Is becoming a modern mystic possible? Let’s take a journey exploring different levels of mysticism and see how balancing modern life and mysticism is possible.
At its essence, mysticism is the study of the unknown. Those who explore these things are called mystics. Some start their walk on the mystical path after having a mystical experience. Others study it and try out different methods before they have a mystical experience. Having a mystical experience will certainly make you a believer. Some teachers say you must believe that mysticism is real in order to find it.
What is a Modern Mystic?
From a scientific perspective, mysticism can be seen as a way people try to make sense of the world and their place in it. Scientists might study the brain to see what happens during mystical experiences, like when people meditate. They look for patterns and try to explain these experiences using facts and evidence.
From a philosophical perspective, mysticism is about contemplating the meaning of life and the universe. Philosophers ask big questions like “What is the meaning of life?” and “What is reality?” They use logic and reasoning to explore these questions, and mysticism is one way they try to find answers. Philosophers might look at mystical experiences to understand the deeper truths about existence.
From a religious perspective, mysticism is about connecting with the divine or a higher power. Many religions have mystical traditions where people pray, meditate, or perform rituals to feel closer to God or the universe. Religious mystics strive to experience a direct connection with the divine to gain spiritual insights.
While these perspectives are different, they also have similarities. All three are trying to understand the mysteries of life and the universe. They just use different methods to do so. Science uses experiments and evidence to find answers. Philosophy uses deep thinking to seek insight. Religion uses faith in myths. Despite their differences, they all seek to explore and explain the unknown. A mystic in the modern world is a mixture of these perspectives.
Walking the Mystical Path
There are many kinds of mystics. Some are excellent communicators, like Rumi, Hafez, and Evelyn Underhill. Others are warriors and sorcerers, like Carlos Castañeda and Paulo Coelho. Some are guides and teachers, like Joseph Campbell.
The mystics listed above are legendary figures and celebrities. It begs the question, can everyday normal people be mystics, especially today? The answer is yes. Think about it now. Before you read further, ask yourself the question, what is a modern mystic? Record your answer, and then, when you finish this article, see if your definition changes.
Different levels of mysticism reveal different levels of reality. Mystics seek intellectual understanding and direct experiences with different planes of existence. Some believe we can experience the divinity of creation.
Mystics seek methods to go beyond the experience of ordinary reality. The goal is to gain insight into the nature of existence. The mystical path takes many forms. It includes everything from Atenism to Zoroastrianism. One thing they have in common is the belief in mysticism.
Think about it this way: we are born without religious beliefs. Our innocent mind simply contains an innate curiosity, the desire to seek the unknown. You don’t need a religion to delve into the unknown. So, we are actually born with the mindset of a mystic.
The Mystical Path to Becoming a Modern Mystic
Many people interested in mysticism get sidetracked by religion. Religious programming substitutes its myths and superstitions for the true spiritual quest. Belief in imaginary friends and enemies gets in the way of the mystical quest.
The inner quest requires the use of methods to explore consciousness, which are often referred to as inner work tools. Walking the mystical path focuses on inner work tools that explore consciousness. Inner work involves using tools to help us identify harmful thinking and break the unhealthy boundaries of our beliefs. Examining our thoughts, beliefs, and values is the way to understand how these boundaries hold us back.
Becoming a modern mystic means becoming a freethinker and non-conformist. Mystics and freethinkers can see through the cultural folklore. How do you do this? It takes some serious inner work to get back to our original state because there’s a lot of negative thinking and values that need to be changed. Are you up to the challenge?
Modern spiritual explorers and mystics have many things in common with ancient seers, including their tools. Many of these tools, like the Shamanic journey, have been passed down for generations. Mystics and spiritual explorers use these tools to explore different levels of mysticism and reality.
Belief in Mysticism Includes Science
True mystics study science and logic, as well as esoteric and mystical processes. They spend time in nature or take part in rituals that help them feel closer to the divine nature of the Earth and the universe. The more a mystic learns, the more there is to learn. The path of a modern mystic requires balancing mysticism, spirituality, and science.
Mystics come from many backgrounds and traditions. Some align themselves with established religions, while others follow their unique spiritual paths. What they all have in common is a desire to understand the mysteries of existence. It is a quest to experience a profound connection with something greater than themselves. Life as a mystic in the modern world often has nothing to do with organized religion.
