Practical Mysticism ─ A Little Book for Normal People and Abba: Meditations on the Lord's Prayer

"God gives without stint all that the creature needs, but it must do its part. He gives the wheat: we must reap and grind and bake it." –Evelyn Underhill

In these two classics, British poet and mystic Evelyn Underhill shows herself to be one of the most authoritative modern voices on mysticism. Written on the eve of World War I, Practical Mysticism reviews the works of the greatest Western mystics, including Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and Thomas a Kempis. Underhill’s goal is to guide her readers on a journey toward mystical consciousness, to teach them to see the “eternal beauty beyond and beneath apparent ruthlessness.” Abba, first published in 1940, takes as its starting point the seven phrases of the Lord’s Prayer, using them as a means to propel the self toward union with God. In these important works, Underhill brings an often esoteric subject onto a practical footing, showing that the profound gifts of mysticism are not only for the few but are within reach of us all.

Evelyn Underhill?(1875–1941) was an English author and mystic. A popular spiritual adviser and retreat leader, she was an advocate for contemplatitve prayer and mysticism as an underlying foundation of any religious or spiritual practice. Her works include Practical Mysticism, The Spiritual Life, and Worship, as well as several books of fiction and poetry.