Self-actualization in the lives of medieval female mystics

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UNLV Teses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
8-2009
Self-actualization in the lives of medieval female
mystics: An ethnohistorical approach
Cherel Jane Ellsworth Olive
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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Teses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1113.
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SELF-ACTUALIZATION IN THE LIVES OF MEDIEVAL FEMALE MYSTICS:
AN ETHNOHISTORICAL APPROACH
by
Cherel Jane Ellsworth Olive
Bachelor of Arts
Mills College
1960
Master of Arts
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
1977
Master of Education, Special Education
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
1978
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Anthropology
Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Graduate College
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
August 2009
UMI Number: 3383987
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Dissertation Approval
UNE The Graduate College
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Apri l 24 .20 09
The Dissertation prepared by
Cherel Jane Ellsworth Olive
Entitled
Self-actualization in the Lives of Medieval
Female Mystics: An Ethnohistorical Approach
is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Anthropology
Dean of the Graduate College
Examination Committee Member
'Examination Committee Member
Gjaduave College Facultyfoepresentative
n
ABSTRACT
An Ethnohistorical Approach to Self-actualization
In the lives of Medieval Female Mystics
by
Cherel Jane Ellsworth Olive
Dr. John J. Swetnam, Examination Committee Chair
Professor of Anthropology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
This dissertation explores the cultural and psychological factors that permitted six
medieval female mystics to assume positions of leadership and innovation in a world
marked by extreme gender inequality. Women religious have often been charged with
being neurotics, hysterics, narcissists, and nymphomaniacs whereas males with similar
experiences are rarely subject to the same degree of criticism. It is argued here that the
women may well have been seeking to achieve the form of self-actualization described
by humanist psychologist, Abraham Maslow, as a result of the "conversion" experience
analyzed by William James. Furthermore, applying modern categories of mental illness
to these women ignores the opinion of their contemporaries who felt that dedication to
union with God was the ultimate form of social heroism.
This case study approach examines the lives of six women exemplars. Extended
case studies include Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), Marguerite Porete (d. 1310), and
Catherine of Siena (1347-1380). The records of Joan of Arc (1412/13-1431), Teresa of
Avila (1515-1582), and Madame Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) are provided as comparative
cases. The lives of these women span six hundred years and illustrate ways in which
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societal reaction to their revelations, doctrines and behaviors changed over time from
high regard to suspicion or dismissal. This is a change that reflected major modifications
in society as a whole wherein women suffered a general loss of power and prestige and
monastic life-styles faded from the mainstream society.
Psychological explanations for the various phenomena of mysticism are of
particular interest to this study in as much as they overlap the anthropologies of
consciousness, psychology and religion. The dissertation examines the historical
development of the fundamental cognitive concepts that influenced the lives of women
mystics. Furthermore, each woman's life is assessed relative to the environmental,
political, economic and religious factors with which they dealt. Emphasis is placed upon
those cultural elements that may have provided motivation for their spiritual efforts and
served as keys to their drive toward self-actualization. The importance given cultural
factors clarifies the rationale for some of their behaviors that trouble modern students of
religion and psychology.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . vi
PREFACE xi
