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Books of Unknowing

This list of books on Christian and world mysticism is an invitation for you to explore the riches of contemplative literature. To learn more, the Mystics & Contemplatives page will give you insight into selected mystics of the Christian tradition, while the Formation page offers more in-depth exploration of practical spirituality. Just for fun: check out my gallery of Mystical Book Covers.

Christian Mysticism: Twenty-Five Essential Books

  • Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism: The Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
  • Frederick Bauerschmidt, Why the Mystics Matter Now
  • John MacQuarrie, Two Worlds Are Ours: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism
  • Olivier Clément, The Roots of Christian Mysticism
  • Bernard McGinn, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism
  • Benedicta Ward, ed., The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
  • Evagrius Ponticus, The Praktikos & Chapters on Prayer
  • Pseudo-Dionysius, The Complete Works
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, Selected Works
  • Hildegard of Bingen, Selected Writings
  • Mechthild of Magdeburg, The Flowing Light of the Godhead
  • Meister Eckhart, Selected Writings
  • Gregory Palamas, The Triads
  • John Ruusbroec, The Spiritual Espousals and Other Works
  • Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing
  • Julian of Norwich, Revelation of Divine Love
  • Catherine of Genoa, Purgation and Purgatory; the Spiritual Dialogue
  • Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises
  • Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle
  • John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul
  • Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
  • Anonymous, The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues on His Way
  • Thérèse of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul
  • Thomas Merton, Contemplative Prayer
  • M. Basil Pennington, Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form

World Mysticism: Twenty-Five Essential Books

  • Andrew Harvey, ed., The Essential Mystics: The Soul’s Journey into Truth
  • S. Abhayananda, History of Mysticism: The Unchanging Testament
  • Geoffrey Parrinder, Mysticism in the World’s Religions
  • F.C. Happold, Mysticism: A Study and an Anthology
  • Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching
  • Plotinus, The Essential Plotinus: Representative Treatises from the Enneads
  • Juan Mascaro, tr., The Bhagavad Gita
  • Swami Nikhilananda, tr., The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
  • Sri Aurobindo, The Integral Yoga: Teaching and Method of Practice
  • Ramana Maharshi, The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi
  • Gil Fronsdal, tr., The Dhammapada
  • Nagarjuna, The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way
  • Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
  • Samuel Bercholz and Sherab Chödzin Kohn, eds., Entering the Stream: An Introduction to the Buddha and His Teachings
  • Daniel C. Matt, The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism
  • Joseph Dan, ed., The Heart and the Fountain: An Anthology of Jewish Mystical Experience
  • Gershom Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism
  • Morris M. Faierstein, ed., Jewish Mystical Autobiographies: The Book of Visions and The Book of Secrets
  • Annemarie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam
  • Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, The Essential Rumi
  • Farid al-Din Attar, The Conference of the Birds
  • Hazrat Inayat Khan, The Heart of Sufism: Essential Writings
  • Mircea Eliade, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy
  • Ken Wilber, The Simple Feeling of Being: Embracing Your True Nature
  • Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Writings of the Mystics: Anthologies

  • Karen Armstrong, Visions of God: Four Medieval Mystics and their Writings
  • Scott Cairns, Love’s Immensity: Mystics On the Endless Life
  • Olivier Clément, The Roots of Christian Mysticism
  • Louis Dupré and James A. Wiseman, eds., Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism
  • Harvey Egan, ed., An Anthology of Christian Mysticism
  • Anne Fremantle, ed., The Protestant Mystics
  • Shawn Madigan, C.S.J., ed., Mystics, Visionaries & Prophets: A Historical Anthology of Women’s Spiritual Writings
  • Bernard McGinn, ed., The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism
  • The New Jerusalem Bible, Saints Devotional Edition
  • H. A. Reinhold, The Soul Afire: Revelations of the Mystics
  • Geoffrey Rowell, Kenneth Stevenson and Rowan Williams, compilers, Love’s Redeeming Work: The Anglican Quest for Holiness
  • Richard H. Schmidt, Glorious Companions: Five Centuries of Anglican Spirituality

Writings of the Mystics: General

  • Clement of Alexandria, The Exhortation to the Greeks and Other Works
  • Origen, An Exhortation to Martyrdom, Prayer, and Selected Works
  • Origen, Spirit and Fire: A Thematic Anthology of His Writings
  • Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns
  • Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses
  • Gregory of Nyssa, From Glory to Glory
  • Evagrius Ponticus, The Praktikos & Chapters on Prayer
  • Pseudo-Macarius, The Fifty Spiritual Homilies and the Great Letter
  • Augustine of Hippo, Selected Writings
  • John Cassian, Conferences
  • Pseudo-Dionysius, The Complete Works
  • Benedict, The Rule of St. Benedict
  • Gregory the Great, Be Friends of God
  • John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent
  • Maximus Confessor, Selected Writings
  • John Scotus, Eriugena, The Voice of the Eagle
  • Symeon the New Theologian, The Discourses
  • William of St. Thierry, The Way to Divine Union
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, Selected Works
  • Aelred of Rievaulx, Spiritual Friendship
  • Richard of St. Victor, The Book of the Patriarchs; The Mystical Ark; Etc.
  • Francis and Clare, The Complete Works
  • Albert the Great, On Union with God
  • Bonaventure, The Soul’s Journey Into God; The Tree of Life; Etc.
  • Hadewijch, The Complete Works
  • Jacopone da Todi, The Lauds
  • Ramon Lull, Romancing God: Contemplating the Beloved
  • Angela of Foligno, Complete Works
  • Marguerite Porete, The Mirror of Simple Souls
  • Gertrude of Helfta, The Herald of Divine Love
  • John Ruusbroec, The Spiritual Espousals and Other Works
  • Birgitta of Sweden, Life and Selected Writings
  • Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue
  • Jean Gerson, Early Works
  • Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
  • Dennis the Carthusian, Spiritual Writings
  • Catherine of Genoa, Purgation and Purgatory; the Spiritual Dialogue
  • Maria Maddelena de’ Pazzi, Selected Revelations
  • Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life
  • Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal, Letters of Spiritual Direction
  • Pierre de Bérulle and the French School, Selected Writings
  • Marie of the Incarnation, Selected Writings
  • Angelus Silesius, The Cherubinic Wanderer
  • Brother Lawrence, Practice of the Presence of God
  • Jeanne Guyon, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ
  • François Fénelon, The Royal Way of the Cross
  • François Fénelon, Talking with God
  • François Fénelon, Meditations on the Heart of God
  • Jean Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence
  • Alphonsus de Liguori, Selected Writings
  • Thérèse of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul (Image Edition)
  • Thérèse of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul (Paraclete Edition)
  • Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hymn of the Universe
  • Simone Weil, Waiting for God
  • Adrienne Von Speyr, Light and Images: Elements of Contemplation
  • Karl Rahner, Spiritual Writings
  • Hans Urs Von Balthasar, Love Alone is Credible
  • William McNamara, Earthy Mysticism: Contemplation and the Life of Passionate Presence
  • George A. Maloney, The Breath of the Mystic

