Urban Mystic

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Publications

Writing the Journey of Presence

You might wonder, 'Why is Urban Mystic publishing books written hundreds of years ago?' Why are we talking about a 17th-century monk like Brother Lawrence or a mystic like Jeanne Guyon?

The answer is that they recognized a truth that’s become buried in our church institutions and businesses. They found a way to live in the continuous, conscious presence of God—not just in a monastery, but in the kitchen, in the market, in the chaos of life. Brother Lawrence famously said he was as close to God while scrubbing pots as he was in the cathedral.

That is the essence of the Urban Mystic. We bring these texts back because they are the field guides for our journey. But we also know that 17th-century language can be a barrier. That’s why we have worked to translate these classics into plain, readable English for the contemporary reader.

We want you to be able to pick up The Practice of the Presence of God or Song of Songs and feel like the author is speaking directly to you today. These aren't just old books; they are maps to the treasure we are all seeking.

If you want to understand the heart of what we do, start with these books. They are small, but they are powerful enough to change your entire life."

And we’ve gone a step further in recognizing their wisdom in distinguishing between what we bring to the table as acquired contemplation, what God brings to the table as infused contemplation, and how these come together in practicing the presence of God. This is the focus of my book Relational Spirituality: An Introduction. This framework for Relational Spirituality is the foundation to all our courses and activities as a community. It stems from our value for intimacy with God and how we prioritize and practice this as individuals and with others in communities and gatherings that are small and large as well as formally or organically constituted

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This is the essential starting point for anyone seeking to move beyond distant faith. The book lays the groundwork for a Relational Spirituality, providing the necessary framework for post-religious individuals, church leavers, and deconstructors to understand and begin practicing experiential intimacy with God.

We publish these works because the mystics shared our core value for intimacy with God. These texts offer profound, historical insights into the deepening of the spiritual life. We present them in contemporary English to make their wisdom accessible and relevant to your modern journey toward presence.

Our editions are presented in contemporary English to ensure clarity and ease of reading. We aim to honor the original context while removing language barriers, allowing you to focus on the experiential depth of figures like Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross.

Brother Lawrence’s work is foundational because it perfectly exemplifies living in the conscious, continuous awareness of God. His life and writings validate our core distinction between mere spiritual activity and the intentional pursuit of deep, relational presence in every moment of daily life.

If you are new to this tradition, we recommend starting with Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God. Its direct focus on everyday relationship and simple practice makes it the most accessible entry point before moving to the deeper, more complex works like The Interior Castle or Dark Night of the Soul.

All of our titles, including 'Introducing Relational Spirituality' and the edited works of the Christian mystics, are available for purchase through Amazon. You can find links to each title directly on this page.

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