I just received the verse below from Abigail and felt it perfectly brought together images of life and death, of virgin, mother and crone and all such thoughts and images that are swirling around in my mind at this time…thanks Abigail!

O VIRGA MEDIATRIX


Alleluia-verse for the Virgin
By Hildegard of Bingen
(1098 – 1179)
English version by Barbara Newman

Alleluia! light
burst from your untouched womb
like a flower on
the farther side
of death.


The world-tree
is blossoming.

Two realms
become one.