Mystics
Over the centuries of the Christian era, many people — lay and ordained, clergy and monastic, men and women, educated and simple — have contributed to a large body of literature devoted to prayer, contemplation, and the direct experience of God. This body of writings comprises the wisdom teachings known as mysticism, from the language of mystery used by the earliest Christians to describe the inability of the mind to comprehend the spiritual truths of God; spiritual truths such as the lavish abundance of Divine grace and the incarnation of God into human form. Mystics — those whose direct experience of God form the basis of this literary/spiritual tradition — have existed in the Christian world since the time of the New Testament (both St. Paul and St. John the Evangelist are considered to be mystics) to the present day.
The greatest of mystical writings are timeless, capable of providing rich spiritual inspiration even centuries after they were written. Through autobiographical and instructional prose, the mystics of the middle ages prove to be surprisingly relevant to the post-modern world. They offer psychologically astute instructions on contemplation and meditation, insightful explorations of the dynamics of both the acceptance of and resistance to grace in the human soul, and fascinating theological insights on issues such as the spirituality of sensuality, the motherhood of God, and deification: the process by which human beings are transformed into the very image and likeness of God.
Here is a list of forty major voices within the western contemplative tradition. If a name is hyperlinked, click on it to learn more about that particular individual. Approximately once a month I’ll add another page detailing a brief biography and bibliography for each of these major mystics.
The first five centuries of the Christian era:
- Evagrius Ponticus
- John Cassian
- Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
Sixth through the eleventh centuries:
- Benedict of Nursia
- Maximus Confessor
- John Scotus Eriugena
Twelfth century:
- Bernard of Clairvaux
- Aelred of Rievaulx
- Richard of St. Victor
- Hildegard of Bingen
Thirteenth century:
- Francis of Assisi
- Mechthild of Magdeburg
- Gertrude the Great
Fourteenth century:
- Meister Eckhart
- Gregory Palamas
- Jan Ruusbroec
- Author of The Cloud of Unknowing
- Walter Hilton
- Julian of Norwich
Fifteenth century:
- Margery Kempe
- Nicholas of Cusa
- Catherine of Genoa
Sixteenth century:
- Ignatius of Loyola
- Teresa of Ávila
- John of the Cross
- Francis de Sales
Seventeenth century:
- Brother Lawrence
- Thomas Traherne
- George Fox
Eighteenth century:
- Jean-Pierre de Caussade
- William Law
- Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain
Nineteenth century:
- Author of The Way of a Pilgrim
- Coventry Patmore
- Thérèse of Lisieux
Twentieth century:
- Evelyn Underhill
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
- Thomas Merton
- George F. Macleod
- Matthew the Poor
The best way to learn about the mystics is to read their own words. Visit my Books of Unknowing page to review an in-depth list of writings by (and about) Christian and world mystics.
If you’re new to the mystics or don’t understand how reading the writings of a Christian who lived 500 or 1500 years ago could benefit you today, check out my musings on Why Read the Mystics?
Additional content will be developed on this site in the months to come. So be sure to bookmark this page and visit again (and often).
THE WEBSITE OF UNKNOWING is devoted to Christian mysticism, interfaith spirituality, Celtic wisdom, emergent theology, and assorted other topics. Click on the tabs above to explore all that this website has to offer.
September 10, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I enjoyed your site. Thank you.
October 24, 2007 at 1:24 am
This world they say is an illusion….a dream. Our thoughts and actions are like threads of a net that we weave around ourselves. A veil has been drawn over our mind’s eye and we live out our lives bound and blind folded. Life, they say is a play of shadows through which most of us sleep walk.Few have awakened from this sleep and have tried to show light to the rest of humanity. They succeeded only partly, passing away, leaving behind empty forms to be distorted and misused by their followers.Holy books, sacred messages, rites and rituals, they say, are mere shells. The spirit within, having long departed, along with the Messenger. These shells and forms are mere signposts for those who seek the formless…..and only the true seeker, they say, will find the Path.
