What is Mysticism? (A Beginner's Guide to the World of the Mystics + 20 Prompts to Help Jumpstart Your Mystic Journey)

What is Mysticism? Exploring the Unseen Realms of Consciousness

Beyond the mundane rhythms of contemporary life, the allure of mysticism speaks to an enduring yearning within the human soul – a desire to comprehend and directly experience the profound mystery that underlies reality. Far from an inaccessible or cryptic practice, mysticism represents a universal impulse towards an intimate and experiential understanding of the fundamental essence of existence.

Mysticism Through the Ages: A Historical Exploration

Mystical traditions weave their way through the rich tapestry of human history, transcending cultures and eras:

• Shamanic Origins: Ancient tribal cultures recognized the existence of hidden realms and spirits. In shamanic practices, altered states of consciousness were used to commune with the spirit world, blurring the boundaries between the visible and invisible.
• Eastern Wisdom: In the East, philosophies such as Hinduism's Vedanta, Buddhism, and Taoism emphasize the importance of direct experiential knowledge. Practices like yoga and meditation offered paths to transcend the ego and glimpse the underlying unity of existence.
• Western Esotericism: Within the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), mystical currents such as Kabbalah, Christian mysticism, and Sufism emerged. These traditions sought a deeper, experiential connection with the Divine through contemplative practices and ecstatic states.
• Mysticism beyond Religion: During the Romantic era and Transcendentalist movement, poets and philosophers emphasized the transcendent qualities of nature and intuition. Even modern psychology holds echoes of the mystical, like Carl Jung's exploration of the collective unconscious, hinting at our enduring fascination with the hidden dimensions of being.

Hallmarks of the Mystical Experience
Though shrouded in a sense of the ineffable, mystical experiences often share key qualities:Ineffability: A transcendent understanding resists concise articulation, demonstrating the limits of ordinary language.

Noetic Quality: The feeling that profound truths about reality have been revealed, a deep intuitive knowing.

Transiency: Mystical states, while life-altering, are typically temporary, reminding us of their preciousness.

Passivity: These experiences frequently feel "bestowed" or "gifted" rather than intentionally engineered by the individual.

Unity: A sense of profound interconnectedness with the universe, a dissolving of the boundaries between self and other.

Pathways to Cultivating Mystical Awareness

While mystical experiences can arrive unexpectedly, numerous traditions offer structured practices to foster these profound encounters:

Meditation and Contemplation: By quieting the ceaseless chatter of the mind, one cultivates deeper presence and receptivity to transcendent states.

• Vipassana Meditation: An ancient Buddhist practice centered on mindful awareness. The practitioner learns to observe thoughts and sensations arise and pass without judgment. This deepens presence and creates inner spaciousness, making space for subtler experiences to emerge.
• Zazen: Zen Buddhist meditation emphasizes simply "sitting." There's no focused object, just cultivating pure awareness. This practice aids in releasing habitual thought patterns and facilitates insight into the ever-changing nature of consciousness, revealing our non-attachment to our thoughts and identities.
• Guided Contemplation: Focusing on sacred texts, symbols, imagery, or specific themes (like compassion) while holding an openness to insights and shifts in perception. This practice often bridges intellectual thought with heartfelt presence, potentially awakening intuitive knowledge.

Prayer and Devotion: Heartfelt prayer and the surrender of one's self can initiate moments of ecstatic union and divine grace.

• Lectio Divina (Christian): A slow, meditative reading of scriptural passages. In a state of receptive quiet, particular words or concepts might take on special significance, inviting communion with a divine presence within the text and within oneself.
• Dhikr (Sufi Islam): Rhythmic chanting or repetition of sacred phrases and names of God. The surrender of self through this devotional practice can lead practitioners into ecstatic states of unity with the Divine Beloved.
• Bhakti Yoga (Hinduism): The path of devotional love. Practitioners express love through devotional songs, chants, ritual worship (puja), or selfless service. 

These practices nurture an intimacy with a chosen deity, where the barriers between the devotee and the divine dissolve.

Ritual and Asceticism: Deliberate self-restriction or engagement in sacred rituals can disrupt everyday patterns of thinking and lead to openings of awareness.

