Fortress Press

Jennifer Wojciechowski's Tending the Garden: A History of Christian Mysticism is a fascinating fresh look at mysticism and an array of mystics, especially women in the West. The book is a gentle walk through the garden of mystics and takes you deeper and deeper, pointing and guiding to eight signposts of the history of Christian mysticism. A captivating book for reflection and inspiration for anyone disenchanted with the emptiness, loneliness, despair, and lack of empathy in America. Loving relationship between humans and God is central to Tending the Garden. It is about finding answers to practicing contemplation of the self and deep, active love for all, especially God. Raising questions about the meaning and purpose of life, the author highlights the importance of Christian mysticism and courageously recategorizes it as a new historical renovation of mysticism.

This book offers a timely and necessary introduction to Christian mysticism. Through her insightful exploration of mystics ranging from patristic authors to figures like Sojourner Truth, Phoebe Palmer, and Howard Thurman, Wojciechowski invites readers to rediscover Christian mysticism as a valuable tradition and an inspiring practice that can enrich both personal and communal spiritual lives today.

Jennifer Wojciechowski's work has helped make Christian mysticism, a complex and often misunderstood subject, more accessible to readers. Her expertise has enabled Christians to better understand and appreciate the experiential aspects of Christian history and theology. Above all, Wojciechowski illustrates the significance of embracing the unknown, and how that can guide Christians toward reorienting their lives within the context of an increasingly broken and messed-up world.

In an age addicted to spiritualities with (or more often without) God, Jennifer Wojciechowski's Tending the Garden is an important contribution. As the great teacher she is, she teaches the reader that the mystical is a fundamentally theological practice of encountering a living, speaking, and acting God. This is a helpful book for our times.

Jennifer Wojciechowski has written a wonderful introduction to the history and theology of Christian mysticism. Not only does she explore the lives and writings of classic Christian mystics with highly engaging and readable prose, but she also helps us understand how we too, as modern people, might benefit from their spiritual practices and ways of tending to God's loving presence in our lives. I highly recommend this book!