Writings of the Mystics: the English Mystics

  • Aelred of Rievaulx, The Mirror of Charity
  • Aelred of Rievaulx, Spiritual Friendship
  • Richard Rolle, The English Works
  • Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love and the Mending of Life
  • Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing and The Book of Privy Counseling
  • Walter Hilton, The Scale of Perfection
  • Julian of Norwich, Revelation of Love
  • Margery Kempe, The Book of Margery Kempe
  • John Donne, Selections from Divine Poems, Sermons, etc.
  • George Herbert, The Complete English Works
  • George Herbert, The Country Parson; the Temple
  • Augustine Baker, Holy Wisdom, or, Directions for the Prayer of Contemplation
  • William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life and The Spirit of Love
  • Thomas Traherne, Centuries
  • George Fox, The Journal of George Fox
  • Charles Taliaferro and Alison J. Teply, eds., Cambridge Platonist Spirituality
  • Coventry Patmore, The Rod, The Root and the Flower

Writings of the Mystics: the Spanish Mystics

  • Francisco de Osuna, The Third Spiritual Alphabet
  • Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises
  • Ignatius of Loyola, The Autobiography with Related Documents
  • John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel
  • John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul
  • John of the Cross, Living Flame of Love
  • John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle
  • Luis de Leon, The Names of Christ
  • Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle
  • Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection
  • Teresa of Avila, The Life of Teresa of Jesus

Writings of the Mystics: the German/Rhineland Mystics

  • Hildegard of Bingen, Selected Writings
  • Hildegard of Bingen, Secrets of God
  • Hildegard of Bingen, A Spiritual Reader
  • Elisabeth of Schönau, The Complete Works
  • Mechthild of Magdeburg, Flowing Light of the Godhead
  • Meister Eckhart, Selected Writings
  • Meister Eckhart, Meister Eckhart, from Whom God Hid Nothing: Sermons, Writings & Sayings
  • Margaret Ebner, Major Works
  • Johannes Tauler, Sermons
  • Henry Suso, The Exemplar, with Two German Sermons
  • Anonymous, Theologia Germanica
  • Rulman Merswin, Mystical Writings
  • Nicolas of Cusa, Selected Spiritual Writings

Writings of the Mystics: Eastern Orthodox Mystics

  • Gregory Palamas, The Triads
  • Nil Sorsky, The Complete Writings
  • Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel
  • Anonymous, The Pilgrim’s Tale (The Way of a Pilgrim)
  • Matthew the Poor, The Communion of Love
  • Matthew the Poor, Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way
  • Igumen Chariton of Valamo, compiler, The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology
  • Dumitru Staniloae, Orthodox Spirituality: A Practical Guide for the Faithful and a Definitive Manual for the Scholar

Writings of the Mystics: Protestant Mystics

  • Anne Fremantle, ed., The Protestant Mystics
  • Johnn Arndt, True Christianity
  • Jacob Boehme, The Way to Christ
  • George Fox, The Journal of George Fox
  • Norman P. Grubb, Yes I Am
  • Jane Lead, A Fountain of Gardens
  • Rufus Jones, Essential Writings
  • Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings

Writings of the Mystics: Gnostic and/or Heterodox

  • Stevan Davies, tr., The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated and Explained
  • Jean-Yves Leloup, tr., The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
  • Jim Marion, Putting on the Mind of Christ: The Inner Work of Christian Spirituality
  • Jim Marion, The Death of the Mythic God: The Rise of Evolutionary Spirituality
  • Anonymous, Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey Into Christian Hermeticism

Books on Christian Mysticism and Contemplative Spirituality (Kindle Editions)

  • Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing
  • Anonymous, The Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi
  • Anonymous, The Way of a Pilgrim & The Pilgrim Continues His Way
  • Anonymous, Theologia Germanica
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God
  • Brother Lawrence, Practice of the Presence of God
  • Dorothee Soelle: The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance
  • Evelyn Underhill, Practical Mysticism
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Life of the Spirit and the Life of Today
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Essentials of Mysticism
  • Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life
  • James Hannay, Wisdom of the Desert
  • John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel
  • John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul
  • John Ruysbroeck, The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage and Other Works
  • Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
  • Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land
  • Meister Eckhart, Sermons
  • Nicholas of Cusa, The Vision of God
  • Plotinus, The Enneads
  • Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle
  • Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection
  • Thérèse of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul
  • Thomas Aquinas, On Prayer and the Contemplative Life
  • Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude
  • Various, The Cell of Self Knowledge
  • Various, Selections from the Philokalia