October 24, 2007 at 5:12 am
Ashodara, your comment describes a typical understanding of mysticism, but one that is incomplete from a Christian perspective. Christian mysticism is grounded in love. It is not harsh but gracious, not judgmental but joyful. It’s not a test to see who’s awake and who remains sleeping; it’s an invitation to come to the banquet, to enter into the intimacy of the Divine Beloved. May we all respond to this call!
October 30, 2007 at 10:45 pm
“As they know themselves to dwell in the world of time and yet to be capable of transcending it, so the Ultimate Reality, they think, inhabits yet inconceivably exceeds all that they know to be — as the soul of the musician controls and exceeds not merely each note of the flowing melody, but also the whole of the symphony in which these cadences must play their part.”
Evelyn Underhill as quoted by John Titor
San Fransisco, 1967.
October 31, 2007 at 5:59 am
That’s a wonderful quote, but considering that Evelyn Underhill died in 1941, I’m not sure what the “San Francisco, 1967″ reference is all about.
December 1, 2007 at 4:52 pm
To have found God and still pursue him is the soul’s “paradox” of love, this scorned by the too easily satisfied religionist person, but justified in the happy experience of “the children of the burning heart” St. Bernard of Clairvaux……This to me is the essence of Christianity the center of it. To KNOW God and enjoy him forever as the Hilderbirge caticism says……The more I know God ,the more I relize how very little I actually know about Him….But the jouney in KNOWING, is a jouney of delight and love for the One who loved me and gave himself for me on the cross……
December 1, 2007 at 4:53 pm
call me a Mystic if you will, but I am not. Only a lover of Gods presence and one who enjoys sitting at His feet, listening to what He has to say about how He loves me.
December 6, 2007 at 10:40 pm
What a great resource your blog is! I wonder why you don’t list Plotinus here? I know he is not strictly speaking a Christian mystic but he does divide the Godhead into 3 and lays the ground work for many many medieval Christian mystics and theologians. I’m linking this list to my blog. Thanks!
December 6, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I’m currently writing a book on Christian mysticism and I know Plotinus will get at least some airtime in it… he is so essential to the tradition. The only reason he’s not listed is, as you surmise, the fact that he’s a Pagan, but anyone who knows Christian mysticism can trace the Plotinian influence (Augustine, Ps-Dionysius, John Scotus Eriugena, The Cloud of Unknowing, John of the Cross, etc. etc.). Glad you like the site; come back, little by little I add to it!
December 8, 2007 at 3:35 am
What a great blog I have stumbled into. I have recently started blogging and using art as an expression of my spiritual jounery. I have been moving in the direction of Christian Mysticism and I must thank you for a truely inspirational and practically helpful site.
January 1, 2008 at 4:16 pm
What a great resource your blog is, and one that comes at such an appropriate time in my life. I too am exploring ways to integrate blogging into my spriritual development. I also appreciate the discussion on mysticism and Christian thought. Too much of our world today is lacking ANY knowledge of this. Intellectual thought seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. Thanks for giving it a second breath of life!
January 16, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I had an awakening on a chemical i won’t name in college over 10years ago. I was raised a Southern Baptist, and I was a baptised Christian and to this day I consider myself a saved Christian. Building up to that psychdelic experience, I was slipping further and further from God. At that moment when I experienced what I did I knew without a doubt that something way bigger than me existed. I felt God and it was proof to me of his existence. From that point on, my foundation was completely rocked, and I found no person or thing or idea that came close to describng what I knew as a fact until the other day when I accidently was drawn to a strange book in the library. It was written by Vernon Howard and titled Mystic Path to Cosmic Power. From the first page, I read what I knew to be true but always tried to deny because I thought that someone would call me crazy and for a long time i actually thought I was. It was as if he ’stole my thoughts!’ If I was tasked to write about life and spirituality my words would ahve been so similar it scares me to death. Applying my meager knowledge of Christianty to what he wrote left me in amazement that I had been right all along. I want to ask someone experienced if this particular book is wrong or in some way discounted by Christians that know more than I do. Is says ‘occult science’ on the back of it. How can something that I experienced firsthand and then read be wrong. Does knowing it without learning it make me a mystic? What is the deal here?
