The Eucharist as Breastfeeding: Medieval Women Mystics and the Body of Christ
Julian of Norwich and Mechthild of Magdeburg used motherhood to describe divine power, from Christ feeding believers to a woman nourishing him.
Women worth knowing
All Stories
Extraordinary women, overlooked stories, and a more complete history. Explore the lives, ideas, and achievements that changed the world.
Religious Leaders
4 Medieval Women Mystics
Women claimed spiritual authority through visions, writing, and religious communities, creating room for leadership and self-governance in a world that often dismissed their judgment.
Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona, Hawaiian healer
She adapted a spiritual tradition centered on reconciliation and shared it internationally, building a following around forgiveness, personal reflection, and the repair of relationships.
Indra Devi, Mother of Western Yoga
She pushed into a yoga tradition dominated by men, then carried its practice across continents, helping new audiences find a place in an ancient discipline.
Marguerite D’Youville, the First Canadian Saint
She built a community devoted to people in need, challenging authorities to protect the sick and poor and leaving a lasting legacy of care.
Nana Asma’u: princess, poet, reformer of Muslim women’s education
She turned poetry into a powerful tool for women’s education, training traveling teachers who carried knowledge into communities and helped other women become educators.
Enheduanna, ancient high priestess
Her ancient hymns survived through generations of copying, preserving a woman’s literary voice and offering a rare window into the beginnings of written authorship.