Meister Eckhart was a respected German theologian and mystic known for his profound sermons and writings on Christian spirituality. His influential work, including Sermons and The Book of Divine Consolation, significantly shaped medieval Christian thought and mysticism.
If you enjoy reading books by Meister Eckhart then you might also like the following authors:
Johannes Tauler was a German mystic and preacher influenced by Meister Eckhart's teachings. He emphasizes inner spirituality, detachment, and a personal experience of God's presence in everyday life.
In his sermons collected in Sermons of Johannes Tauler, he encourages readers to cultivate humility and surrender to God's will, guiding believers toward spiritual transformation through inner contemplation.
Henry Suso, another student of Eckhart's teachings, wrote influentially about devotional mysticism and personal spiritual discipline. His approach combines heartfelt devotion with practical advice for deepening one's inner life.
In his work The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, Suso describes an intense personal relationship with Christ, directing readers to seek divine union through prayer, contemplation, and inner purity.
Jan van Ruusbroec was a Flemish mystic whose writings explore deeply spiritual themes through clear language and vivid imagery. A major theme is the journey towards spiritual union with God, characterized by love, contemplation, and an active life of compassion.
His notable work, The Spiritual Espousals, provides a thoughtful guide toward discovering deeper intimacy with God through a unified spiritual practice and meaningful action in everyday life.
Julian of Norwich, an English anchoress and mystic, presented a gentle, hopeful form of Christian mysticism centered on God's love and compassion.
Her famous book Revelations of Divine Love beautifully communicates her visions, offering readers comfort and reassurance through themes of divine mercy and everlasting love.
Julian reminds her readers of God's closeness, patience, and persistent care for humanity, influencing later generations seeking an approachable and comforting style of spirituality.
Margery Kempe was an English mystic known for her vivid and heartfelt account of personal spirituality and mystical visions.
Her autobiographical work, The Book of Margery Kempe, explores her emotional and spiritual journey, detailing scenes of mystical encounters, pilgrimages, and the struggles she faced with society.
Margery's candid and emotional style invites readers into an honest portrayal of devotion, bringing recognition to the personal, often conflicted struggle toward intimacy with God.
Hadewijch was a 13th-century Flemish mystic and poet deeply interested in expressing spiritual love and union with God. Her writings emphasize passionate devotion and the soul's journey toward complete unity with the divine.
Her poetry often describes this journey through the vivid language of longing and fulfillment. A good introduction to her writings is Poems in Stanzas, a beautiful exploration of mystical love and inner striving.
Mechthild of Magdeburg was a German mystic from the 13th century. She is known for describing powerful visions and heartfelt conversations with God. Her style is emotional, imaginative, and deeply personal.
Her work The Flowing Light of the Godhead captures her visionary spirituality and describes God's love flowing directly into human souls, transforming and uniting them with the divine.
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite was an influential theologian and mystic whose true identity remains unknown. His writings were influential especially in medieval Christian thought, emphasizing the mystery of God and the limitations of human language to describe the divine.
His approach engages with God's hiddenness and transcendence, themes readers of Meister Eckhart will appreciate.
The book The Mystical Theology illustrates his view that true knowledge of God transcends intellect and reason, occurring instead in a direct and loving communion beyond words.
Plotinus was a 3rd-century philosopher and the founder of Neoplatonism. His writings explore the soul's quest to encounter a higher reality, describing a unified divine source ("the One") that is beyond comprehension but accessible through contemplation and inner purification.
If you enjoy Meister Eckhart’s emphasis on unity with the divine, you'll find similar themes in Plotinus's famous Enneads, where he outlines a pathway for the soul's return to deep unity with the ultimate reality.
Augustine of Hippo was a bishop and theologian of the early Christian church, and one of its most important voices. His style is introspective and personal, emphasizing humanity's journey toward relationship with God, marked by humility, grace, and redemption.
Augustine’s Confessions is one of Christianity's classic spiritual texts; it presents his own journey and struggles, giving readers a personal and heartfelt glimpse into the relationship between an individual soul and God.
Thomas Aquinas writes with clarity, logic, and depth. His works investigate theology through reason and faith, bringing the philosophical rigor of Aristotle into Christian thought.
If you appreciate Meister Eckhart's spiritual insights, Aquinas' Summa Theologica offers profound explorations of God's nature, human virtue, and the soul.
Bonaventure approaches faith with warmth and spiritual reflection, emphasizing the soul's journey toward God through love and devotion. His accessible style blends theology and mystical contemplation, much like Eckhart's writings.
You might enjoy his The Soul's Journey into God, which describes the stages by which the soul grows closer to divine truth and illumination.
Hildegard of Bingen stands out for her vivid visionary style and poetic language. Her theology is centered around harmony, creation, and divine wisdom, conveyed with imagery and symbolism.
Readers drawn to the mystical insight of Meister Eckhart can find inspiration in Hildegard's work Scivias, where she shares remarkable spiritual visions and insights.
John of the Cross is best known for writing deep and poetic reflections about the spiritual path, especially the experience of emotional and spiritual darkness leading to union with God.
His themes of detachment, surrender, and inner transformation resonate with those who appreciate Meister Eckhart. In particular, his work Dark Night of the Soul explores the moments when darkness becomes a pathway to spiritual awakening.
Marguerite Porete writes boldly and poetically, focusing on the soul's intimate union with God and the freedom found in divine love. Her themes push spiritual boundaries, as she emphasizes the soul becoming completely absorbed in divine love.
Readers interested in Meister Eckhart's unconventional and profound spirituality should consider her great work, The Mirror of Simple Souls, which describes the soul's profound journey of self-abandonment and union with the divine.