Mystics, from John of the Cross and Julian of Norwich to Teresa of Avila and Francis of Assisi lived through climate change, the Black Death, wars and severe persecutions. Viewed through a contemporary lens their lives look strangely familiar. And paying attention to their prayer lives, says Charlie Cleverly, we discover a deep well of resources to draw on as we pray within our own troubled times.

Drawing on the imagery used by the mystics to make sense of their own varied landscapes – ‘cloud’, ‘night’, ‘fire’ and ‘song’ – Cleverly invites us to listen to their voices and let their spiritual practice shape our prayer lives in our own weary and perplexing times. Cleverly offers these ancient voices as our companions, so that, for example, we can discover with the author of Cloud of Unknowing how we can encounter God in mystery, with John of the Cross how we can pray in times of despair, and with Richard Rolle the place of melody within spirituality.