Lilian Staveley
Encyclopedia
Lilian Staveley was a Christian
writer
and mystic
whose anonymous works have only recently been credited to her.
As a young woman she became an atheist; a painful decision with which she struggled for two years.
While in Rome
, visiting the temples, she was moved by the beauty of her surroundings and “a longing for her Lord so painfully real that the longing could not be denied.”
While Staveley was highly sought after and offered many proposals, she entered into a secret engagement with Brigadier General William Cathcart Staveley when her parents refused, (due to his lack of money) to allow the romance. Meanwhile Staveley’s father, with whom she was quite close, suffered from a heart condition that left him gravely ill for two years before his eventual passing. His death had a profound impact on his daughter. “I became a semi-invalid, always suffering, too delicate to marry.” When her health returned, she married Staveley, (Married on 30 Sep 1899 at Kensington,London - GRO Record 1a 241) though they were quickly separated for a time when he left for the Anglo-Boer War.
At the end of World War I
she brought to John M. Watkins of London a manuscript. For the sake of her privacy and because her husband was still living (a general in the Army), she insisted on anonymity. It was only after her death that General Staveley learned that his wife of nearly thirty years had led a hidden spiritual life.
Eventually Staveley came to the conclusion that, the arrogance of certain men aside; “Clothed in the body of either man or woman, the soul is predominantly feminine—the Feminine Principle beloved of, and returning to, the Eternal Masculine of God.” The spiritual journey of each soul is a journey shared alike by man and by woman.
and St. Therese de Lisieux. Younghusband also points out that the spiritual experiences Lilian Staveley describes bear “remarkable resemblances to the experiences of Hindu mystics”.
Her writings were also known to Evelyn Underhill
, a respected authority on comparative mysticism, as well as to Frithjof Schuon
, a preeminent writer in the Perennialist school of comparative religion
.
A compilation of her writings, entitled A Christian Woman’s Secret, will be published by World Wisdom Books
in 2008.
All three works are available for free from manybooks.net
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
whose anonymous works have only recently been credited to her.
Early life
Née Lilian Bowdoin, Staveley was born to an affluent family, descended on both sides from Huguenots of the old French nobility. Her early life was not one of outward religious observance, but was rather one of privilege and learning. Along with two brothers, she was educated by tutors, governesses, and at boarding schools (Staveley spoke four languages fluently) and spent her summers in Italy. When she came of age in Society she entered into a privileged world of balls and suitors.As a young woman she became an atheist; a painful decision with which she struggled for two years.
While in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, visiting the temples, she was moved by the beauty of her surroundings and “a longing for her Lord so painfully real that the longing could not be denied.”
While Staveley was highly sought after and offered many proposals, she entered into a secret engagement with Brigadier General William Cathcart Staveley when her parents refused, (due to his lack of money) to allow the romance. Meanwhile Staveley’s father, with whom she was quite close, suffered from a heart condition that left him gravely ill for two years before his eventual passing. His death had a profound impact on his daughter. “I became a semi-invalid, always suffering, too delicate to marry.” When her health returned, she married Staveley, (Married on 30 Sep 1899 at Kensington,London - GRO Record 1a 241) though they were quickly separated for a time when he left for the Anglo-Boer War.
At the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
she brought to John M. Watkins of London a manuscript. For the sake of her privacy and because her husband was still living (a general in the Army), she insisted on anonymity. It was only after her death that General Staveley learned that his wife of nearly thirty years had led a hidden spiritual life.
Writings
Staveley’s writings are notable for their unassuming style – being the personal narrative of one person’s spiritual journey; at once deeply personal and humble. It is the journey not of an unusual person; rather it is the progress of a self-described “ordinary soul” possessing, however, extraordinary love for God..Anonymity
The three books she published in her lifetime were all anonymously written; keeping the “white-heat” of her “spirit-living” a secret from the world, even from her beloved husband. It is only recently that her works have been published under her name, and she has yet to receive the fame due her for her prominent works.the Feminine Principle
One of the dilemmas that Staveley struggled with was that of the ‘feminine principle’. She saw across history and religion a tendency by those in religious power, (by men who were otherwise great and holy), to look down on womankind. She feared that in God’s eyes also she was not of the ‘acceptable sex’. This apparent disparagement she could not understand: “What profound injustice—to suffer so much and to receive no recognition whatever whilst men walked off with all the joys after leading very questionable lives!” For several years her shame at being a woman was such that, although she continued to believe in and pay homage to her Lord, she could do so only with a certain reverent sadness, and not with love.Eventually Staveley came to the conclusion that, the arrogance of certain men aside; “Clothed in the body of either man or woman, the soul is predominantly feminine—the Feminine Principle beloved of, and returning to, the Eternal Masculine of God.” The spiritual journey of each soul is a journey shared alike by man and by woman.
Legacy
In his book Modern Mystics (London: John Murray, 1935; reprinted New York: University Books, 1970), Sir Francis Younghusband (a writer, diplomat, and Himalayan explorer) explicitly compares Lilian Staveley with the likes of RamakrishnaRamakrishna
Ramakrishna , born Gadadhar Chattopadhyay , was a famous mystic of 19th-century India. His religious school of thought led to the formation of the Ramakrishna Mission by his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda – both were influential figures in the Bengali Renaissance as well as the Hindu...
and St. Therese de Lisieux. Younghusband also points out that the spiritual experiences Lilian Staveley describes bear “remarkable resemblances to the experiences of Hindu mystics”.
Her writings were also known to Evelyn Underhill
Evelyn Underhill
Evelyn Underhill was an English Anglo-Catholic writer and pacifist known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice, in particular Christian mysticism....
, a respected authority on comparative mysticism, as well as to Frithjof Schuon
Frithjof Schuon
Frithjof Schuon, was a native of Switzerland born to German parents in Basel, Switzerland. He is known as a philosopher, metaphysician and author of numerous books on religion and spirituality....
, a preeminent writer in the Perennialist school of comparative religion
Comparative religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...
.
Books
During her lifetime, Staveley published three books:- The Prodigal Returns (John M. Watkins, 1921)
- The Romance of the Soul (John M. Watkins, 1920)
- The Golden Fountain or, the Soul’s Love for God: Being Some Thoughts and Confessions of one of His Lovers (John M. Watkins, 1919; reprinted by World Wisdom BooksWorld WisdomWorld Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...
, 1982).
A compilation of her writings, entitled A Christian Woman’s Secret, will be published by World Wisdom Books
World Wisdom
World Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...
in 2008.
All three works are available for free from manybooks.net