January 16, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Glenn, thanks for your message. I’m sorry but I’m not familiar with Vernon Howard’s book so I cannot comment on it (but you’ve gotten me interested in learning more about it!) Your question is not only about mystical experience, but also about how Christians should react to non-Christians who discuss mysticism in their writings or teachings. Many Christians are invested in the idea that “Christianity is the only way to God” and thus attack all non-Christian spiritual experience as either illusory or demonic. But not all Christians feel that way. A century ago an Englishwoman named Evelyn Underhill wrote a wonderful book about mysticism. She believed that Christianity is the best route to God, but not necessarily the only path. More recently, an American mystic named Thomas Merton became very involved in trying to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between Christians and members of other faiths, especially Buddhists: he worked very closely with Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama among others, but always remained a faithful Christian himself. Back to your question: if Vernon Howard is described as “occult” he is very likely not a Christian, but that doesn’t mean he is anti-Christian, nor does it mean that his writings might not contain some truth or some merit. If when you read Mr. Howard’s book you find ideas or descriptions that match up with your experience, to me this simply is evidence that there really is a universal, “natural law” of spirituality, just like there is a universal “natural law” of morality. Also, I cannot stress this enough: you are not crazy. Mystical experiences can be profoundly disorienting and can force us to re-think much of what we “know” (i.e., assume) to be true about God, life, the universe, etc. But true, Godly mysticism leads us to a heightened appreciation of the miracles of the universe, the beauty of the Spirit, and most of all, the all-pervasive love of God. As for what other Christians think of Vernon Howard, well, ask five different Christians and you’ll get five different opinions. Ultimately, you do have to trust your own experience. I know you didn’t ask me for advice, but I’m going to offer it anyway: use it or ignore it, as you prefer… my advice would be for you to try to learn more about Christian mysticism. A good place to start is Cynthia Bourgeault’s The Wisdom Way of Knowing or perhaps my own The Aspiring Mystic. For something more intellectual, try the writings of Evelyn Underhill or Thomas Merton, who I mentioned above. Most important of all: pray every day and get in the habit of giving thanks to God for all the little miracles in your life (as well as the big ones, like your experience). That focus on gratitude will take you farther than any book ever can.
February 20, 2008 at 10:10 am
I am a Christian musician currently living in Canada. Recently I was performing a concert with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. It was the last of eight concerts in eight nights and a bond of friendship between the orchestra, conductor, my band and myself had grown over those eight days. On that last evening, we were in the middle of a piece of music I wrote to John of the Cross’ Dark Night, and there was, all of a sudden, what I can only describe as a “unitive” moment. I think everyone was so deeply attending to the music and to each other - we were so “othering” - that for a few moments there was an experience of beauty so profound that it seems to have wounded me. That was several months ago now and I am still a bit of a basket case. It’s like I stayed out too long in the sun and got burnt. Perhaps that is why God remains mercifully hidden. As I try to contemplate what happened to me and what it may mean, I am drawn to contemplate the Trinity and the ontological relationship that God is. Perhaps all experiences of mutual “othering” are grounded in who God is and give us a glimpse into the dignity of humanity created in that image. I’m not quite sure why such an experience is as painful as profound - but there may be some connection to our brokenness there.
I’m rambling - stumbled on this site and enjoyed poking around. Thanks.
February 20, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Steve, thanks for sharing your story. It reminds me a little bit of the “wounding” I received when I was 16 years old, which you can read about here.
So when do we get to hear the John of the Cross music?
March 1, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Thanks, Carl, for your fine and much needed work. I am presently doing a Lenten retreat, but also writing a book on non dual consciousness, and our resources amazingly match one another. But why not? How did we lose all of this?