Balancing Modern Life and Mysticism
Consciousness is mysterious. How do we become a singular point of awareness? Life is mystical, so my spiritual teachers tell us mysticism is the core of our existence. It is only natural to want to understand its mysteries. (1) The desire to search for the unknown is walking the mystical path.
The difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse. ― Carlos Castaneda
The psychotic drowns in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight. ― Joseph Campbell, Psychology of the Future: Lessons from Modern Consciousness Research
Mystics have a rich tradition as healers of body, mind, and soul—the practice of shamanism centers on the mystical quest. The Shamanic Journey existed long before any organized religion.
I believe in mysticism, with an interior goal, and you are your own temple and your own priest. I don’t believe anymore in religions, because you see today there are religious wars, prejudice, false morals, and the woman is despised. Religion is too old now; it’s from another century, it’s not for today. ― Alejandro Jodorowsky
Mysticism is at the Heart of Religion’s Myths and Superstition
That’s the problem. Although mysticism is at the core of organized religion, most religions deny it publically. Instead, they try to camouflage it with myths and superstitions. Myths and mysticism sound similar, but they are not the same things.
Mysticism is about exploring and gaining inner knowledge. Western organized religion focuses on memorizing cultural folklore. Religion uses myths to attract customers, and you could be one.
It’s important to understand that religion tries to make its doctrines and beliefs spiritual, but they are not. Religion and spirituality are two different things. Organized religion is about belief and pretending in the existence of imaginary friends and enemies.
Spirituality is about exploring the unknown inner world of spirit and soul. In modern terms, spirit and soul refer to consciousness and awareness. These elements of the psych are mysterious. So, many seers tell us mysticism is at the heart of spirituality. This path has nothing to do with the mechanisms of faith, belief or pretending found in religion.
We have an innate desire to explore the unknown, which is the driving force behind our quest for knowledge and answers. That’s it. Becoming a modern mystic is following this call. If you are researching the mysteries of awareness and consciousness, you are walking the mystical path. You don’t need religious mythology and superstition to be a spiritual explorer and a mystic. All you need are the proper tools.
Many religions are based on mysticism. The most popular religions by membership are the Abrahamic traditions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. These are copies of the ancient mystery religions, which are based on mystical formulas. To become a follower of these sects, one must believe in the power of an imaginary being. To do this, one must undergo the mystical process of magical, mystical mental appropriation.
Organized religion lacks tools to explore consciousness. The boundaries of their myths and superstitions are a hinderance to the spiritual quest. For people in these religions, the question is living life without religion possible? Or can you be a mystic and still fit with this narrow belief system? Are you ready for this journey? Here are some starting questions for this inner work.
1. Do I have an insatiable hunger for the unknown?
2. Am I able to embrace the concept that I am divine apart from religion?
3. Do I need religion or religious leaders to guide me in finding my divinity?
4. Is the path of organized religion correct for me, or is it unnecessary?
5. Are ancient traditions still viable and valuable in awakening my spiritual gifts?
6. Am I already a mystic?
Self-Discovery Through Mysticism and Spirituality
The blending of mystical beliefs and scientific thought is the mindset of the mystic. The goal is to balance between two different but complementary ways of understanding the world.
First, it’s important to respect the vantage points of science, spirituality, and mysticism. Mystical beliefs can give us a sense of meaning and purpose, while science helps us understand how things work. Spiritual practices help us grow.
Staying open-minded is key. You can enjoy the wonder of scientific discoveries and still find comfort in spiritual practices. It’s about being willing to learn from both sides and not feeling like you have to choose one over the other.
Finding common ground is key. For example, both science and mysticism explore questions about the universe. They might use different methods, but they share a curiosity about the mysteries of life. We can use science to validate our spiritual practices and mystical beliefs. There are different levels of scientific understanding. And there are different levels of mysticism. You can have both with the intuitive method as described by Albert Einstein.
Finally, keep asking questions. Spiritual explorers, mystics, and scientists are driven by curiosity. You can combine all three points of view. Shared curiosity bridges the gap between spirituality, mystical beliefs, and scientific thought. Balancing modern life and mysticism is possible. One must stay open-minded, seek common ground, and use science to validate the tools used for walking the mystical path.
Exploring Different Levels of Mysticism and Spirituality
There are three basic levels or categories of mystical thought and practice.