Books About Mysticism: Written for General (Non-Scholarly) Readers

  • Frederick Bauerschmidt, Why the Mystics Matter Now
  • Joseph Conti, Holistic Christianity: The Vision of Catholic Mysticism
  • Carol Lee Flinders, Enduring Grace: Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics
  • William Johnston, Mystical Theology: The Science of Love
  • Ursula King, Christian Mystics: Their Lives and Legacies throughout the Ages
  • Bernard McGinn and Patricia Ferris McGinn, Early Christian Mystics: The Divine Vision of the Spirtual Masters
  • Richard J. Woods, Christian Spirituality: God’s Presence Through the Ages

Books About Mysticism: Surveys and Histories of Mysticism

  • Nicholas Arseniev, Mysticism and the Eastern Church
  • Louis Bouyer, Jean Leclercq, and François Vandenbroucke, A History of Christian Spirituality:
    • Volume I: The Spirituality of the New Testament and the Fathers
    • Volume II: The Spirituality of the Middle Ages
    • Volume III: Orthodox Spirituality and Protestant and Anglican Spirituality
  • Urban T. Holmes, A History of Christian Spirituality: An Analytical Introduction
  • Oliver Davies, God Within: The Mystical Tradition of Northern Europe
  • Cheslyn Jones, Geoffrey Wainwright and Edward Yarnold, SJ, eds., The Study of Spirituality
  • Andrew Louth, The Wilderness of God
  • Bernard McGinn, The Presence of God: A History of Western Christian Mysticism:
    • Volume I: The Foundations of Mysticism: Origins to the Fifth Century
    • Volume II: The Growth of Mysticism: Gregory the Great Through the 12th Century
    • Volume III: The Flowering of Mysticism: Men and Women in the New Mysticism—1200-1350
    • Volume IV: The Harvest of Mysticism In Medieval Germany
  • Robert Payne, The Holy Fire: The Story of the Fathers of the Eastern Church
  • Rowan Williams, The Wound of Knowledge: Christian Spirituality from the New Testament to St. John of the Cross
  • Evelyn Underhill, Mystics of the Church

Books About Mysticism: Concerning Specific Mystics
See below for books about Julian of Norwich, Thomas Merton, or Evelyn Underhill

  • Gillian T. W. Ahlgren, Teresa of Avila and the Politics of Sanctity
  • Gillian T. W. Ahlgren, Entering Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle: A Reader’s Companion
  • Edward A. Armstrong, Saint Francis, Nature Mystic: The Derivation and Significance of the Nature Stories in the Franciscan Legend
  • Marcelle Auclair, Saint Teresa of Avila
  • Jean Pierre Camus, The Spirit of St. Francis De Sales
  • Steven Chase, Angelic Wisdom: The Cherubim and the Grace of Contemplation in Richard of St. Victor
  • Ross Collings, John of the Cross
  • Adam G. Cooper, The Body in St. Maximus the Confessor: Holy Flesh, Wholly Deified
  • Elizabeth A. Dreyer, Passionate Spirituality: Hildegard of Bingen and Hadewijch of Brabant
  • Shirley du Boulay, Teresa of Avila: An Extraordinary Life
  • Harvey D. Egan, SJ, Ignatius Loyola the Mystic
  • Ann Fatula, Catherine of Siena’s Way
  • Mary Margaret Funk, A Mind at Peace: Spiritual Disciplines of John Cassian and the Desert Fathers
  • Richard P. Hardy, John of the Cross: Man and Mystic
  • Carolyn Humphreys, From Ash to Fire: A Contemporary Journey through the Interior Castle of Teresa of Avila
  • William Johnson, The Mysticism of The Cloud of Unknowing
  • Andrew Louth, Denys the Areopagite
  • Andrew Louth, Maximus the Confessor
  • Eileen Lyddon, Mysticism for Beginners: John of the Cross Made Easy
  • Georgios I. Mantzaridis, The Deification of Man: St. Gregory Palamas and the Orthodox Tradition
  • Bernard McGinn, The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man From Whom God Hid Nothing
  • Cathleen Medwick, Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul
  • Thomas Merton, The Last of the Fathers: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Encyclical Letter Doctor Mellifluus
  • Joseph E. Milosh, The Scale of Perfection and the English Mystical Tradition
  • Paul Mommaers, The Land Within: The Process of Possessing and Being Possessed by God According to the Mystic Jan Van Ruysbroeck
  • Susan Muto, John of the Cross for Today: The Ascent
  • Susan Muto, John of the Cross for Today: The Dark Night
  • Thomas R. Nevin, Thérèse of Lisieux: God’s Gentle Warrior
  • Patricia O’Connor, In Search of Thérèse
  • George C. Papademetriou, Introduction to St. Gregory Palamas
  • Steven Payne, John of the Cross (Outstanding Christian Thinkers)
  • Lynn Staley, Margery Kempe’s Dissenting Fictions
  • John Joseph Stoudt, Jacob Boehme: His Life and Thought
  • Melchisedec Toronen, Union and Distinction in the Thought of St. Maximus the Confessor
  • Evelyn Underhill, Ruysbroeck
  • Rik Van Nieuwenhove, Jan van Ruusbroec, Mystical Theologian of the Trinity
  • Paul Verdeyen, Ruusbroec and His Mysticism
  • Friedrich Von Hügel, The Mystical Element of Religion as Studied in Catherine of Genoa and Her Friends
  • Ulrike Wiethaus, Ecstatic Transformation: Transpersonal Psychology in the Work of Mechthild of Magdeburg
  • Rowan Williams, Teresa of Avila
  • Richard Woods, OP, Eckhart’s Way

