When H. P. Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society in 1875, told English journalist A. P. Sinnett she had gained her paranormal knowledge from more evolved beings called the Mahatmas, Sinnett asked to communicate with them himself. The result was a remarkable correspondence carried on from 1880 to 1885 with Mahatmas Khoot Hoomi and Morya. Recorded in The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, the answers of these Teachers form an essential part of Theosophical literature. At the time, the Letters stormed the bastions of racial and religious prejudice, and they continue to fascinate those seeking to probe the mysteries of the universe and the nature of consciousness. Mills holds a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master's in English Literature from the University of Chicago. She engaged in further post-graduate studies in American History at the University of Washington.

Theosophy expresses modern versions of the ancient wisdom found in world religions. Ultimately, it concerns living fully by learning the meaning of life and thereby achieving self-transformation. These essays by a premier American teacher are grouped according to the four stages of the quest for meaning: The Human Condition, Our Hidden Potential, Esoteric Teachings, and Self-Transformation. Written over a lifetime, these essays comprise a reliable, inspiring guide for anyone on a spiritual path.