Visionary Mysticism & Dream Theory: Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe & Jeanne d'Arc


In 1429, in one of the most logically inexplicable events in history, a 17-year-old illiterate peasant girl commanded at the siege of Orléans based on a series of religious visions. This heroine, of course, was Jeanne d’Arc, who is largely credited for being the pivotal military influence in leading France to victory in the Hundred Years War. Jeanne d’Arc was part of an established tradition of visionary mysticism that included another two female contemporaries, Margery Kempe and the anchoress Julian of Norwich. Although sometimes controversial in their day, these three women were all given a special status as divine messengers because of their visionary experiences. It is surprising, then, to find so little scholarship focused on their actual vision-content and imagery.

While generally regarded as belonging in the realm of the inexplicably spiritual, mysticism has a much greater basis in the psychology of the individual mystic than has previously been explored. There is not much existing discourse on the imagery that occurs in visions, but they are so similar to dreams that looking at them through the lens of dream theory can give us a valuable insight into their operation as a mental phenomena.

In looking at the vision-content of d’Arc, Kempe and Norwich, it quickly becomes obvious that their visions were influenced by the concerns of their waking life. Our three subjects, although roughly contemporary to one another, were radically different in background and personality. Norwich, as a clergywoman, envisioned purely Christian themes. When we look at the visions of d’Arc and Kempe, we see secular invasions into their vision-content. Kempe’s visions often address her own discomfort with her dual role as wife and mystic. D’Arc had visions of a political and religious nature, which reflect her driving concern about her politically and physically dangerous homeland.

It is significant if not surprising that all three women experienced religious visions, given the dominant role that religion played in daily medieval life. It is less simple to explain the themes of female authority that reoccurs in their vision-content, given their strongly patriarchal medieval world.


Read more:

  • Visionary Mysticism & Dream Theory: Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe & Jeanne d'Arc
  • Dreams, Visions and Medieval Europe
  • Medieval Culture and the Role of the Church
  • Julian of Norwich: Anchoress and Spiritual Advisor
  • Margery Kempe: Mystic and Wife
  • Jeanne d'Arc: Heretic and Saint
  • Mysticism & Dream Theory: Final Thoughts
  • Works Cited
  • About the Author