Books About Mysticism: The “Traditions of Christian Spirituality” Series

  • Peter-Damian Belisle, OSB Cam., The Language of Silence: The Changing Face of Monastic Solitude
  • Michael L. Birkel, Silence and Witness: The Quaker Tradition
  • Mark J. Cartledge, Encountering the Spirit: The Charismatic Tradition
  • Steven Chase, Contemplation and Compassion: The Victorine Tradition
  • John Chryssavgis, Light Through Darkness: The Orthodox Tradition
  • L. William Countryman, The Poetic Imagination: An Anglican Tradition
  • Esther de Waal, The Way of Simplicity: The Cistercian Tradition
  • Bradley Hanson, Grace That Frees: The Lutheran Tradition
  • David Lonsdale, Eyes to See, Ears to Hear: An Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality
  • Thomas F. Martin, OSA, Our Restless Heart: The Augustinian Tradition
  • Wilfrid McGreal, O.Carm., At the Fountain of Elijah: The Carmelite Tradition
  • John Anthony McGuckin, Standing in God’s Holy Fire: The Byzantine Tradition
  • Saskia Murk-Jansen, Brides in the Desert: The Spirituality of the Beguines
  • Joan M. Nuth, God’s Lovers in an Age of Anxiety: The Medieval English Mystics
  • Thomas O’Loughlin, Journeys on the Edges: The Celtic Tradition
  • Ian Randall, What a Friend We Have in Jesus: The Evangelical Tradition
  • William J. Short, OFM, Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition
  • C. Arnold Snyder, Following in the Footsteps of Christ: The Anabaptist Tradition
  • Columba Stewart, OSB, Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition
  • Susan J. White, The Spirit of Worship: The Liturgical Tradition
  • Richard Woods, OP, Mysticism and Prophecy: The Dominican Tradition
  • Wendy M. Wright, Heart Speaks to Heart: The Salesian Tradition

Books About Mysticism: Academic and Scholarly Works

  • Louis Bouyer, The Christian Mystery: From Pagan Myth to Christian Mysticism
  • Grace M. Jantzen, Power, Gender and Christian Mysticism
  • Kenneth E. Kirk, The Vision of God: The Christian Doctrine of the Summum Bonum
  • Andrew Louth, The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition: From Plato to Denys
  • Paul Mommaers, The Riddle of Christian Mystical Experience: The Role of the Humanity of Jesus
  • Michael A. Sells, Mystical Languages of Unsaying
  • Denys Turner, The Darkness of God: Negativity in Christian Mysticism
  • Ulrike Wiethaus, ed., Maps of Flesh and Light: The Religious Experience of Medieval Women Mystics

Books About Mysticism: Contemporary Guidebooks for Aspiring Mystics

  • Ruth Burrows, Guidelines for Mystical Prayer
  • John Crowder, Miracle Workers, Reformers, and the New Mystics: How to Become Part of the Supernatural Generation
  • Thomas Dubay, S.M., Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
  • Thomas Dubay, S.M., Prayer Primer: Igniting a Fire Within
  • Thomas Dubay, S.M., Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within
  • Thomas H. Green, SJ, Opening to God: A Guide to Prayer
  • Thomas H. Green, SJ, When the Well Runs Dry: Prayer Beyond the Beginnings
  • Morton Kelsey, The Other Side of Silence: A Guide to Christian Meditation
  • Jean-Yves Leloup, Being Still: Reflections on an Ancient Mystical Tradition
  • Robert Llewellyn, Prayer & Contemplation and Distractions are for Healing
  • Carl McColman, The Aspiring Mystic: Practical Steps for Spiritual Seekers
  • Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer
  • Stephen J. Rossetti, When the Lion Roars: A Primer for the Unsuspecting Mystic
  • Frank X. Tuoti, Why Not Be a Mystic? An Irresistable Invitation to Experience the Presence of God — Here and Now

Books About Mysticism: Denunciations of Mysticism

  • Donad G. Bloesch, The Crisis of Piety: Essays Towards a Theology of the Christian Life
  • Arthur L. Johnson, Faith Misguided: Exposing the Dangers of Mysticism
  • Ranald Macaulay and Jarram Barrs, Being Human: The Nature of Spiritual Experience
  • Ray Yungen, A Time of Departing: How Ancient Mystical Practices are Uniting Christians with the World’s Religions
  • Ray Yungen, For Many Shall Come in My Name: How the “Ancient Wisdom” is Drawing Millions of People into Mystical Experiences and Preparing the World for the End of the Age

Books About Mysticism: Reference

  • Ann Ball, Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices
  • Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson and Stephen Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
  • F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
  • Michael Downey, ed., The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality
  • E. Ferguson, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity
  • Philip Sheldrake, ed., The New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality

Special Topics in Mysticism: Julian of Norwich

  • Julian of Norwich, Revelation of Love, tr. John Skinner
  • Julian of Norwich, The Revelation of Divine Love in Sixteen Showings, tr. M.L. del Mastro
  • Julian of Norwich, Showing of Love, tr. Julia Bolton Holloway
  • Julian of Norwich, A Lesson of Love: The Revelations of Julian of Norwich, tr. Fr. John-Julian OJN
  • Julian of Norwich, Showings, tr. Edmund Colledge OSA and James Walsh SJ
  • Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, tr. Clifton Wolters
  • Julian of Norwich, A Book of Showings to the Anchoress Julian of Norwich, ed. Edmund Colledge OSA and James Walsh SJ
  • Julian of Norwich, A Revelation of Love, ed. Marion Glasscoe
  • Julian of Norwich, Showing of Love: Extant Texts and Translation, ed. Sr. Anna Maria Reynolds CP and Julia Bolton Holloway
  • Julian of Norwich, The Showings of Julian of Norwich, ed. Denise Baker
  • The Frieds of Julian of Norwich, Stations of the Cross: A Devotion Using The Revelations of Divine Love of Julian of Norwich
  • Denise Nowakowski Baker, Julian of Norwich’s Showings: From Vision to Book
  • Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt, Julian of Norwich and the Mystical Body Politic of Christ
  • Ritamary Bradley, Julian’s Way: A Practical Commentary on Julian of Norwich
  • Kerrie Hide, Gifted Origins to Graced Fulfillment: The Soteriology of Julian of Norwich
  • C. Hugh Hildesley, Journeying with Julian
  • Grace Jantzen, Julian of Norwich: Mystic and Theologian
  • Kenneth Leech, Julian Reconsidered
  • Robert Llewelyn, All Shall Be Well: The Spirituality of Julian of Norwich for Today
  • Robert Llewelyn, ed., Julian: Woman of Our Day
  • Kevin J. Magill, Julian of Norwich: Mystic or Visionary?
  • Jane Maynard, Transfiguring Loss: Julian of Norwich as a Guide for Survivors of Traumatic Grief
  • Paul Molinari, Julian of Norwich: The Teaching of a 14th Century English Mystic
  • Sandra J. McEntire, ed., Julian of Norwich: A Book of Essays
  • Joan M. Nuth, Wisdom’s Daughter: The Theology of Julian of Norwich
  • Margaret Ann Palliser, Christ Our Mother of Mercy: Divine Mercy and Compassion in the Theology of the Shewings of Julian of Norwich
  • Brant Pelphrey, Julian of Norwich: Christ Our Mother (The Way of the Christian Mystics, volume 7)
  • Brant Pelphrey, Love was His Meaning: The Theology and Mysticism of Julian of Norwich
  • Ambrose Tinsley, OSB, A Neighbour Kind and Known: The Spirituality of Julian of Norwich
  • Sheila Upjohn, In Search of Julian of Norwich
  • Sheila Upjohn, Why Julian Now? A Voyage of Discovery

Special Topics in Mysticism: Evelyn Underhill

  • Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism: The Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Mystic Way
  • Evelyn Underhill, Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People and Abba: Meditations Based on the Lord’s Prayer
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Essentials of Mysticism
  • Evelyn Underhill, Mystics of the Church
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Golden Sequence: A Fourfold Study of the Spiritual Life
  • Evelyn Underhill, Worship
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Spiritual Life
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Letters of Evelyn Underhill
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Mount of Purification
  • Evelyn Underhill, An Anthology of the Love of God
  • Evelyn Underhill, Ruysbroeck
  • Evelyn Underhill, The Evelyn Underhill Reader
  • Christopher Armstrong, Evelyn Underhill: An Introduction to her Life and Writings
  • Margaret Cropper, The Life of Evelyn Underhill
  • Dana Greene, Evelyn Underhill: Artist of the Infinite Life

Special Topics in Mysticism: Thomas Merton

  • Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain
  • Thomas Merton, What is Contemplation?
  • Thomas Merton, The Sign of Jonas
  • Thomas Merton, The Last of the Fathers: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Encyclical Letter Doctor Mellifluus
  • Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude
  • Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
  • Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
  • Thomas Merton, Mystics and Zen Masters
  • Thomas Merton, Contemplative Prayer
  • Thomas Merton, Contemplation in a World of Action
  • Thomas Merton, Collected Poems
  • Thomas Merton, When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature
  • Thomas Merton, I Have Seen What I Was Looking For: Selected Spiritual Writings
  • Thomas Merton, Cold War Letters
  • Thomas Merton, A Book of Hours
  • Raymond Bailey, Thomas Merton on Mysticism
  • Lawrence S. Cunningham, Thomas Merton and the Monastic Vision
  • Monica Furlong, Merton: A Biography
  • Patrick Hart, ed., Thomas Merton, Monk: A Monastic Tribute
  • John J. Higgins, Thomas Merton on Prayer
  • Robert Inchausti, ed., Echoing Silence: Thomas Merton on the Vocation of Writing
  • Victor A. Kramer, Thomas Merton, Monk and Artist
  • M. Basil Pennington, Thomas Merton My Brother: His Journey to Freedom, Compassion, and Final Integration
  • William H. Shannon, Christine M. Bochen and Patrick F. O’Connell, eds., The Thomas Merton Encyclopedia
  • Rob Baker and Gray Henry, eds., Merton and Sufism: The Untold Story
  • Beatrice Bruteau, ed., Merton and Judaism: Holiness in Words
  • Gray Henry and Jonathan Montaldo, eds., Merton and Hesychasm: The Prayer of the Heart and the Eastern Church
  • Bonnie Bowman Thurston, ed., Merton and Buddhism: Realizing the Self

Special Topics in Mysticism: The Song of Songs

  • Ariel Bloch and Chana Bloch, The Song of Songs: A New Translation With an Introduction and Commentary
  • Marvin H. Pope, Song of Songs (Anchor Bible)
  • Origen, The Song of Songs, Commentary and Homilies
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Volume 1
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Volume 2
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Volume 3
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Volume 4
  • Teresa of Avila, Collected Works, Volume Two (includes “Meditations on the Song of Songs”)
  • Denys Turner, Eros and Allegory: Medieval Exegesis of the Song of Songs
  • Michael Casey, Athirst for God: Spiritual Desire in Bernard of Clairvaux’s Sermons on the Song of Songs
  • Richard A Norris, Jr., The Song of Songs: Interpreted by Early Christian and Medieval Commentators
  • Athalya Brenner and Carole R. Fontaine, editors, The Song of Songs (A Feminist Companion to the Bible)
  • Marcia Falk, Love Lyrics from the Bible: The Song of Songs
  • Watchman Nee, The Song of Songs
  • Carey Ellen Walsh, Exquisite Desire: Religion, the Erotic, and the Song of Songs
  • Renita J. Weems, What Matters Most : Ten Lessons in Living Passionately from the Song of Solomon
  • Blaise Arminjon, S.J., The Cantata of Love: A Verse by Verse Reading of the Song of Songs