• Native American Sun Dance: A multi-day ceremonial sacrifice marked by fasting, prayer, and (for certain participants) a physically demanding piercing ritual. This act of profound self-offering often induces visionary states and connects participants with ancestral spirit, a larger sense of purpose, and the power of the natural world.
• Christian Fasting: Abstaining from food for spiritual purposes is found throughout the Bible. During intensive retreats or in other disciplined practice, a release from bodily distractions can bring focused clarity, open channels for prayer, and lead to increased spiritual receptivity.

Sacred Art and Music: The act of creating art or playing music, when approached with devotional intent and focus, acts as its own form of ritual opening to divine inspiration and creative flow that can carry a strong element of the mystical.

Nature Immersion: Awe-inspiring encounters with natural wonders can dissolve the sense of separation, triggering feelings of communion with the vastness of creation.

• Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku): A practice originating in Japan involving slow, mindful walks in nature and attuning to the senses. It's linked to reduced stress and a profound sense of interconnectedness, as the perceived boundaries between nature and self become more permeable.
• Wilderness Vision Quests: In numerous cultures, periods of intentional solo withdrawal into wilderness areas, combined with fasting and exposure to the elements, is used to induce altered states of consciousness, seeking personal guidance and a deeper spiritual connection to the natural world.
• Awe in the Cosmos: The contemplation of the vastness of the universe – through a stunning starry sky, or images from space exploration – can induce a sense of profound wonder and connectedness, diminishing the illusion of a separate self.

Entheogens: Use of certain plant medicines has played a historical role (with care and respect) in accessing mystical states. Modern research shows some renewed attention to this area.

• Ayahuasca: This Amazonian brew from specific plants induces potent psychological and visionary experiences. Traditionally used for healing and spiritual awakening, this powerful medicine needs to be undertaken with deep respect for its cultural roots and guidance from experienced practitioners.
• Psilocybin ('Magic Mushrooms'): Used in sacred ceremonies by some indigenous cultures. With modern research revealing their potential for profound inner experience and positive therapeutic outcomes, psilocybin offers another pathway to altering consciousness and gaining spiritual insights.

Mysticism offers a path of spiritual exploration for those seeking direct encounters with the boundless dimensions of being. By opening themselves to the mysterious, mystics find profound wisdom and beauty beyond the boundaries of ordinary consciousness. This journey invites courage, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown – promising rewards far beyond the confines of rationality and material existence.

Important Note: Entheogens can be powerful amplifiers of inner states. Due to potential risks and sensitivities, their use must always be considered in terms of legal ramifications, individual mental health, and with utmost care and respect for the traditions they stem from.


The following is a list of prompts to help execute and/or enhance your journey into mysticism. Each of these prompts invites you to go deeper into personal reflection, potentially unlocking insights and realizations that resonate with the myriad dimensions of mysticism.

1. What moments in your life have left you with a sense of wonder or a feeling of being part of something greater?
2. How do you define the sacred, and in what ways have you experienced the sacred in your daily life?
3. Reflect on a time when you felt a deep inner peace. What triggered this feeling, and how can you cultivate more of it?
4. Consider the concept of 'unity consciousness.' When have you felt most connected to other people, creatures, or the planet?
5. How do your dreams and your waking life intersect in ways that might provide mystical insight?
6. Contemplate the phrase 'as above, so below.' How do you observe this principle manifesting in your life or nature?
7. What personal barriers do you feel may be preventing you from having a mystical experience?
8. Think about the role of silence in your life. How might embracing silence more fully enhance your spiritual journey?
9. What symbols or archetypes repeatedly show up in your life, and what might they be trying to tell you on a deeper level?
10. How has your understanding of mysticism changed or deepened over time?
11. What spiritual texts or teachings have profoundly impacted you, and why?
12. How can the paradoxical ideas of "knowing nothing" and "embracing the mystery" aid in your mystical exploration?
13. In what ways can physical expressions, like dance or breathwork, be gateways to mystical experiences for you?
14. Recall an experience of awe. What was it about the situation that evoked such a powerful reaction?
15. What practices help you transcend the ego and touch a place of greater humility and servitude?
16. How do you interpret the notion of 'inner alchemy,' and what are the implications for your personal transformation?
17. Contemplating the transient nature of life, how does this affect your pursuit of spiritual wisdom?
18. How does the concept of 'impermanence' influence your understanding of the mystical path?
19. Consider the role of intuition in your life. Can you think of a time when it guided you in a way that logic could not?
20. Meditate on the idea of being a part of the cosmos. How does this perspective shift your view of self and your interactions with the world?