During the summer, the sun lingers longer in the sky, flowers bloom in abundance, and moments of beauty appear all around us. We often feel more of a sense of openness, warmth, and even delight. Joy bubbles up more easily.

Yet sometimes, we can think of joy as something that needs to be earned after all our responsibilities are done. And even then, it may feel indulgent especially during difficult times.

For St. Hildegard of Bingen, joy was more significant than that. She believed that joy nourishes both the body and soul. It restores vitality, supports health, and reconnects us with the living energy flowing through all of creation.

Joy, in her understanding, was not separate from a spiritual life. It was part of it.

Today, we often tell ourselves we’ll rest, celebrate, or enjoy life more fully once everything is finished. Yet, we’re never finished. There’s always another task, another obligation, another concern waiting to be addressed.

With the wisdom of St. Hildegard, we can shift our perspective. What if joy isn’t a reward at the end of work, but nourishment that’s needed along the way?

Joy doesn’t always need to be loud but can enter quietly. Maybe you find it in

• The scent of herbs growing in the garden
• Laughter shared with a friend
• Music drifting through an open window
• The warmth of sunlight on bare skin
• Dipping your toes in a cool stream

These experiences may seem small, but they restore something essential within us.

Our nervous system softens. Our breath deepens. Our heart becomes more open.

We’re not pretending that difficulties don’t exist. We’re remembering that beauty and goodness still exist alongside them.

In challenging times, moments of delight may be even more important for us. They remind us that life continues to offer nourishment to us if we’re willing to receive it.

Many moments may arise during a day for us to experience joy, but they pass by unnoticed because the mind is elsewhere, focused on what must be solved or completed.

The practice of slowing down is a good first step to experiencing more joy each day. Take a moment right now and be fully present.

What do you notice in your environment that brings you joy? Maybe it’s the beauty of a flower or the sound of birds outside your window. Maybe an object in your favorite color or one that holds a cherished memory.

Slowing down to notice small moments like these will help us realize how nourishment is always available to us.

Another doorway into finding joy in our daily lives can be creative expression. Music, writing, or art, when approached without pressure or expectation of a specific outcome, can also bring nourishment.

Being creative doesn’t require artistic skill or even a finished product. It might simply mean:

• Arranging flowers in a vase
• Singing softly while cooking
• Sketching, painting, or writing freely
• Moving your body in ways that feel joyful

Creative play can remind us to step out of our life of productivity and take time to linger in wonder and joy.

Delight often softens what has become hard. It restores vitality where exhaustion has settled. And it reconnects us to the sacredness woven through the ordinary moments of our days.

As summer unfolds, I hope you allow yourself moments of beauty, creativity, and joy. Not because there are no tasks to complete or no difficulties in life, but to more deeply nourish your soul in the midst of it all.

If you’re longing to bring more creative play and joy into your life through the timeless teachings of St. Hildegard of Bingen, I invite you to join my Healing with Hildegard online course.

Together we’ll explore practical ways to integrate her holistic approach to spirituality, creativity, health, and healing into everyday life.