The form of existence is an effect of the Self. Whatsoever thou seest is a secret of the Self.

    He gives the wheat: we must reap and grind and bake it." –Evelyn UnderhillIn these two classics, British poet and mystic Evelyn Underhill shows herself to be one of the most authoritative modern voices on mysticism. Written on the eve of World War I, Practical Mysticism reviews the works of the greatest Western mystics, including Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and Thomas à Kempis. Underhill’s goal is to guide her readers on a journey toward mystical consciousness, to teach them to see the “eternal beauty beyond and beneath apparent ruthlessness.” Abba, first published in 1940, takes as its starting point the seven phrases of the Lord’s Prayer, using them as a means to propel the self toward union with God. In these important works, Underhill brings an often esoteric subject onto a practical footing, showing that the profound gifts of mysticism are not only for the few but are within reach of us all.

    Fear God and Take Your Own Part is a collection of articles Theodore Roosevelt wrote, largely for Metropolitan Magazine, some six years after he left the presidency. The title is another way of saying that a nation must have the power and will for self-sacrifice as well as the power and will for self-protection. In the book, Roosevelt, who also wrote extensively on the outdoors, vigorously sets forth the "principles of true Americanism" that still reverberate throughout the nation today. THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919) was a heroic figure who served as the 26th president of the United States. During his eight years in office, he steered the United States more actively into world politics. Teddy "Rough Riders" Roosevelt was also a military leader, a prosecutor, a naturalist, and a prolific writer.