UNLV Theses, 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 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Medieval History Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Repository Citation Olive, Cherel Jane Ellsworth, "Self-actualization in the lives of medieval female mystics: An ethnohistorical approach" (2009). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1113. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/2493732 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). 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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 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Dissertation Publishing UMI 3383987 Copyright 2010 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Copyright by Cherel Jane Ellsworth Olive 2009 All Rights Reserved Dissertation Approval UNE The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas April 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 iii 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. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . viii PREFACE xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Medieval Mysticism: Some Basics 4 Justification for an Ethnohistorical Approach to Female Mysticism 10 Psychological Approaches 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 APPROACHES TO FEMALE MYSTICS 34 Fundamentals of Conventual Life 35 The Fashions of Asceticism 40 Pathology versus Heroic Passion 43 The Pragmatics of Sainthood 51 Maslow and the Phenomenon of Self-actualization 62 The Need for Self-actualization 63 Transformation through Peak-experiences 66 Humanistic, Transpersonal and Logotherapies 69 Conclusions 73 CHAPTER 3 THE WOMAN RELIGIOUS 75 Heroic Hagiographies and Enculturated Consciousness 76 Setting the Spiritual Bar for Women 80 Sacred Spaces and Revered Relics 83 Historical Traditions of Sainted Women 85 Virginity, Valor and Martyrdom 88 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 Summation 105 v 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 Ill Patriarchal Cultures Merge: Gender, Equality, and Submission 117 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 166 Canon Law, Reform and Enclosure 170 Faith and Fear: Religious conflict, Heresy, Reform, and Witchcraft 177 The "Holy Women" of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries 182 In Inquisition: Warring 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 Intellectual Florescence 199 The Life and Works of a Prophetess 206 The Visions and Calling of Hildegard of Bingen 217 Hildegard's Theology 228 The Unique Qualities of Hildegard of Bingen 230 Self-actualization in the Life of Hildegard of Bingen 232 Conclusions 236 CHAPTER 7 MARGUERITE PORETE: ANNIHILATED SOULS 238 The Thirteenth Century Milieu of Marguerite Porete 240 Mystic Innovation from Hildegard to Marguerite Porete 243 Beguines: the Independent Holy Women of Northern Europe 247 The Heresy of the Free Spirits 253 The Knights Templar and the Struggle for Wealth and Power 254 The Mirror of Simple Souls 257 The Trial of Marguerite Porete 266 Church and State Crush the Social Revolution 270 Self-actualization in the Life of Marguerite Porete 275 Conclusions 280 vi CHAPTER 8 CATHERINE OF SIENA 284 The Early Life of Catherine of Siena 286 Religious, Economic and Political Crisis in the Fourteenth Century 293 Transition and Cultural Florescence in the World of Catherine of Siena 301 Religious Fashions of Female Mystics in the Fourteenth Century 307 The Ministry of Catherine of Siena 314 The Written Works of Catherine of Siena 325 The Letters 325 The Dialogue 333 The Final Prayers of Catherine of Siena 336 Self-actualization in the Life of Catherine of Siena 338 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