1. Fringe Believers or Part-Time Religious Observers
These people follow their religion but are not strict adherents to all of its dictates. They might go to church, temple, or mosque on special days or holidays.
This group represents the fastest-growing segment of believers. Many fringe believers belong to the Abrahamic sets, but they also include all other organized religions. They follow religious dogma because of societal dictates, family, or cultural traditions. Part-time observers often disagree with the more extreme sectarian beliefs but remain silent to belong.
If you ask fringe believers, is becoming a modern mystic possible? Most would say no. They equate mysticism with pagan practices because they don’t understand the roots of their belief system. All modern religions are based on pagan practices that existed before modern organized religion. They believe in mysticism if it quells their fear of death by believing in God.
Their beliefs come from childhood indoctrination. They are followers because of the programming, not because they made an informed choice. Their beliefs comfort them and provide a social bond to a community. Concerns center on acceptance in the community and afterlife beliefs. Are you a victim of this child abuse?
People from the group can take the path of a modern mystic if they use their existential fear of death to fuel their quest for spiritual exploration. Life as a mystic in a modern world is just out of reach but within their possibilities. The idea of exploring different levels of mysticism is something that must often be done outside the boundaries of the religion.
2. Religious Devotees
These are people who follow a religion closely. They pray, meditate, and follow the rules of their religion every day. Their religion often becomes their identity. Life is an act of devotion to the belief system rather than to seeking truth.
Their leader controls the direction of their spiritual journey. The boundaries of their sect limit followers of the Western organized religion. Here, they learn to treat the metaphors of their holy texts as factual events and real people.
They have no tools within these systems to explore consciousness. Many fall into this trap of faith over reason and common sense. Life as a mystic is only possible if you color within the lines they draw. Otherwise, you become a heretic and subject to a range of punishments.
Religious devotees have three primary concerns:
1. Belief and allegiance to an imaginary friend, supreme being, or God.
2. Laws and regulations which tell you what is wrong and right.
3. Financial support and belief in the afterlife.
The above three doctrines operate via the process of mystical, magical, and mental appropriation. One reaches out mentally with the mystical power of the mind and makes a divine connection. This gets them membership in the afterlife club, where they can receive forgiveness to justify their actions. They believe in mysticism as long as it fits within their religion. In the modern world of religion, a mystic is confined to the boundaries of the sect that claim them. This was the fate of Rumi and Jesus.
Many people did not have a choice. Children rarely have a choice. They are victims of systematic indoctrination. Families brainwash their children to accept the same biases and prejudices. But you don’t have to stay with counterfeit spirituality. Once you see the facts from the fiction, you can create your path. You don’t have to believe in imaginary beings to be a mystic. You already are one.
3. The Modern Contemporary Mystic
The path of a modern mystic is about seeking deeper meaning. Exploring different levels of mysticism is a priority. They study spiritual things, experiment, meditate, practice yoga, and seek spiritual teachers. They often mix ideas from different religions.
This group rejects the dogma of religion. Some are atheists or agnostics, but they may not identify with any group—they focus on professional, personal, and social interests.
The mystical aspect of life only arises as a topic of concern when someone dies or suffers from a major illness or trauma. They say I consider mysticism when life forces me to acknowledge death’s unknown existential crisis.
The mind opens to new possibilities when walking the mystical path. Mystics spend a lot of time outdoors, believing that nature is a way to connect with the divine. They are also drawn to the philosophical and spiritual implications of mysticism.
This fear could open the door. A skeptical mindset is needed if you want to be a mystic. When you ask people in this group what is a modern mystic, they talk about balancing modern life and mysticism and spirituality.
In Conclusion — Life as a Mystic in the Modern World
Living life without religion is not only possible but also the preferred state of mind because it is the source of freedom. A mystic is someone who is not afraid to say, “I don’t know.”
Mystics are spiritual explorers, continually discovering new things, which opens up more questions. What is a modern mystic to you? Does the question spark positive or negative emotion? Is it out of the realm of possibility for you? Or are you on your way to becoming one?
Life as a mystic in the modern world is possible if you follow the inner call. Balancing modern life and mysticism is a matter of finding what works best for you.
References
(1) Can Mysticism Help Us Solve the Mind-Body Problem? scientifcamerica.com