A surprisingly modern source of spiritual inspiration lies in the Middle Ages – with Hildegard von Bingen. The Benedictine nun was a visionary, herbalist, composer, and one of the most impressive spiritual figures of her time. Her teachings still resonate today – especially when it comes to finding inner strength.
Here are ten principles from Hildegard's thinking that can help you find your inner balance and rediscover your inner source of strength.
1. Recognize the Life Within and Around You
Hildegard saw the world as permeated by a green, living force – "Viriditas". She meant not only the growth in nature, but also the life energy that works within us. Whoever is in contact with this life force feels connected, grounded, and strengthened.
For our everyday lives, this means learning to feel again. Perceiving one's own body. Experiencing nature with alert senses. And appreciating one's own vitality – even in small moments.
2. Find Your Inner Balance
For Hildegard, wellbeing was more than the absence of ailments – it was about harmony between body, soul, and spirit. When one of these elements falls out of rhythm, the whole suffers. Mental strength therefore arises from balance: from conscious nutrition, sufficient sleep, inner clarity, and inner alignment.
This is a gentle reminder: you don't have to do everything perfectly. But you are allowed to take good care of yourself – on all levels.
3. Choose Simplicity
In Hildegard's thinking there is a deep love of simplicity. Not in the sense of deprivation, but in the sense of clarity. What do I really need? What is merely ballast?
Whoever focuses inwardly and outwardly on what is essential gains space – for what truly nourishes. A tidy desk, a clear daily structure, a reduced to-do list can make a great difference. Simplicity is often the first step toward inner peace.
4. Connect with Nature
Nature was for Hildegard a mirror of the divine – wise and orderly. When we turn toward it, it can have a calming effect.
A walk in the forest, barefoot through the grass, conscious breathing under an open sky – these are not romantic escapes, but deep encounters with our own original nature. Those who are regularly in nature often feel more stable, calmer, and clearer.
5. Recognize Crises as Opportunities for Growth
Hildegard spoke of suffering as a part of life – not as punishment, but as an opportunity for maturation. Inner strength is shown not in avoiding crises, but in living through them.
When we accept our difficult phases with open eyes and an open heart, we can grow from them. Pain wants to be felt – and then it often transforms into strength, compassion, and depth.
6. Seek Inner Clarity
Hildegard lived from a deep inner knowing. For her it was clear: whoever understands themselves, whoever sees through their own inner movements, lives more consciously – and more freely.
Mental strength does not mean always being stable. It means being honest with oneself. Knowing one's own limits. Living one's own truth – even when it is quiet.
7. Nurture Your Creativity and Joy of Life
For Hildegard, life was not merely something to be endured – but an expression of divine creative power. Music, art, dance, colors, scents – all of these open the heart.
When you are creative, you are connected to your source. And that not only nourishes your soul, but also strengthens your mind. Joy of life is not a side matter – it is an important part of a fulfilled life.
8. Find Your Rhythm
Hildegard lived in tune with nature – and her monastic rituals. This rhythm provided structure, calm, and focus. Even today the same holds true: whoever moves in harmony with natural rhythms lives more consciously.
Rising early, eating regularly, building in breaks, cultivating times of silence – these are not restrictions, but supportive structures. A calm rhythm is like a solid ground beneath your feet.
9. Feel Your Connection to Something Greater
Whether you believe in God or not – Hildegard's spirituality shows: we are not alone. There is something that is greater than us. Something that carries us when we no longer know how to go on.
This sense of connection can offer comfort and bestow trust – especially in difficult moments. Perhaps it is nature, perhaps it is life itself, perhaps a quiet inner knowing. When you connect with this greater something, new strength grows within you.
10. Live from Gratitude
Hildegard radiated a deep reverence for life. She lived with the awareness: every day is a gift. Every flower, every ray of sunshine, every encounter – a reason for gratitude.
Those who live gratefully see differently. Not from naivety, but from inner spaciousness. Gratitude is a spiritual muscle – the more often you use it, the stronger it becomes. And with it, your mental strength grows.
Conclusion: Strength That Comes from Within
Hildegard's wisdom is not empty theory – it is a lived path. A path back to ourselves, to our inner strength, and to a life that is carried from within.
Mental strength does not mean having to function at all times. It means being rooted. Knowing yourself. And meeting life with an open heart.
Perhaps your path to greater inner strength begins with a simple step: a deep breath. A minute of silence. Or a thought of gratitude. Discover our range according to Hildegard's teachings as well.