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
Medieval Mysticism: Some Basics 4
Justification for an Ethnohistorical Aproach to Female Mysticism 10
Psychological Aproaches to Female Mysticism 13
Enculturated Gender: Motivating Female "Virility" 18
Criteria for the Selection of Individual Mystics 28
Overview of Chapters 29
Intent and Significance of This Research 32
CHAPTER 2 PSYCHOLOGICAL APROACHES TO FEMALE MYSTICS 34
Fundamentals of Conventual Life 35
The Fashions of Asceticism 40
Pathology versus Heroic Pasion 43
The Pragmatics of Sainthod 51
Maslow and the Phenomenon of Self-actualization 62
The Ned for Self-actualization 63
Transformation through Peak-experiences 6
Humanistic, Transpersonal and Logotherapies 69
Conclusions 73
CHAPTER 3 THE WOMAN RELIGIOUS 75
Heroic Hagiographies and Enculturated Consciousnes 76
Seting the Spiritual Bar for Women 80
Sacred Spaces and Revered Relics 83
Historical Traditions of Sainted Women 85
Virginity, Valor and Martyrdom 8
Monastic and Anchoritic Sanctity 90
Spiritual Service and Self-actualizing Lay Women 93
Motivation and Spiritual Self-actualization 97
The Salvatrix: Mary and Martyrs, Saving Souls 102
Sumation 105
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CHAPTER 4 TRANSCENDING THE "INFERIOR OTHER" 107
Nature, Nurture, Sin and Salvation: Does Woman Have a Soul? 108
Perceptions of Women in the Fertile Crescent Il
Patriarchal Cultures Merge: Gender, Equality, and Submision 17
Early Christian Perceptions of Women: The Foundations of Medieval Values 121
Christian Customs and Consequences for Women's Lives 126
Celtic and Germanic Praxis and the role of Women 132
Women in Medieval Literature: The Ideal and the Real 135
Women Glorified and Defended 139
CHAPTER 5 WOMEN, CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS, AND HERESIES 150
The Origins and Early History of Convents 151
The Conventual Lifestyle and Its Advantages 159
The "Rules" for Women Religious 162
Conventual Lifestyles and Perceptions of Imprisonment 16
Canon Law, Reform and Enclosure 170
Faith and Fear: Religious conflict, Heresy, Reform, and Witchcraft 17
The "Holy Women" of the Fiftenth and Sixtenth Centuries 182
In Inquisition: Waring Against Heretics, Witches and Women 186
Conclusions 189
CHAPTER 6 HILDEGARD OF BINGEN 191
Hildegard's Life in Twelfth Century Europe 193
The Twelfth Century Artistic and Intelectual Florescence 19
The Life and Works of a Prophetes 206
The Visions and Caling of Hildegard of Bingen 217
Hildegard's Theology 28
The Unique Qualities of Hildegard of Bingen 230
Self-actualization in the Life of Hildegard of Bingen 232
Conclusions 236
CHAPTER 7 MARGUERITE PORETE: ANIHILATED SOULS 238
The Thirtenth Century Milieu of Marguerite Porete 240
Mystic Inovation from Hildegard to Marguerite Porete 243
Beguines: the Independent Holy Women of Northern Europe 247
The Heresy of the Fre Spirits 253
The Knights Templar and the Strugle for Wealth and Power 254
The Miror of Simple Souls 257
The Trial of Marguerite Porete 26
Church and State Crush the Social Revolution 270
Self-actualization in the Life of Marguerite Porete 275
Conclusions 280
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CHAPTER 8 CATHERINE OF SIENA 284
The Early Life of Catherine of Siena 286
Religious, Economic and Political Crisis in the Fourtenth Century 293
Transition and Cultural Florescence in the World of Catherine of Siena 301
Religious Fashions of Female Mystics in the Fourtenth Century 307
The Ministry of Catherine of Siena 314
The Writen Works of Catherine of Siena 325
The Leters 325
The Dialogue 3
The Final Prayers of Catherine of Siena 36
Self-actualization in the Life of Catherine of Siena 38
Conclusions 345
CHAPTER 9 FEMALE MYSTICS OF THE RENAISSANCE:
COMPARATIVE CASES 349
Introduction 349
Joan of Arc 354
The Third Phase of the Hundred Years' War 357
The Life of Joan of Arc 358
Teresa of Avila 364
Political Background ; 365
The Life and Works of Teresa of Avila 367
Madame Jeane Marie Bouvieres de la Mothe Guyon 374
The Sevententh Century French Milieu 375
Personal Background 37
Conclusions 383
CHAPTER 10 CONCLUSIONS 385
A Holistic Model of Mystic Experience 387
The Exoteric Level of Experience 390
The Esoteric Level of Experience 391
The Unio mystica Level of Experience 394
Neurotheology: The Child of Science and Religion 396
APENDIX 402
REFERENCES. 41
VITA 45
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