THIS intriguing book explores the meaning of spiritual voices by means of a reflection on three medieval mystics: Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich, and Joan of Arc. Although the phenomenon of auditory hallucinations has often been described as a symptom of mental illness, the author contends that “the hearing of a spiritually significant voice may be part of the constellation of symptoms of illness and be spiritually meaningful” (author’s italics).

The diagnostic tendency to separate spiritually significant voices from pathological ones is seen as flawed. Cook considers the voices of three mystics from the 14th and early 15th centuries in which a feature of European Christian spirituality was the importance of the Passion of Christ and the hope of participation in the resurrection. While the traditional approach of psychiatry may be one of compassion, it fails to identify the meaning of spiritual voices within a destabilising illness and risks undermining the therapeutic relationship if the potentially positive world-view of the patient is denied.

After an introductory chapter, the next three are devoted to each of the three mystics, followed by a chapter on the potential benefits to psychiatry today. Kempe’s experience of illness after the birth of her first child was resolved after a vision of Jesus, and later, having borne many children, she entered a life stage of religious piety, which included many pilgrimages. Although she was illiterate, her Book was compiled as a result of dictation to an unknown man and a priest. She visited Julian of Norwich to check out the validity of her experiences, in which Jesus had moved her to seek the way of perfection.

Julian of Norwich’s Revelations has become a spiritual classic, following her reflections on a series of visions, or “showings”, which she had in the context of a serious illness from which she was not expected to recover.

AlamyJoan of Arc (image c.1450)

The visions of the teenage Joan of Arc were to influence the course of history in France during the Hundred Years’ War. A controversial figure, she was tried and found guilty as a heretic and burned at the stake, while proclaiming even then the holy name of Jesus. She was canonised in the 20th century.

Cook contends that each of these very different women found meaning in their experiences of hearing spiritual voices. He calls for a more integrated approach to the management of mental-health challenges, allowing for the blending of psychiatric and pastoral expertise, suggesting a discipline of “psycho-theology”, especially as applied to Julian of Norwich. His notion of entanglement between psychiatry and the humanities offers a way forward to creative research projects. Such an approach could only benefit all parties involved, particularly those experiencing the voices, whether in the context of illness or not.

The Revd Dr Anne C. Holmes, a former NHS mental-health chaplain, works as a psychotherapist and SSM in the diocese of Oxford.

Hearing Spiritual Voices: Medieval mystics, meaning and psychiatry
Christopher C. H. Cook
T&T Clark £45
(978-0-567-70798-7)
Church Times Bookshop £40.50