Practical Mysticism

Written for ordinary readers rather than scholars or saints, this small book sets out to show that mysticism is not a strange gift reserved for a chosen few but a way of seeing available to anyone willing to pay attention. Evelyn Underhill defines mysticism plainly as union with reality, then guides the reader through the discipline of contemplation, the training of a scattered mind, and the deeper awareness that daily distraction tends to bury. Published in 1914, on the eve of the First World War, it argues that a contemplative life has practical value even in anxious times. Clear, encouraging, and free of jargon, it remains one of her most approachable works. Offered here as a free PDF and EPUB edition.