Last time we looked at the practical spiritual activity of mysticism in the first two characteristics. In part four, we continue the extracts from Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill, and explore the third characteristic: the importance of Love. Extract: “(3) The business and method of Mysticism is Love. “Here is one of the distinctive notes of… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 4: Method of Love
Last time we looked at the difficulties mystics have expressing their experiences, and introduced the four characteristics of mysticism. In part three of our extracts from Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill, she goes into more detail about the first two characteristics. Extract: “(1) Mysticism is practical, not theoretical. “This statement, taken alone, is not, of course,… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 3: Practical Spiritual Activity
Last time we looked at the differences between mysticism and magic, as explained by Evelyn Underhill in Mysticism. In part two, we continue the extracts with a look at why mystics have such trouble expressing their experiences in words, and introduce the four characteristics of mysticism. Extract: “The greatest mystics, – Ruysbroeck, St. John of… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 2: Ineffable Reality and Symbolism
In this series, we’ll look at the characteristics of mysticism as explained by Evelyn Underhill in her classic text Mysticism: A Study of the Nature and Development of Man’s Spiritual Consciousness. In part one, she explains the important differences between magic and mysticism. Extract: “The spiritual history of man reveals two distinct and fundamental attitudes… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 1: Magic and Mysticism
This week I’m reading Mysticism: A Study of the Nature and Development of Man’s Spiritual Consciousness by Evelyn Underhill. This is the classic text on mysticism. It explores the subject in depth, and although Underhill focuses mostly on mystical Christianity, she also looks at Sufism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and others too. Part 1 explains how mysticism… Continue reading Review: Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill
This week I’m reading When the Shoe Fits – an Osho classic which includes commentaries on the stories of the Taoist mystic Chuang Tzu. Osho gives you the original story and then takes them apart, offering his perspective and unique comments. The stories cover everything from the spiritual search for liberation, to the desire for love, acceptance,… Continue reading Review: When the Shoe Fits by Osho
Music plays an important role in my novel Addled because the heroine, Zoe Popper, learns so much about how to be present and in the moment from her musician boyfriend, Jonah and his band Dionysus Wept. She first hears Jonah sing in Chapter 5 and is transported, amazed by the way the individual band members… Continue reading Music opens a secret door in time to eternity
Extracts from the last chapters of the classic mystical text The Cloud of Unknowing. Here our anonymous author explains who the book is for and offers some final words of encouragement to those called to the contemplative life: from Chapter 74: The author takes his leave “Now if you think that this kind of prayer… Continue reading Cloud of Unknowing: Final Words
Extracts from some of the later chapters of the classic mystical text The Cloud of Unknowing. Here our anonymous author explains how to forget the self and some of the dangers of the contemplative path and how to deal with them: from Chapter 43: A naked awareness of self “Make sure that there is nothing… Continue reading Cloud of Unknowing: Death of the Ego
Extracts from chapters 26 and 32 of the classic mystical text The Cloud of Unknowing. Here our anonymous author explains the work of contemplation and gives some tips on how to focus (and these tips work really well, in my limited experience): from Chapter 26: God will pierce the cloud of unknowing “Set to work,… Continue reading Cloud of Unknowing: Techniques to get rid of distractions
Extracts from chapters 6, 7 and 9 of the classic mystical text The Cloud of Unknowing. Here our anonymous author explores the nature of God and how to go about your contemplations: Chapter 6: What is God? “But now you are going to ask me: ‘How am I supposed to think about God himself? What… Continue reading Cloud of Unknowing: What is God?
Extract from chapter 4 of the classic mystical text The Cloud of Unknowing. Here our anonymous author explains why we can’t understand ultimate reality or the nature of God using our minds: Chapter 4: We cannot know God with the intellect “I must tell you a little more about this matter, as I see it,… Continue reading Cloud of Unknowing: We cannot know God with the intellect
Jessica Davidson 