14 Comments

Thanks for this amazing intro and digest, I will have a read.

Expand full comment

Same! I've just ordered her book. She sounds phenomenal. Thanks, Ellie. I love that her definition of mysticism involved union with what she calls "reality" rather than with the "divine", like the yogic traditions. The latter I think suggests a separateness from the experience of washing dishes and figuring out what's for dinner, AGAIN :P xx

Expand full comment

Yes! I'm so into the earthly path. Transcendence may have it's place, but if we can find the magic within the mundane, everything is illuminated.

Expand full comment
author

Yes to all of this. I recently came across the word "inscendence", coined by another Catholic, Thomas Berry. Meaning: the impulse not to rise above the world (transcendence) but to climb into it, seek its core. It feels like a moment for inscendence. So glad you're both going to give Evelyn a go!

Expand full comment

Again, thanks you. This is a word I have been seeking.

Expand full comment

My experience tells me that the divine is reality. That God (I know it’s a problematic word) is a verb and not a noun and whatever God is only manifests in the moment, the Now. I could say more...

Expand full comment

Her book on Mysticism is something of a classical. Dr Joseph Milne recommended it to me at University. He also taught Valentin.

Expand full comment
author

Planning to read that one next. Thank you for the recommendation!

Expand full comment

Exquisite! This is just what humanity needs now — so wonderful to hear her words from years ago guiding us on this path. Reminds me of Mirabai Starr’s new book, Ordinary Mysticism.

Expand full comment
author

I haven’t read that Starr book — I’ll look into it. Thank you. So glad you enjoyed this post!

Expand full comment

Meant to say - enjoy the holiday.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you!

Expand full comment

Another super post. I read this book earlier this year and I agree with all,you say. I love the photo of Underhill.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for reading! It's funny -- lots of people have emailed in the past couple of hours to say that they're Underhill fans. There's some kind of secret society going on.

Expand full comment