Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Visions

  • Margery Kempe: Medieval visions, delusions, and hallucinations

    Margery Kempe (c. 1393 – after 1438) was an English Christian mystic who dictated autobiographic notes to a scribe. Married when twenty years old, she had a postpartum psychotic episode after the birth of her first child and went through at least fourteen subsequent pregnancies. Psychotic symptoms, delusions, and hallucinations continued all her life. She had…

  • William Blake

    JMS PearceHull, England William Blake (1757–1827) (Fig 1) was and still is an enigma. He was born on November 28, 1757, one of seven children to James, a hosier, and Catherine Wright Blake at 28 Broad Street in London.1 He once remarked: “Thank God I never was sent to school / To be Flogd into…

  • Body and soul, balance and the Sibyl of the Rhine: The life and medicine of Saint Hildegard of Bingen

    Mariel TishmaChicago, Illinois, United States St. Hildegard of Bingen wrote two medical texts, three books of visions and prophecies, one of the first mystery plays, songs, musical compositions, and letters. She consulted on many matters during her lifetime, including medicine. One episode involved a woman who had “gone insane.” Hildegard recommended the woman find respite…