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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 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)

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.

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

MYSTIC QUOTE:

 

 

 

The will of God gives a supernatural and divine value to everything for the soul which is submitted to it. All the duties His will imposes, all those contained in it, all the matters it touches, become holy and perfect, because the will of God is unlimited in power and it makes everything it touches divine.”

 

The Joy of Full Surrender, by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Christian Classics revised translation by Hal M. Helms of the original Abandonment to Divine Providence (Paraclete Press, Brewster, MA 1986)

© 2005-2008 Aubri Dennison

THE ANCHORAGE MYSTIC MINISTRY

First, seek God; then, seek God first

This current spiritual guidance sample is taken from the Devotional Mysticism course, Mystic Spirituality.  To see all topics for the Applied Mysticism course, click HERE.

 

WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-ABANDONMENT?

 

Mystic Spirituality – Subject #9

 

The mystic relationship with God comes about for the most part through the work of God's Holy Spirit in us. But the condition of our spirits can benefit from our co-operation, making our own spirits *conducive to receiving the spirit of God.

 

God does not force us to work toward a spiritual union with Him -- that's up to us and our free will. Often God will miraculously start us on this journey, but there is something we must do to *persevere in staying on the path He puts us on.

 

First, we must learn, out of love for God, to give up the things we've been *pursuing, in order to instead make God's own desires *exclusively what we truly want ourselves. This is called *surrender of the will.

 

Also, we must not only take God's master plan as our own, but put this plan ahead of the things we experience in this world. It's not that we should not enjoy or care about the things of the world, but that we should not put them ahead of God. This is called *detachment from the world.

 

Together, the surrender of our will and our detachment from the world is called self-abandonment, because we give up thinking of ourselves in order to pay attention to God and what He wants. It's this self-abandonment that cleans out our spirits to make them most co-operative with God, who lives there within us. Self-abandonment involves *deliberately putting God first in our lives, and we do this by praying for the knowledge and grace of God that helps us. It's hard at first, because self-regard is *ingrained in our nature. But the more we practice self-abandonment, the easier it gets to achieve it. This is because God wants us to live this way for the peace and joy it brings us and those who are around us.

 

Self-abandonment is the attitude that brings us into union with God so that we may bring others to God as well. It's well within the grasp of every one of us. When self-abandonment worldwide is complete, the world will be brought to perfection; where there is nothing but Godliness.

  

 

 

 

WORDS:

conducive = helpful

persevere = to keep on going in spite of difficulty

pursuing = striving for

exclusively = completely restricted to

surrender = the state of giving up something for a better purpose

detachment = separation

deliberately = intentionally for a purpose

ingrained = deeply rooted

 

THINK AND SHARE: Remember – there are no right or wrong answers. Ask God to help you learn and teach. Try to use at least 25 words in your writing.

 

1. How might things become different in a person's life when they start to practice self-abandonment?

 

2. Why do you think surrendering your will to God would bring you peace of mind?

 

3. What are some of the things of the world that God would not think are very important?

 

 

ESSAY: Write down what you might say to God to ask for His help with your practice of self-abandonment.