The Cloud of Unknowing is a landmark of medieval Christian mysticism, written in Middle English by an anonymous author in the late 14th century. The work offers guidance to those seeking a life of contemplation and union with God through prayer, silence, and the surrender of intellect. Its central teaching is that God cannot be grasped by the mind but only approached through love, in a “cloud of unknowing” that lies between the soul and the divine.
The text addresses a spiritual disciple and instructs on the practice of contemplative prayer. It urges the abandonment of rational analysis and image-based meditation in favour of a single, simple word of devotion held in the heart. By doing so, the seeker moves beyond worldly distractions and into the realm of divine presence.
The work stands within the English mystical tradition alongside Julian of Norwich and Walter Hilton, but its radical insistence on unmediated experience of God gives it a special place in Western spirituality. Its influence extends into modern contemplative movements, including centering prayer.
This public-domain edition follows Evelyn Underhill’s 1912 translation and introduction. It remains an accessible entry point for readers interested in Christian mysticism, contemplative practice, or the broader history of spirituality.
Download the free PDF below and explore a masterpiece of contemplative wisdom that continues to inspire seekers after seven centuries:
