My Favourite Mystic

AJ Langley speaks to Meagan Khoury about the lay Dominican mystic and holy woman Catherine of Siena (1347-1380). We talk about the "Miracoli", Catherine's "projects" (including her prolific letter writing campaigns), and her fixation on breasts and hearts. Plus, as an added bonus, Meagan shares a bit about Saint Sarah (also called Sara la Kali) and her veneration in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. ...

AJ Langley speaks to Lieke Smits about the Cistercian mystic and scholar Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1139). We talk about his Sermons on the Song of Songs , the Cistercian Order, the balancing of austerity and humility, and the desperate need for a feature film on Bernard himself (don't worry, we have already taken care of the casting).  For more of Lieke's work on Bernard, you can read her re...

AJ Langley speaks to Laura Saetveit Miles about the works of late-medieval Carthusian monk Richard Methley (c. 1451-1527/8). Topics include writing about the inability to continue writing while writing, life in a Carthusian monastery, and the newly published translations of Methley's texts.  To purchase a copy of the new translation of Richard Methley's work visit https://litpress.org/Product...

AJ Langley speaks to Professor Carolyn Muessig (University of Calgary) about the fourteenth-century English mystic and anchorite Julian of Norwich. We discuss hope, Julian's faith in humanity and belief in a compassionate God, and the benefits of The Revelations of Divine Love as a teaching tool.  Professor Carolyn Muessig is the Chair of Christian Thought in the Department of Classics and Re...

Host AJ Langley speaks with Pavlina Kulagina about the fourteenth-century German mystic and nun Margareta Ebner. We discuss liturgical practice in mystical texts, whether the baby Christ was wrapped in Joseph's pants, and using the image of Christ on the cross as a pillow. Some disturbing scenes discussed including the brief mention of violence towards a pregnant woman within Margareta's text. &nb...

AJ Langley speaks to Robert Dickins (Twitter: @Cofgodas and @PsypressUK) about the nineteenth-century, English medium Juliana Fawcett. We touch on spiritual pregnancy, Emanuel Swedenborg, psychedelics, and middle-class heaven.

An introduction to My Favourite Mystic: a Podcast about the Weird and Wonderful World of Mysticism. Hosted by AJ Langley (@medievalmystics on Twitter).