Evelyn Underhill

Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) was an English writer, pacifist, and mystic, renowned for her extensive contributions to the study of religion and spiritual life, particularly Christian mysticism. Her early life was marked by profound mystical experiences that fueled a lifelong quest for understanding, leading her to explore Neoplatonism and eventually embrace Catholicism. Despite her husband's Protestant faith and her parents' lack of spiritual interest, Underhill pursued her spiritual path, becoming a prominent Anglo-Catholic.

Underhill's career included writing poetry, novels, and numerous books on spirituality. Her seminal work, "Mysticism," published in 1911, is considered her most famous. She was also a respected spiritual director, retreat leader, and lecturer within the Anglican Church, advocating for contemplative prayer and a Christocentric spiritual path. Her education, which included studies at King's College London and recognition from Aberdeen University, provided a strong foundation for her intellectual and spiritual explorations. She also had a notable talent for bookbinding.

Born in Wolverhampton, Evelyn Underhill experienced early, vivid insights into a unified reality, which she described as "abrupt experiences of the peaceful, undifferentiated plane of reality." These profound moments, characterized by a sense of profound stillness and lack of multiplicity, became the driving force behind her lifelong pursuit of spiritual understanding. Though an only child, she was devoted to her parents and later her husband, Hubert Stuart Moore, a barrister. Her early life involved travel in Europe, where she cultivated her interest in art and Catholicism, visiting numerous religious sites. While her husband and parents did not share her spiritual inclinations, she navigated these differences, eventually becoming a prominent figure in Anglo-Catholicism.

Underhill's literary output was prolific, spanning over 30 books under her maiden name or the pseudonym "John Cordelier." Initially an agnostic, her intellectual journey led her through Neoplatonism towards Catholicism. A significant influence was Baron Friedrich von Hügel, her spiritual mentor from 1921 to 1924, who guided her towards a more Christocentric perspective and encouraged practical, charitable engagement. After his death, her focus shifted to the Holy Spirit, and she became a key lay leader in the Anglican Church, conducting retreats, offering spiritual direction, and lecturing. Her approach to spirituality was deeply personal, emphasizing inner experience and heart-centered devotion over mere intellectualism or adherence to state religion, reflecting the broader spiritual currents of the Edwardian era.

Underhill's early novels, such as "The Grey World" (1904), "The Lost Word" (1907), and "The Column of Dust" (1909), served as vehicles for exploring the intersection of the physical and spiritual realms. These narratives delved into themes of mystical journeys, the challenges of living between two worlds, and the nature of spiritual experience. Her work suggested that mystical insight involves an expansion of consciousness and perception, revealing the contrast between mundane reality and divine radiance. Underhill posited that the path of mysticism often requires confronting fear, developing latent spiritual powers through suffering, and ultimately achieving self-surrender and integration with Reality, moving beyond a purely solitary or ego-centered existence.

Evelyn Underhill received a strong education, including home schooling and studies at King's College London. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Aberdeen University and became a fellow of King's College. Underhill broke significant ground as the first woman to lecture to clergy within the Church of England and the first to officially lead spiritual retreats for the church. She also pioneered ecumenical connections between churches and was among the first women theologians to lecture widely in English colleges and universities. Her intellectual breadth was further demonstrated by her work as a reviewer for The Spectator and her award-winning skills in bookbinding, indicating a deep engagement with both scholarly and artistic pursuits.

“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.”

“the temptation of fuga in solitudinem ("the flight into solitude")”