Welcome to The Anchorage!
AM I IN THE RIGHT PLACE?
If you're feeling the discontent of having no spiritual direction and experiencing the nagging thought that you're missing something important ...
If you don't have a Bible, don't understand scripture, or are intimidated by those who do understand it .. .
If you have a religion and a denomination but no meaningful relationship with God ...
If you wanted to visit a website about the paranormal or occult and reached this site by mistake ...
If you feel Mysticism threatens your own beliefs and want to keep tabs on what "the enemy" is doing ...
If you instinctively believe that the Creator loves us and wants us all back with Him ...
Whatever it was that brought you to this site, I hope sincerely that you will continue your investigation by cheerfully setting aside pre-conceived notions of Mysticism, and also your understandable intellectual need to categorize your set of religious beliefs. Life's loftiest goal, a relationship with our creator, is the one which takes the most humility, but there is also freedom and joy in focusing on union with God. This freedom and joy is what I want most for all, and though it's trying to explain the unexplainable, I hope what we do here will inspire you to realize your own ability to recognize God's love for you.
WHAT IS MYSTICISM? ". . . the experience of mystical communion or direct communication with ultimate reality reported by mystics; the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience (as intuition or insight); a theory postulating the possibility of direct and intuitive acquisition of otherwise (unobtainable) knowledge and grace . . ." (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)
That is the dictionary definition; here is how it feels:
Mysticism is the state of recognizing and accepting a personal, loving relationship between you and your Creator based on your free will desire for it and the gift of God's spirit infused into your own. It shows itself in your need to communicate often with Him in comfortable prayer, and results in your sense of God's presence constantly supporting you throughout your daily life. Your inner senses are heightened and your body, mind, soul and spirit are together oriented toward God in such a way as joy becomes more familiar and the trials of life become more bearable. You attain a new humility that urges you to match your will to God's, and a new obedience to accept God's plan without question. You are more attuned to God's reality than to the world's, and you tend to put God first, ahead of worldly distractions and absurdities. You become conscious of a deep peace in your life that comes from knowing virtue and pursuing a right-relationship with God. You attain a new hope for life everlasting because through mystic experience you have already seen a glimpse of what God has in store for you and it is wonderful beyond expression.
WHAT IS MYSTIC DEVOTION?
A person doesn't set out to become a mystic – enrolling in courses and getting a diploma that makes them a mystic. Mystics become mystics through a calling by God and a surprisingly well-documented process brought to life through God's grace. But people who have gotten that calling probably do not understand that it is a beginning, and may spend many years in confusion as to how to proceed. These things are decided by God, but by studying the history and works of past and present mystics, a seeker can recognize what they're going through and say “Yes” to God through the mystic process. Those who have not experienced a calling can also perfect their prayer and their spirit to make themselves receptive to what God wants for them. So there's great reward in mystic devotions for everyone, including the peace and joy of placing ourselves in the attitude of appreciation for God's presence in our lives.
IS MYSTICISM RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL?
All religions have their mystic elements; yet Mysticism isn't limited to being a religious exercise, but is more of an independent, personal spirituality. It's the nature of Mysticism to have a universal outlook appealing to the global community, because the Creator is the Father of all. Mysticism is about the unitive relationship each person can have with the Creator, who doesn't distinguish between us for this purpose.
WHAT CAN MYSTICISM DO FOR ME?
The hope of Eternal Life, thereby, is available to all, and the joy and promise of God's Kingdom can be demonstrated here and now on Earth -- we are chosen by God because we demonstrate our desire to be chosen, and to receive insight. In seeking a relationship with the Creator, we naturally secure the very virtues that open us up to a right-relationship with God and the ability to recognize His presence in our lives. Our own divinity, then, puts us in right-relationship with each other too. In this path lies the peace and joy that was meant for us since the beginning. | 
