Mysticism: The Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness

Evelyn Underhill's Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness stands as the definitive scholarly introduction to Western Christian mysticism and remains essential reading more than a century after its 1911 publication.

Drawing on her own contemplative practice and exhaustive study of mystical literature, Underhill maps the stages of mystical development—awakening, purgation, illumination, dark night, and union—with remarkable clarity and psychological insight. She weaves together voices from across the Christian mystical tradition: Meister Eckhart, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, Jacob Boehme, and dozens of others, demonstrating the consistent patterns underlying diverse expressions of mystical consciousness.

What distinguishes this work is Underhill's dual perspective as both rigorous scholar and practicing mystic. She approaches mysticism not as historical curiosity or pathological aberration, but as a legitimate and coherent mode of human consciousness—one accessible, in varying degrees, to anyone willing to undertake the contemplative path. Her analysis is erudite yet luminous, philosophical yet deeply experiential.

Key Themes:

• The psychology and phenomenology of mystical experience
• Stages of contemplative development across the tradition
• Distinctions between genuine mysticism and pseudo-mysticism
• The relationship between mystical consciousness and ordinary awareness
• Practical dimensions of the contemplative life
• Extensive primary source quotations from major mystics

Why This Edition Matters:

This text has shaped generations of scholars, practitioners, and seekers. It remains the standard introduction to Christian mysticism in academic settings while remaining accessible to general readers. Underhill's work bridges the scholarly and the experiential, inviting readers not merely to study mysticism but to recognize its living presence.

Ideal for: Students of Christian spirituality, comparative mysticism scholars, contemplative practitioners, theologians, psychologists of religion, and anyone seeking to understand the nature of mystical consciousness and its development.

Hardcover edition. A cornerstone text for any serious contemplative library.