Special Topics in Mysticism: Deification

  • A.M. Allchin, Participation in God: A Forgotten Strand in Anglican Tradition
  • Michael J. Christiansen and Jeffrey Wittung, eds., Partakers of the Divine Nature: The History and Development of Deification in the Christian Traditions
  • Stephen Finlan and Vladimir Kharlamov, eds., Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology
  • Jules Gross, The Divinization of the Christian According to the Greek Fathers
  • Veli-Mati Kärkkäinen, One With God: Salvation as Deification and Justification
  • George A. Maloney, S.J., The Undreamed Has Happened: God Lives Within Us
  • Georgios I. Mantzaridis, The Deification of Man: St. Gregory Palamas and the Orthodox Tradition
  • Panayiotis Nellas, Deification in Christ: The Nature of the Human Person
  • Aristotle Papanikolaou, Being With God: Trinity, Apophaticism, and Divine-Human Communion
  • Norman Russell, The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition
  • Archimandrite Christoforos Stavropoulos, Partakers of the Divine Nature

Special Topics in Mysticism: Benedictine and Cistercian Spirituality

  • Aelred of Rievaulx, Spiritual Friendship
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, Selected Works
  • Frank Bianco, Voices of Silence: Lives of the Trappists Today
  • Dom Eugene Boylan, This Tremendous Lover
  • Michael Casey, Strangers to the City: Reflections on the Beliefs and Values of the Rule of St. Benedict
  • Michael Casey, An Unexciting Life: Reflections on Benedictine Spirituality
  • Jean-Baptiste Chautard, The Soul of the Apostolate (translated by Thomas Merton)
  • Charles Cummings, OCSO, Monastic Practices
  • Adalbert de Vogüé, Reading Saint Benedict: Reflections on the Rule
  • Eric Dean, Saint Benedict for the Laity
  • Timothy Fry, ed., The Rule of St. Benedict
  • Dom Sighard Kleiner, O.Cist., In the Unity of the Holy Spirit: Spiritual Talks on the Rule of St. Benedict
  • André Louf, The Cistercian Way
  • Pauline Matarasso, tr. and ed., The Cistercian World: Monastic Writings of the Twelfth Century
  • M. Raymond, OCSO, Spiritual Secrets of a Trappist Monk: The Truth of Who You Are and What God Calls You to Be
  • David Parry: Households of God: The Rule of St. Benedict with Explanations for Monks and Lay-people Today
  • Augustine Roberts, OCSO, Centered on Christ: A Guide to Monastic Profession
  • Edith Scholl, ed., In the School of Love: An Anthology of Early Cistercian Texts
  • Robert Thomas, OCSO, Passing From Self to God: A Cistercian Retreat
  • William of St. Thierry, The Way to Divine Union

Special Topics in Mysticism: Carthusian Spirituality

  • A Carthusian, O Bonitas!
  • A Carthusian, The Call of Silent Love
  • A Carthusian, The Freedom of Obedience: Carthusian Novice Conferences
  • A Carthusian: From Advent to Pentecost: Carthusian Novice Conferences
  • A Carthusian, Interior Prayer
  • A Carthusian, Poor, Therefore Rich: Carthusian Novice Conferences
  • A Carthusian, The Prayer of Love and Silence
  • A Carthusian, They Speak by Silences
  • A Carthusian, The Way of Silent Love
  • A Carthusian, The Wound of Love
  • Denis the Carthusian, The Spiritual Writings
  • Benedict Kossman, Sounds of Silence
  • Nancy Klein Maguire, An Infinity of Little Hours: Five Young Men and Their Trial of Faith in the Western World’s Most Austere Monastic Order
  • Dennis D. Martin, tr., Carthusian Spirituality: The Writings of Hugh of Balma and Guigo De Ponte
  • John Skinner, Hear Our Silence

Special Topics in Mysticism: Centering Prayer and Christian Meditation

  • Carl J. Arico, A Taste of Silence: A Guide to the Fundamentals of Centering Prayer
  • Cynthia Bourgeault, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening
  • Thomas Keating, Foundations for Centering Prayer and the Christian Contemplative Life
  • Robert Llewellyn, ed., Circles of Silence: Explorations in Prayer with Julian Meetings
  • M. Basil Pennington, Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form
  • Joseph Simler, Catechism of Mental Prayer
  • Jens Soering, The Way of the Prisoner: Breaking the Chains of Self Through Centering Prayer and Centering Practice

Special Topics in Mysticism: Eucharistic Devotion and Popular Piety

  • Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR and James Monti, In the Presence of Our Lord: The History, Theology and Psychology of Eucharistic Devotion
  • Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR, Praying in the Presence of Our Lord: Prayers for Eucharistic Adoration
  • Brian McNeil, CRV, The Master is Here: Biblical Reflections on Eucharistic Adoration
  • James T. O’Connor, The Hidden Manna: A Theology of the Eucharist
  • Frederick A. Reuter, KCBS, Moments Divine Before the Blessed Sacrament
  • Herbert F. Smith, SJ, Communing with Jesus’ Real Presence: Holy Communion Meditations and Eucharistic Adoration

Special Topics in Mysticism: The Anamchara (Soul Friend) and Spiritual Direction

  • William A. Barry and William J. Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction
  • Tilden Edwards, Spiritual Friend: Reclaiming the Gift of Spiritual Direction
  • Kathleen Fischer, Women at the Well: Feminist Perspectives on Spiritual Direction
  • Thomas H. Green, SJ, The Friend of the Bridegroom: Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with Christ
  • Margaret Guenther, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction
  • Kenneth Leech, Soul Friend: Spiritual Direction in the Modern World
  • Gerald G. May, Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology

Special Topics in Mysticism: The New Monasticism

  • Scott A. Bessenecker, The New Friars: The Emerging Movement Serving the World’s Poor
  • Andy Freeman and Pete Greig, Punk Monk: New Monasticism and the Ancient Art of Breathing
  • The Rutba House, eds., School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of a New Monasticism