Keep at it, and many blessings. I gave the retreat at Conyers many years ago, and have great memories of many of the monks.
rr
March 1, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Thanks, Richard, it’s an honor to have you visit my site. “How did we lose all of this?” Well, that’s the 64 million dollar question. Probably the only more important question is, “How do we restore it (the contemplative tradition) to its rightful place at the center and heart of the Christian community?” I know your work is devoted to this, and I pray that mine can be of some small service as well.
April 12, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I love your site. I’ve bookmarked it and will be returning soon.
Don
June 1, 2008 at 8:29 am
Two men sit by a shallow pool. One man looks into it and sees the sky reflected and exclaims that a universe lies within it. The other man stands up and wades into the water and exclaims that the water is shallow, cool and refreshing.
It’s fun to be the former, more entertaining and offers greater sums of thought to chew on from day to day but if you cannot dispel the illusion of greater depth you’re only leading yourself and others away from the truth and promoting greater physical torments.
Mystics are those who overlay inner realities onto the outer world rather than let the outer true reality inform the inner. All things become filtered by their pre-existing metanarrative, all new idioms assimilated and enslaved to unsupported axioms.
There is a poetry to the world and to human existence that cannot be felt if we are unable to allow ourselves to experience the soaring freedom of ‘inner truth’ but if we are slaves to our imaginations then we may as well be drug takers, madmen, drunkards and fantasists.
Yes I know all general statements are false but this paradoxical statement neutralizes that concern.
June 1, 2008 at 7:09 pm
A charming story, but incomplete. Actually three people sit by the pool. The first we will call the dogmatic religionist, he’s the one who sees the reflection of the sky and insists what what is only an illusion is real. The second is the dogmatic rational empiricist, who wades in the pool and finds it lovely but shallow. The third is the mystic. He finds the one place where the pool is deep, and dives joyously in.
I’d encourage you to read Ken Wilber’s Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution to discover why mystics and students of mysticism reject the “flatland” cosmology (i.e., the “shallow pool” perspective in your tale) that is so in vogue with the Richard Dawkins crowd.
June 27, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Definitely, i’ll add you on my blogroll. In my small way also, I’m trying to re-introduce especially to the young blogging generation a lay contemplative sense to living, even as i explore my own path. I’ll certainly draw more strength and inspiration from your site.
Desertfish
Philippines
July 3, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I think there are far more mystics alive today, who because of the fear of rejection, will not share their mystical experiences.
I studied to become a spiritual director at a three year program. It was sad however, because if I had shared my mystical experiences, even though, there have been mystics who had my very own experience, I would have be considered a “wierdo.” So for the sake of trying to be a part of the group, I kept my experiences to myself.
To be as brief as possible, I had a few mystical experiences that lasted from 12 hours to 3 days.
The first of which I fell so madly in love with God that I began to experience a literal “fire” in my heart and my head. I think Richard Roll, the mystic has come as close as possible to describing my experience. Also, there are some sufi mystics that speak of the “fire of purification”. When this fire subsided, I saw the world as being completely perfect and connected as one. I saw Christ at the center of all humans and knew we had the potential to be Christ like. The Buddhist describe the as “true nature”.
I also experienced being as imaculante and holy as Mary. For me, it was as if the historical story of Christ was not just a story, but an experience that all humans can have. The manger where jesus is born is the heart of man, Christ is born in the heart, than matures and learns to die to the ego self, Then each soul works out its soul person and does the work it has come to do, which is to heal the world with their particular gifts and talents. I wish I could express all that was infused into my heart and consciousness, but to write clearly about it is very difficult. In fact, trying to share this a particular spiritual director that was assigned to me caused much damage to myself. She told me that my experiences were strange and a “little crazy.”
For some reason, I was under the impression that going to a place where there where other spiritual directors who had their own personal experiences was going to be a time and place of celebration. I have since learned differently. Even though I do have a certificate in spiritual direction, I don’t practice. Only occasionally, will I share something small that I think may benefit the person God has sent to me. I was given the name, “Earth Star” during one of my deep experiences. I have since come to believe that we are all Earth Stars, all here to bring the magnificent light of Christ that lays within all of our hearts. The well known Thomas Merton said, “if we could all see each other in oyr true states, we would want to bow down and worship one another”. I understand exactly what he was saying. One day, before I leve this planet, perhaps God will show me the real reason he gave me such deep experiences. God is so close to all of us, closer than the next breath we take.
