“The earth is at the same time mother,

She is mother of all that is natural,

Mother of all that is human,

She is the mother of all, for contained

In her are the seeds of all.

The earth of humankind

Contains all moistness,

All verdancy,

All geminating power.

It is in so many ways fruitful

All creation comes from it

Yet it forms not only the basic

Raw material for humankind,

But also the substance

Of the incarnation of God’s son.

—Hildegard of Bingen