World Mysticism: General Titles and Anthologies

  • Philip C. Almond, Mystical Experience and Religious Doctrine: An Investigation of the Study of Mysticism in World Religions
  • Bruno Borchert, Mysticism: Its History and Challenge
  • Timothy Freke and Peter Gancy, The Complete Guide to World Mysticism
  • Andrew Harvey, ed., The Essential Mystics: The Soul’s Journey into Truth
  • Walter T. Stace, The Teachings of the Mystics: Selections from the Great Mystics and Mystical Writings of the World
  • Wayne Teasdale, The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World’s Religions

World Mysticism: Sufism and Islamic Spirituality

  • Annemarie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam
  • Rabi’A, Doorkeeper of the Heart
  • Al Ghazzali, Mishkat Al-Anwar (the Niche for Lights)
  • Farid al-Din Attar, The Conference of the Birds
  • Ibn Al Arabi, The Bezels of Wisdom
  • Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, The Essential Rumi
  • Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, Masnavi Book I
  • Fakhruddin Iraqi, Divine Flashes
  • Nizam Ad-Din Awliya, Morals for the Heart
  • Hafiz, New Nightingale, New Rose
  • Ibn’ Abbad of Ronda, Letters on the Sufi Path
  • Hazrat Inayat Khan, The Inner Life
  • Hazrat Inayat Khan, The Heart of Sufism: Essential Writings

World Mysticism: Kabbalah and Jewish Spirituality

  • David Cooper, God is a Verb: Kabbalah and the Practice of Mystical Judaism
  • Abraham Joshua Heschel, I Asked for Wonder: A Spiritual Anthology
  • Lawrence Kushner, Honey From the Rock: An Easy Introduction to Jewish Mysticism
  • J.H. Laenen, Jewish Mysticism: An Introduction
  • Moses Maimonides, The Guide for the Perplexed
  • Philo of Alexandria, The Contemplative Life, Giants and Selections
  • Anonymous, Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment
  • Hayyim Ben Joseph Vital and Isaac Judah Jehiel Safrin, Jewish Mystical Autobiographies
  • Isaiah Horowitz, The Generations of Adam
  • Abraham Miguel Cardozo, Selected Writings
  • Nahman of Bratslav, The Tales
  • Elijah Benamozegh, Israel and Humanity
  • Abraham Isaac Kook, The Lights of Penitence, and Other Works

World Mysticism: Buddhism

  • Samuel Bercholz and Sherab Chödzin Kohn, eds., Entering the Stream: An Introduction to the Buddha and His Teachings
  • Gil Fronsdal, tr., The Dhammapada
  • Nagarjuna, The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way
  • Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
  • Chögyam Trungpa, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism

World Mysticism: Vedanta and Hindu Spirituality

  • Sri Aurobindo, A Greater Psychology: An Introduction to the Psychological Thought of Sri Aurobindo
  • Sri Aurobindo, The Integral Yoga: Teaching and Method of Practice
  • Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine
  • Baba Ram Dass, Be Here Now
  • Eliot Deutsch and Rohit Dalvi, eds., The Essential Vedanta: A New Source Book of Advaita Vedanta
  • Ramana Maharshi, The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi
  • Juan Mascaro, tr., The Bhagavad Gita
  • Swami Muktananda, Play of Consciousness: A Spiritual Autobiography
  • Swami Nikhilananda, tr., The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
  • Swami Vivekenanda, Pathways to Joy: The Master Vivekananda on the Four Yoga Paths to God
  • Swami Vivekenanda, Vedanta: Voice of Freedom
  • Paramahamsa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi

World Mysticism: Miscellaneous Eastern Spirituality

  • John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld, Beyond the Gods: Buddhist and Taoist Mysticism
  • Kabir, Mystic Songs of Kabir
  • Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching
  • Mohan Singh Uberoi, Sikh Mysticism: The Sevenfold Yoga of Sikhism
  • Arthur Waley, The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought

World Mysticism: Classical and Ancient Pagan Mysticism

  • Plato, Complete Works
  • Plotinus, The Enneads
  • Porphyry, The Letter to Marcella
  • Proclus, The Elements of Theology
  • Arnold Herrman, To Think Like God: Pythagoras and Parmenides, The Origins of Philosophy
  • Linda Johnson, Lost Masters: The Yoga of the Ancient Greeks

World Mysticism: Indigenous and Shamanic Spirituality

  • Tom Cowan, Yearning for the Wind: Celtic Reflections on Nature and the Soul
  • Michael Harner, The Way of the Shaman
  • Ronald Hutton, Shamans: Siberian Spirituality and the Western Imagination
  • David Suzuki and Peter Knudtson, Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature
  • Arthur Versluis, Sacred Earth: The Spiritual Landscape of Native America

World Mysticism: Neopagan and Goddess Spirituality

  • David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World
  • Jenny Blain, Nine Worlds of Seid-Magic: Ecstasy and Neo-Shamanism in North European Paganism
  • Jesse Wolf Hardin, Gaia Eros: Reconnecting to the Magic and Spirit of Nature
  • Dolores LaChappelle, Sacred Land Sacred Sex: Rapture of the Deep: Concerning Deep Ecology and Celebrating Life
  • Robert J. Wallis, Shamans/Neo-Shamans: Ecstasies, Alternative Archaeologies and Contemporary Pagans

World Mysticism: Interfaith Spirituality (Christian and Non-Christian)

  • Anthony DeMello, Sadhana, A Way to God: Christian Exercises in Eastern Form
  • Bede Griffiths, The Cosmic Revelation: The Hindu Way to God
  • Patrick Henry, Benedict’s Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict
  • Maria Jaoudi, Christian Mysticism East and West: What the Masters Teach Us
  • Carl McColman, Embracing Jesus and the Goddess: A Radical Call for Spiritual Sanity
  • Carolyn Myss, Entering the Castle: An Inner Path to God and Your Soul
  • Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ
  • Jesu Rajan, Bede Griffiths and Sannyasa

