However, as she became more serious about her spiritual studies, she abandoned her agnosticism for Neoplatonism, and eventually abandoned Neoplatonism for a very Catholic Anglo-Catholicism (if her husband had not strongly disapproved, she might have officially joined the Roman church.)Ī person of disciplined habits and mind, she managed to pursue her religious studies, writing, and meditations without neglecting the social and charitable duties of a barrister’s wife. (She was a friend of Arthur Machen, and acquainted with the Order of the Golden Dawn). Like many who grew up in the Edwardian era, she had a romantic’s interest in the psychic, the mystic, the medieval and the occult. For example, if you wish to learn a little something about mysticism, you could do no better than read Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill.Įvelyn Underhill (1875-1941)-novelist and mystic, poet and pacifist-was born in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands. When you choose to read a book on an esoteric topic-particularly a topic many find abstruse-you should choose a book written by someone who knows her subject and writes in simple, elegant prose. (Copied from CCEL, which also hosts the downloadable ebook). 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.
Augustine, and Thomas a Kempis, and examples from these writers, as well as poets like Keats and Whitman, are sprinkled throughout the book.
Underhill was greatly influenced by mystics such as St. She invites the reader to become involved in mysticism ("the art of union with reality"), giving simple examples of how it is relevant to everyday people. Underhill is at her simplest here, yet her language is still poetic and enjoyable to read. This shorter work, Practical Mysticism, is an abridged version of Underhill's theology, and a perfect starting point for immersion into the subject. Her book, Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness, is the authoritative text of modern mysticism. Practical Mysticism is a work by one of the foremost 20th century Christian mystics, Evelyn Underhill.
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