Observations placeholder
Christina the Astonishing - Spinning and celestial music
Identifier
005842
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
I don't think she used swirling and whirling to achieve the effects, the effects just happened
A description of the experience
The Life of Christina the Astonishing – from Medieval writings on female spirituality
Once her whole body was suddenly and unexpectedly seized by the spirits and began to whirl around like a teetotum or top that children play with, and the great speed of the whirling meant that no form or shape of the limbs of the body could be perceived.
And when she had been spun round for so long that it seemed as if she would faint from the speed, she rested with all her limbs.
And then there sounded from between her throat and her breast a marvellous melody which no man living could understand or had the skill to imitate. That song had within itself high and low notes and musical tones and indeed the words of the melody, if they can be called words, ran together incomprehensibly.
And meanwhile neither voice nor breath came out of her mouth or nose, but just between the breast and the throat there sounded a melody of angelic song. Meanwhile, all her limbs were at rest and her eyelids were closed as if she were asleep.
Then shortly after that she gradually returned to herself like a drunk person….