Beyond the aphorisms of a few well-known figures, Christian mystics and mysticism are fairly opaque to most of us. Quoting the well-worn “all shall be well” of Julian of Norwich or having a vague awareness of Margery Kempe’s affective piety is often as far as our base of knowledge stretches.
In Dazzling Darkness, James Harpur redresses this imbalance by providing a guided tour of Christian mystics across the centuries. Taking his starting point in the earliest era of Christian faith and practice, Harpur provides potted biographies of figures, well-known and obscure, describing something of the period of history they inhabited and the spiritual disciplines they embodied. This breadth of vision is matched by wide-ranging research and a humbly conveyed depth of understanding.
A few features are notable in this concise history of the mystical tradition.
First, Harpur’s research is driven not only by intellectual curiosity but also by a personal sense of spiritual pilgrimage – the author’s interest in mysticism being quickened through a period of “physical debilitation” that led him not only into research but a life of prayer.
Second, Harpur explores and includes mystical voices that could easily be lost to history or overlooked because of their theology. This means that female mystics are given their due prominence, not just in chapters that specifically assess their place in the historical record but in the broader sweep of history as well. Other unlikely moves include the incorporation of the Puritan John Bunyan and the placement of William Wordsworth’s spirituality alongside that of the more predictably mystical William Blake.
Third, Harpur’s scope of reading and research provides strong evidence of the decades-long nature of his quest to uncover what mysticism is and what influence it has had on Christian dogma and practice. This is no mere glancing survey but a work of substance where nuance, beauty of language and brevity of expression are equally honoured. This is a rare and welcome combination.
The book’s journey into mysticism concludes with some original contemplative poetry from Harpur, taking individual Christian figures as his inspiration. These short pieces are suitably esoteric and provide a fitting conclusion to a book where the heart and mind are brought into contact with the wealth and eccentricity of the Christian mystical tradition.
