The Ways of the Spirit

by Evelyn Underhill, Grace Aldophsen Brame (Editor)

While searching through the archives of poet and author Evelyn Underhill, Grace Brame discovered four important handwritten retreats given by Underhill that were thought to be lost. In these writings, Underhill takes up some of the timeless themes of spiritual life: the call of God, sanctity, inner grace, and our purpose in life.

Genres: Spirituality, Mysticism

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Evelyn Underhill was an English Anglo-Catholic writer and pacifist known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice, in particular Christian mysticism.

In the English-speaking world, she was one of the most widely read writers on such matters in the first half of the twentieth century. No other book of its type—until the appearance in 1946 of Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy—met with success to match that of her best-known work, Mysticism, published in 1911.

Read more:

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_U...

The Evelyn Underhill Association
http://www.evelynunderhill.org/

Reviews

[Donner Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This posthumous publication of Underhill's retreat addresses which she gave at 4 different spiritual retreats is a great legacy from this remarkable Anglican mystical teacher of the last century. Contained herein are profound meditations of God who is the 'first term' of our spiritual thoughts and living. For he is the one from whom we come, the one to whom we belong and the one for whom we are destined. Underhill sets our minds on the glorious character of God reflected in his generosity, charity and grace. Throughout these addresses she reminds us to be still and fill our minds with glorious thoughts of God. She invites us to consider in the light of God's gracious nature our true calling - the end for which we were made. She reminds us that worship comes first then service and mission. If we reverse the order then 'all sense of proportions goes.' As Jesus sets the supreme example himself in praying 'for their sake I sanctify myself', we too need to seek the grace without which we have nothing to offer others. Her meditations on the fruits of the spiritual life : love, joy, peace - the first three in Paul's list in Gal 5 - are an excellent reminder of the transforming power of the Spirit as we cooperate with his work in our lives.

Having led the retreatants through periods of solitude and silence she left them with the questions for self-examination such as : What have I done for Christ? What am I doing ? What ought I to do? These are fruitful questions for any disciple of Christ to ponder as we take seriously what it means to follow Christ.

Underhill's thoughts will continue to strike a wonderful chord for Christians seeking a deeper life in the Spirit today as she invites us to set aside time to give our undivided attention to God. She recommends that an annual personal retreat where one goes one on one with God for a couple of days is a must for the clergy. I cannot agree more and would say the same for everyone who seeks to let God be God in their lives. Evelyn Underhill's prose is so beautiful and inspiring that I savor it word for word over and over again. Brame's introduction also provides a glimpse into the life of this remarkable Christian lady who has done much to connect us with the contemplative dimension of the Christian life.

[Elizabeth Cottrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also on our Rector’s “Recommended List,” The Ways of the Spirit is a collection of retreats led by this Christian mystic—marvelous, clear, and powerful. Our rector said that reading it would be like having a personal spiritual mentor, and he’s right. I will definitely be re-reading it over the years. I suspect it’s one of those books that will have different significance depending on where you are in your spiritual journey when you read it, so I know a later reading will offer value that I am missing this time around. The power, to me, is that the author is clearly talking to real people with real lives about how to get closer to God—no pie-in-the-sky foolishness and fluff.

[Dustin Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

changed my life