World Mysticism: Post-Sectarian and Integral Spirituality

  • Robert W. Godwin, One Cosmos Under God: The Unification of Matter, Life, Mind and Spirit
  • George Leonard and Michael Murphy, The Life We Are Given: A Long Term Program for Realizing the Potential of Body, Mind, Heart and Soul
  • Tony Schwartz, What Really Matters: Searching for Wisdom in America
  • Wayne Teasdale, The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World’s Religions
  • Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
  • Roger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind
  • Ken Wilber, A Sociable God: Toward a New Understanding of Religion
  • Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution
  • Ken Wilber, The Eye of Spirit: An Integral Vision for a World Gone Slightly Mad
  • Ken Wilber, The Simple Feeling of Being: Embracing Your True Nature
  • Ken Wilber, Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World

Miscellaneous: Literary Works Relevant to the Study of Mysticism

  • Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
  • John Donne, The Complete Poetry and Selected Prose
  • T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets
  • John of the Cross, The Poems of St. John of the Cross
  • George Herbert, et al., George Herbert and the Seventeenth-Century Religious Poets
  • C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia (especially The Voyage of the Dawn Treader)
  • Thomas Merton, Collected Poems
  • D.H.S. Nicholson and A.H.E. Lee, The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse
  • Coventry Patmore, Mystical Poems of Nuptial Love
  • Evelyn Underhill, Immanence: A Book of Verses
  • Evelyn Underhill, Theophanies: A Book of Verses

Miscellaneous: Spiritual books that are not necessarily “mystical” (but I like them anyway)

  • James Behrens, Grace is Everywhere: Reflections of an Aspiring Monk
  • Sydney Carter, Dance In The Dark
  • Anthony Delisi, Praying in the Cellar: A Guide to Facing Your Fears and Finding God
  • Immaculée Ilibagiza, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
  • Sue Monk Kidd, God’s Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved
  • Andrew Greeley, The Catholic Imagination
  • Brian A. Haggerty, Out of the House of Slavery: On the Meaning of the Ten Commandments
  • Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
  • Kenneth Leech, The Eye of the Storm: Spiritual Resources for the Pursuit of Justice
  • Brian McLaren, A Generous Orthodoxy
  • Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
  • Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk
  • Maggie Ross, Pillars of Flame: Power, Priesthood, and Spiritual Maturity
  • Barbara Brown Taylor, Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith
  • Lauren Winner, Girl Meets God: A Memoir

Miscellaneous: Music

  • Anonymous 4, An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony
  • The Cambridge Singers directed by John Rutter, Lighten Our Darkness: Music for the Close of Day
  • Gothic Voices, A Feather on the Breath of God: Sequences and Hymns by Abbess Hildegard of Bingen
  • David Hykes, Harmonic Meetings
  • Rebecca St. James, Worship God
  • John Tavener, A Portrait
  • Various Artists, Lovely in the Dances: Songs of Sydney Carter
  • Westminster Cathedral Choir, Vaughan Williams: Mass in G Minor
  • London Philharmonic Choir, Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem and Five Mystical Songs

Miscellaneous: Movies

  • The Song of Bernadette (1943)
  • Joan of Arc (1948)
  • The Flowers of St. Francis (1952)
  • Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1997)
  • Into Great Silence (2005)
  • Hildegard (2006)

Miscellaneous: Spoken Audio

  • Cynthia Bourgeault, Encountering the Wisdom Jesus: Quickening the Kingdom of Heaven Within
  • James Finley, Thomas Merton’s Path to the Palace of Nowhere
  • Thomas Keating, The Contemplative Journey, Part One
  • Thomas Keating, The Contemplative Journey, Part Two
  • Thomas Keating, Contemplative Prayer: Traditional Christian Meditations for Opening to Divine Union
  • Thomas Merton, The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals

Miscellaneous: Software

  • Seth Cherney, ed., Xrisma Catholic Texts Collection
  • Harmony Media, Butler’s Lives of the Saints
  • Harmony Media, The Early Church Fathers on CD-ROM
  • St. John of the Cross, A Digital Library: Spanish Texts and Translations
  • W. Harry Plantinga, ed., Christian Classics Ethereal Library
  • Wild Divine Project, Journey to Wild Divine: The Passage & Wisdom Quest
  • Joseph Wolpert, compiler, Classics in Western Mysticism

This page has the following sub pages.

  • Book Covers
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • 111 Mystics

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    Introduction to World Mysticism through Emory University's "Evening at Emory" Program.

    Madonna is studying the Kabbalah. The Shack is a runaway bestseller. Centuries after he died, everyone's reading Rumi. Yoga, Buddhism and other eastern practices are more popular among Americans than ever. So what gives? At the heart of all these cultural trends is mysticism, a vague word that can be translated as "the spiritual principle at the heart of religion." Many people believe mysticism is the golden thread that unites all the world's religions. Others scoff at the idea. Come decide for yourself in this class as we explore major themes and writings from the world's great mystical traditions. Using Andrew Harvey's The Essential Mystics as our textbook, we'll examine the world's great wisdom traditions — Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, as well as pagan and philosophical forms of mysticism — acknowledging both the common ground and the distinctive qualities of each mystical path. Class is taught from an academic/nonsectarian perspective.
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    • Carl McColman
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  • Thanks…

    ... to Ian-S on Flickr for the use of his beautiful photograph of the Julian stained glass in Norwich Cathedral, which graces the Julian Prayer Card. Used by permission under a Creative Commons Licence.

    ... to Cindy47452 on Flickr for the use of her Christmas Eve Sunset photo. Used by permission under a Creative Commons Licence.
  • About Carl McColman


    Carl McColman is the author of 10 books on the spiritual life. Most of his works published before 2005 concern Pagan and Celtic spirituality. In 2005 he became a Catholic, and his latest book, on Christian mysticism, is in production with a scheduled publication date of late 2010. He has been blogging since 2003.

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