The term Viriditas, coined by the remarkable 12th-century Benedictine abbess, mystic, composer, philosopher and natural scientist Hildegard of Bingen, is a profound concept with enduring relevance. She was a visionary. A healer. A woman who understood that the divine lived in the verdant, untamed energy of nature. Her ancient wisdom fuelled modern vitality and unlocked a new understanding of nature's power. Her spirit, suppressed for centuries, is what inspired my most ambitious green perfume ever: Viriditas.
Original Meaning by Hildegard of Bingen
For Hildegard, viriditas literally means ‘greenness’ or ‘greening power,’ but its meaning extends far beyond a simple description of colour. It was a central theological and cosmological concept that she used to express:
- Divine Generative Power: Viriditas was Hildegard's way of articulating God's dynamic, life-giving and sustaining force that permeates all of creation. It's the inherent freshness, vitality and fruitfulness that allows everything to grow, flourish and regenerate.
- Spiritual and Physical Health: Hildegard saw viriditas as essential for both spiritual and physical wellbeing. It was the intrinsic power within human beings to grow, heal and connect with the divine. A lack of viriditas was associated with ariditas (dryness), signifying spiritual and physical barrenness, often linked to sin or a disconnection from the divine source.
- Interconnectedness of Creation: Viriditas underscored the deep interconnectedness of all living things – plants, animals and humans – with the divine. It was the ‘moistening of our souls’ and the ‘greening power of the divine at work’ that vitalised the cosmos. She saw the natural world as a reflection of the divine, and thus, tending to nature was a way of tending to one's soul.
- Creativity and Fecundity: It embodied the idea of fruitfulness, not just in a biological sense, but also in terms of human creativity, spiritual growth and the ability to bring forth good works.
For Hildegard, viriditas was the verdant life force of the divine, immanent in all of creation, nourishing and sustaining life at every level.
Relevance in Healing Nowadays
Hildegard's concept of viriditas is highly relevant in contemporary healing practices, particularly in holistic and integrative medicine:
- Holistic Approach: Her understanding that physical and psychological disorders are interconnected resonates strongly with modern holistic healing, which emphasises the unity of mind, body and spirit.
- Nature-Based Healing: The emphasis on the "greening power" and the healing properties of plants forms the basis of modern phytotherapy, herbalism and even practices like forest bathing (shinrin-yoku). Many of the medicinal plants Hildegard discussed in her works (like Physica and Causae et Curae) are still recognised for their pharmacological effects.
- Self-Healing Capacity: Viriditas speaks to the body's innate ability to heal itself. Modern wellness movements, which focus on strengthening vitality and supporting the body's natural restorative processes, align with Hildegard's belief in nurturing this inner ’greening power.’
- Environmental Health and Human Wellbeing: Hildegard's view of viriditas as integral to a thriving natural world highlights the intrinsic link between environmental health and human health. This resonates with the growing awareness of ecological medicine and the understanding that a healthy planet is essential for healthy people.
- Nature Connection and Wellness Trends: The increasing popularity of gardening, plant-based diets, outdoor activities and ‘back-to-the-land’ movements reflects a yearning for the ‘greening power’ and a connection to nature that Hildegard championed.
- Spiritual and Artistic Inspiration: Artists, musicians and spiritual thinkers continue to draw inspiration from Hildegard's work, including her concept of viriditas.
- Mindfulness and Inner Growth: The focus on ‘inner greening’ or cultivating one's inner vitality connects with popular mindfulness practices and the self-care movement, which emphasise nurturing one's inner world for overall wellbeing.
Relevance in Contemporary Philosophy
In contemporary philosophy, particularly in ecological philosophy, theology and ethical discussions, Viriditas offers a rich framework:
- Integral Ecology and Environmental Ethics: Hildegard's concept of Viriditas is being rediscovered as a foundational element for an integral ecology. It challenges anthropocentric views that place humans above nature, instead advocating for a "cosmic partnership" and stewardship of creation. It provides a theological and philosophical basis for understanding environmental destruction as a "sin" against the divine life force.
- Non-Dualistic Thinking: For Hildegard, viriditas transcends rigid dualisms (like spirit/matter, body/soul, sacred/secular). This resonates with contemporary philosophical trends that seek to overcome these splits, recognising the interconnectedness of all phenomena.
- Feminine Divine and Creation Spirituality: Viriditas is often associated with the feminine aspect of God as creator, highlighting a more nurturing and immanent understanding of the divine. This contributes to contemporary discussions on creation spirituality and reclaiming the sacred feminine in theology and philosophy.
- Revitalising Traditional Thought: Scholars are re-examining Hildegard's contributions, seeing viriditas as a powerful tool for addressing contemporary theological and philosophical problems, particularly those related to our relationship with the natural world and the crisis of ariditas (dryness, spiritual emptiness) in modern society.
In essence, Hildegard of Bingen's viriditas remains a potent and inspiring concept, urging us to recognise, cultivate and cherish the vital, greening force that animates all life, within ourselves and throughout the cosmos.
Are you ready to embrace the divine aroma that embodies creation's endless generosity and nurtures your capacity for growth and healing? Try Viriditas Natural Perfume today!
