What is a Mystic?
A mystic is essentially a person who pursues a truth or understanding beyond those normally associated with the human experience. A mystic may or may not be initiated into any number of spiritual or religious mysteries, and may or may not have achieved the insight they are pursuing. What links all mystics is the belief in, and pursuit of, a transcendent truth which surpasses exclusively rational understanding or knowing. In the popular conception, a mystic is often a person who embraces esoteric practices, or studies magic or the occult. Although people who do these things may identify as mystics, not all mystics are involved in such practices. Mysticism has a surprising number of faces, and trying to define it beyond a pursuit of transcendent truth becomes difficult. There are, however, some major strains of mysticism which have common traits. Nearly all religious traditions have their own strains of mysticism. In many monotheistic and some polytheistic faiths the mystic is usually co
The mystic finds the eye of the needle and enters into the realization of the Kingdom of Heaven within. What Is Mysticism? More and more people have been asking me lately “What do you mean by the word mystic?” There seems to be quite a lot of blurry, confused notions and outright misconceptions about the word. And yet, it is perhaps one of the most important words pointing toward a fundamental truth about who we are at the soul of matter. Mysticism is about how we can come to live within the fullness of our true nature. In a very real sense, because mysticism concerns the essence of life, it is audacious to even try and define it. Words are insufficient, often in the way of understanding. That to which the word “mysticism” refers, is a quality of presence that is quite literally beyond and before any words. Still, and like others, I feel compelled to try and come as close as I can to pointing toward something that speaks of our original nature. I beg pardon in advance for the terrible
WHAT IS MYSTICISM: More and more people have been asking me lately What do you mean by the word mystic? There seems to be quite a lot of blurry confused notions and outright misconceptions about the word. And yet, it is perhaps one of the most important words pointing toward a fundamental truth about who we are at the soul of matter . Mysticism is about how we can come to live within the fullness of our True Nature. In a very real sense – and because mysticism concerns the essence of life — it is audacious to even try and define it. Words are insufficient, often in the way of understanding. That to which the word “mysticism” refers, is a quality of presence that is quite literally beyond and before any words (more on that later). … Still, and like others, I feel compelled to try and come as close as I can to pointing toward something that speaks of our original nature. And I beg pardon in advance for the terrible insufficiency of language and the limits of my own mere glimpses into
I believe that everyone who wants to love unconditionally is a mystic. All children are born mystics, and if you were once a child, you were once a mystic. Christian mysticism is following the example of Christ as he followed the Father. And mysticism is not by any means restricted to Christianity: the Bible says, “everyone who loves is begotten of God, and knows God.” (1 Jn. 4.7) God speaks in various ways, in every time and every place to “whosoever will.” Other pages on this site treat non-Christian mysticism. Mystics range the gamut of walks of life, from intellectual priests such as Frs. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Matthew Fox, to laywomen like Bernadette Roberts and Katherine Nelson. The mystic way is old, but timeless—it is alive, and ever-new for each one who chooses it. It may be inviting you to begin this adventure of divine transformation and discovery.
