Underhill, Evelyn

Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941) was an English writer and pacifist renowned for her extensive works on religion and spiritual life, particularly Christian mysticism. Born in Wolverhampton, she experienced early mystical insights that fueled a lifelong quest for understanding, leading her to explore Neoplatonism and eventually embrace Anglo-Catholicism. Her husband, Hubert Stuart Moore, was a barrister and writer, and they had no children. Underhill traveled extensively in Europe, pursuing interests in art and Catholicism.

Initially an agnostic, she developed a deep interest in spiritual matters, a path not shared by her family or husband. She published over 30 books, sometimes using the pseudonym "John Cordelier." Her spiritual development was significantly influenced by Baron Friedrich von Hügel, who guided her toward a more Christocentric perspective. After his death, her focus shifted to the Holy Spirit, and she became a respected lay leader in the Anglican Church, offering spiritual direction and lecturing. She was highly educated, holding an honorary doctorate and being a fellow of King's College, London. Underhill was also an accomplished bookbinder and reviewer for The Spectator.

Before her seminal works on mysticism, Evelyn Underhill explored spiritual themes through fiction. Her early writing included a satirical book of poems, 'The Bar-Lamb's Ballad Book,' which was well-received. She then penned three novels: 'The Grey World' (1904), 'The Lost Word' (1907), and 'The Column of Dust' (1909). These novels, characterized as unconventional yet profoundly spiritual, examined the intersection of the physical and spiritual realms, illustrating human drama through a sacramental lens. 'The Grey World' depicted a hero's mystical journey beginning with death and reincarnation. Underhill's novels often explored the challenges of existing in dual realities and the nature of mystical experience, suggesting that it involves an expansion of consciousness and perception. Her work highlighted the potential for seeing divine reality beneath mundane appearances, though it also acknowledged the fear and insecurity that can accompany undeveloped mystical powers.

Underhill's most influential work, 'Mysticism: A Study of the Nature and Development of Man's Spiritual Consciousness' (1911), presented a romantic and engaged perspective on spiritual development rather than a purely historical or scientific one. She diverged from theoretical approaches and traditional religious classifications, notably critiquing William James's work on religious experience. Underhill proposed that mysticism is fundamentally a practical, spiritual activity centered on love, involving a defined process. Her later writings increasingly focused on the Holy Spirit, particularly after the death of her mentor, Baron Friedrich von Hügel. She became a significant figure in the Anglican Church, leading spiritual retreats, offering direction to individuals, and lecturing on radio. Her contributions included establishing ecumenical connections and being among the first women to lecture on theology in British colleges and universities.

“abrupt experiences of the peaceful, undifferentiated plane of reality—like the 'still desert' of the mystic—in which there was no multiplicity nor need of explanation”

“the most wonderful personality. ... so saintly, truthful, sane and tolerant”

“It seems so much easier in these days to live morally than to live beautifully. Lots of us manage to exist for years without ever sinning against society, but we sin against loveliness every hour of the day.”

“She had seen, abruptly, the insecurity of those defences which protect our illusions and ward off the horrors of truth. She had found a little hole in the wall of appearances; and peeping through, had caught a glimpse of that seething pot of spiritual forces whence, now and then, a bubble rises to the surface of things.”