Underhill, Evelyn (1875-1941)

Underhill, Evelyn (1875-1941) -- from Wikipedia Article

Essentials of Mysticism

Life of the Spirit and the Life of To-day

Description: For her entire life, Evelyn Underhill had struggled to explain and understand what she could only call her mystical experiences. In this work she argues that spiritual encounters do not belong exclusively to stories or to the past, but can happen to people in their everyday lives. She writes with personal passion and rigorous scholarship simultaneously, her exploration of mysticism formed by her background in Neo-Platonic philosophy and Medieval Christian spirituality. Widely read during her day, people have found her work moving and profound.

Kathleen O'Bannon
CCEL Staff

Mysticism: A Study in Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness (Author)

Description: First published in 1911, Mysticism remains the classic in its field. (This is clear from its many different printings.) The Princeton Theological Review praised this book as 'brilliantly written [and] illuminated with numerous well-chosen extracts . . . used with exquisite skill.' Mysticism makes an in-depth and comprehensive exploration of mysticism. Part One examines 'The Mystic Fact,' explaining the relation of mysticism to vitalism, to psychology, to theology, to symbolism, and to magic. Part Two, 'The Mystic Way,' explores the awakening, purification, and illumination of the self; discusses voices and visions; and delves into manifestations from ecstasy and rapture to the dark night of the soul. It also contains a useful Appendix, which details the 'mysticism' of different figures in Western history. A hundred years old or so, Mysticism still remains the key secondary text on mysticism.

Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer

Practical Mysticism

Description: Practical Mysticism is a work by one of the foremost 20th century Christian mystics, Evelyn Underhill. Her book, Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness, is the authoritative text of modern mysticism. This shorter work, Practical Mysticism, is an abridged version of Underhill's theology, and is a perfect starting point for immersion into the subject. It is written, to some extent, with non-Christians in mind, so Underhill is at her simplest here, yet her language is still poetic and enjoyable to read. Topics are addressed broadly, and Chapter 1, "What is Mysticism?" ("the art of union with reality, she says) is an enlightening place for those unfamiliar with the topic to begin. She invites the reader to become involved in mysticism, giving simple examples of how it is relevant to everyday people. Underhill was greatly influenced by mystics such as St. Teresa, Ruysbroeck, St. Augustine, and Thomas a Kempis, and examples from these writers, as well as poets like Keats and Whitman, are sprinkled throughout the book. A fine place to start before diving into her more intense works, Practical Mysticism has captivated generations of readers, and is still the premier text for the introductory study of mysticism.

Abby Zwart
CCEL Staff Writer

Ruysbroeck

Description: Biography, with summary of his ideas and works