and Laury's transition from academia to writing historical fiction. (CW: references to slavery and sexual assault)

Laury Silvers is a retired professor of early Islamic mysticism, specialising in gender. She received her PhD from SUNY Stony Brook in 2002. Her work on mysticism and 10th-century Bagdad is the inspiration for her historical fiction series, The Sufi Mysteries. The first book, The Lover, follows Zaytuna as she is "forced to face the suffering of the most vulnerable in Baghdad and the emotional and mystical legacy of her mother, a famed ecstatic whose love for God eclipsed everything" as she seeks justice for the death of a local boy.

Check out The Sufi Mysteries at https://www.llsilvers.com/

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Laury Silvers: @waraqamusa

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AJ Langley speaks to James Roberts about the Russian Orthodox nun, social activist, theologian and writer Mother Maria Skobtsova (1891-1945). We talk about her theology and the mysticism of human communion, her mission to feed the poor (and her wheelbarrow full of vegetables),  her involvement in the French resistance, our pity for her housemates, and her chain-smoking, philosophy parties. 

James Roberts is, at time of recording, finishing up his PhD in modern theology at Oxford University, focusing on the theology of Mother Maria Skobtsova. He received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Divinity from the University of St Andrews. In addition to his academic work, he is currently involved in a number of interfaith projects. 

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AJ Langley speaks to Michael Hahn about the lay penitent (Franciscan) mystic Angela of Foligno (d.1309). We discuss her importance as a theologian, her fear of damnation, her spiritual sons, the abyss, lots of screaming and weeping, and how family can get in the way of a religious life (CW: death of family discussed)

Michael Hahn is a theologian and medieval church historian. While his research and teaching has covered different aspects of the historical study of religion and spirituality, his main focus is on early-Franciscan mystical theologies: its different expressions; distinctive nature; and reception. He is currently Tutor in Divinity at the University of London where he teaches ‘The History of Christianity’ and has previously lectured at York St John University – where he designed and taught a module on ‘Mysticism in World Religions’ – and St Andrews, where he taught church history.

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AJ Langley speaks to Einat Klafter about the one and only Margery Kempe (c. 1373- after 1436). We discuss her pilgrimages, her co-authorship of her text, her sacralising of the mundane, and how she was just... a lot. (CW: depression and self-harm are discussed)

Einat Klafter is a co-director of the Exceptional Selves Humanities Lab at the Zvi Yavetz School of Historical Studies at Tel Aviv University, and co-founder of the Mysticism & Lived Experience Network (@mle_network). Her research interests include the mystic Margery Kempe, late-medieval devotion, sacred spaces, embodiment, lived experiences, sexuality and gender studies, and popular culture (both past and present). She is currently working on a project that examines how lived experience of late-medieval mystics impacts the conceptualization and articulation of mystical union with God.

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Michael Hahn: @medievalk

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AJ Langley speaks to Lauren Cole about the mystic, writer, and polymath Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179). We talk about her medical texts, the effect of the humors on reproduction, the use of Adam and Eve, and foaming semen. Brief asides into the "gatekeeping" of the designation of individuals as "mystics" and Lauren's call for everyone to join her on TikTok (@MedievalLauren).

Lauren Cole is an independent scholar who works on Hildegard of Bingen. Her primary research focus is on the relationship between Hildegard’s visionary theology and her medicine, which has not yet received much academic attention. She is particularly interested in gendered constructions of authority, the presentation of Adam and Eve, and the use of female embodiment in text and image throughout Hildegard’s works.

Lauren received her MA in History from the University of Bristol in 2018 and will start a PhD in Autumn 2021. She is passionate about public engagement and runs a TikTok account (@MedievalLauren) dedicated to busting myths about the Middle Ages and raising awareness of medieval female mystics. She is the founder of the hashtag #HildegardTok. She also has a blog that you can find at https://medievallauren.wordpress.com/

Notes and updates:

At the 4 minute mark, please note that Hildegard’s description of the female orgasm is the earliest surviving in the Western canon.

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My Favourite Mystic: @myfavmystic

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AJ Langley speaks to Jane Shaw about the mystic, writer, and spiritual advisor, Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941). We talk about her quest for authentic spirituality, her letters of spiritual advise (which are very funny and worth a read), her work as a retreat leader, and her ability to find a balance between spiritual and domestic life.

Jane Shaw is Professor of the History of Religion and Principal of Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford (@HMCOxford). For more from Jane on Evelyn Underhill, you can read her book, Pioneers of Modern Spirituality: The neglected Anglican innovators of a 'spiritual but not religious' age (2017).

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My Favourite Mystic: @myfavmystic

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