Peace, love and blessings to all.
July 4, 2008 at 10:29 am
Lydia, I’m sorry to hear that you felt you could not be candid in sharing your experience with the spiritual directors you studied with. My first thought is, “not all spiritual directors are closed to such experiences.” I know several, both Catholic and Protestant, who would be quite open to hearing about your journey. My second thought is, “what’s wrong with people thinking you’re weird?” One of the challenges of living a Christ-centered life is that we will often be misunderstood and even rejected for it. I also wonder if there might not be a part of you that, deep down inside, mistrusts your own experience or worries that you might be “crazy” or “weird.” I’m rather of the opinion that the more we trust our own experience, the less attached we will be to what others think of it. As for hoping that God will show you the reason for such deep experiences, you might get some insight from studying the writings of Julian of Norwich: a mystic who had profound experiences, who struggled with trusting her own experience, and who eventually came to realize that she was given such experiences not for her own benefit, but simply so that she — and those who heard of her story — might be inspired to love God more. Also, check out Margery Kempe: a woman who went to Julian for spiritual direction, and whose own dictated autobiography is filled with colorful and at times over-the-top experiences of spiritual ecstasy and mystical encounter with Christ. Margery learned early on that she would be misunderstood for who she was — but she remained so deeply grounded in Christ that she learned to ignore the criticism and calumny of others.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your own journey with me, and I wish you all the best in finding and responding to your unique call.
July 10, 2008 at 9:07 pm
It was given to me August 2000 at age 55; it is a Grace.
on that basis God is now known to exist; and ‘I’ am more than previously known.
we are ALL the children of God, albeit not enough individuals know that yet: the Dalai Lama does not yet know it, for example.
happy to share more: this subject is absolutely crucial to the future of the human race, sine qua non
it was mediated by the Holy Ghost and Michael (alias ‘Jesus’
who actually taught that we could have this direct experience: ‘I shall baptise thee with the Holy Ghost”
July 11, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Once, when I was completely awake, the moment exploded into the only reality. This and that were made of the same stuff. It truly is so solid and perfect. Then, God pushed its way through my eyes, blazing through them more than looking through them. While the body moved here and there as God determined, I felt the idea of myself coming out of the shadows into view. As the knowledge of the truth of things became plain I began to fade. Complete realization was so close. But I am afraid of annihilation.
July 12, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Please Pray for the following to Almighty for me.
Name: Praveen Daniel
Longing for Spiritual Blessing and Good Relationship with GOD ALMIGHTY
1. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to have very good relation with GOD
ALMIGHTY in not committing sin.
2. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to humble myself lower than dust.
3. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to have very good faith as universe as is in GOD.
4. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to have very good Knowledge in communication
i.e in understanding Bible, Remembering capability, speaking fluently in English i.e in
American Accent ,very good leadership qualities, Good Command in Q.T.P (this is
Software functional Tool)with out any stumble.
5. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to have nice and kind heart for helping JEWS
People regarding money sake and gathering all the JEWS People to their Home Land.
6. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to store lots of treasures in heaven.
7. Pray for me to GOD in order have nice Prophecy Power in preaching gospel and
Nice healing Power.
8. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to trust in GOD for his promises with out any
scare.
9. Please Pray for me to GOD in order have nice and kind heart for Praying to others.
10. Please Pray for me to GOD in order eradicate dandruff and fungal infection in my
scalp.
11. Please Pray for me to GOD in order to re-growth my hair which was lost all these
days and that should be stronger and oily than before.
12. Please Pray for me to GOD ,not to see any disease, not to see medicine and not to
approach Doctor in my Life by faith.
13.Please Pray for my country specially i.e in order to Perish all Idols and every body
should accept Son Of GOD, LORD JESUS CHRIST as his savior.