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Welcome to The Mystics!

  

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.

© 2005-2010 Aubri Dennison

THE MYSTICS  MINISTRY

First, seek God; then, seek God first

DO YOU HAVE A PRAYER REQUEST?

Please let us know your prayer needs by typing your request in the space provided.  We will compose a personal mystic prayer for you and email it to the address you provide.  Your information will not be kept or used for any other reason.

  

Your First Name:

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This current spiritual guidance sample is taken from the Devotional Mysticism course, Applied Mysticism. To see all topics for this course and the Mystic Spirituality course, click on the "Courses in Devotional Mysticism" pages.

  

 
 

APPLYING THE GIFTS

TOPIC #7

Oswald Chambers said it well -- “In intercession you bring the person or the circumstance that impinges on you before God until you are moved by His attitude towards that person or circumstance.” This makes more sense to me – instead of asking God to fix something, I ask Him for the grace I need to see the person or situation through the eyes of God. Then I will know what to do beyond that.

 

Every trial, ours or of those we come in contact with, is a learning experience; every trial does some good. Doors can open up to us when we look for the good in the bad. God Himself focuses on the good, and can remove the trial when its purpose is accomplished for those who have interceded.

 

I never used to believe praying for others was anything more than an exercise in holiness, and that if it seemed that the prayers brought about a reversal it was coincidental. To me, if God wanted to do something for someone else He was perfectly capable of doing it without my say so, making intercessory prayer a bit of arrogance. Now I see intercessory prayer as both a response to God's desire for us to ask of Him, and a fulfillment of God's wish for us to think of others with faith and trust in Him. The good that comes of that to ourselves is both the purpose of the suffering and the means to end it.

 

Our own intercession heals twice. Whenever we wish for the healing of others, the healing has a purpose above and beyond an end to one person's suffering. Our compassion teaches us something else in every case – evil and suffering is not the correct state of the world. If we immerse ourselves in partnership with God to alleviate it, we develop the love of God and neighbor that conquers it.

 

It's not enough that we walk the mystic's path – we must also leave breadcrumbs along the path for others to follow where we've been. God doesn't put lights on the road; He shines at the end of it so we know our goal. The way is lit by our own shining gift of grace so that all may see where the right path is, and want to come close. From there, when we hand the person over to God, He takes the exact correct action for that person – maybe not the same action that was good for us, because we don't all follow the same path, but the right action after all.

 

Often I think that I'm not pleasing God because I'm not in a position to do very much for others. This is wrong-thinking in two ways. Not only do I please God by my desire no matter what I'm slated to accomplish beyond that, but it's God's decision, not mine, as to how I can best serve. Once we let God's love into our spirits, He lets us know what to do, what to say, where to go, who to witness to. We have to be willing to do His bidding no matter what form it takes, because He knows the best way to go.

Each to his own measure, God allows us to do what we do for others and for Him. We are not all in a position to go to Africa or to the ghetto. But when we get our guidance from God, our assignment will be just as pleasing to Him whether it involves great sacrifice or small. We shouldn't be judging ourselves by the work of others – what's important is that we are doing what we're moved to do out of unity with God, who knows what's best for us in His master plan.

 

One of my favorite parables illustrates this perfectly. In Matthew 20:1-16 is the story of the laborers in the vineyard who agreed to a wage for a day's work; then argued with the owner for giving the same wage to workers who came along later in the day. We are all going to be saved; to enjoy eternal life with God. We do the good that we do out of gratitude for this. We all get the same gift, so no matter what God decides is right for someone else along the way, the important thing is that what is allotted to us is right for us.

 

The way isn't always smooth, though. Sometimes we have trouble trusting that God is there for us. Sometimes we can't hear Him through the clutter of our own lives. Sometimes we don't know what He wants us to do. In each case, the best relief is to get simple and go back to Him in prayer to ask for guidance. It's our humility that identifies us to ourselves as on the right track. Our prayer, done humbly and sincerely, is the teaching tool we need in times of dryness and doubt and fear.

 

Is it better to go ahead with what we think we should be doing for God and using how He reacts as a guideline of His approval, or should we wait for God to make the first move so we're sure of the rightness of our work? I haven't had this question worked out for me, although I've asked it often. I suspect it's a little of both – we should always listen for God's word on what we're doing to apply our gifts, but if we would take the initiative I think God would bring us down gently if we weren't pleasing Him in His plan.

 

Apply what you learn; don't be afraid of good works, thinking you're trying to bribe God. God knows your motives. Help people and win souls for God too. There's much to be done – God will tell you what and how.

 

SUGGESTED READINGS FOR LECTIO DIVINA:

 

Matthew 20:1-16

Galatians 6:1-10

Philippians 2:1-18

Titus 3:7-8

 

 

 

  

MYSTIC QUOTE:

  

 
 

God does not wish for us to be lonely, and, in the fullness of ourselves, we are not. But God is not found outside our relationship with the rest of life – He is our relationship with the rest of life. When our desire to relate to life is a desire to share our joy, extending beyond thoughts that would separate us to thoughts that would bless and unite us with others, then loneliness fades. The key is not to build relationships; the key is to give up the many concepts that shroud us from this awesome fact: We are related already. We are one in spirit – how much more related can we be?

 

With every human encounter, God gives us the chance to re-create our world. We can extend beyond the boundaries of our isolated existence and bless the person, salute the angel, open our hearts to the similarly wounded one who stands before us. Or we can refuse to do those things, feeling the pain of having someone else withhold from us their blessing, their salute, their love. There is nothing and no one outside us, so much as there are mirrors everywhere. Every person is a part of us, and we are a part of every person – sacred the chalice that holds us together, and painful the thoughts that would tear us apart. Both are within us. It is ours to choose.

 

And we do choose. Constantly.

 

May we choose the divine.”

 

Marianne Williamson – Everyday Grace

 

 

 
 

 
 

  

 
 

AUBRI'S PRAYER

 

Dear Lord, I'm so glad You don't judge me by what I do or what I deserve. Thank You for Your insights; thank You for guiding my hand and letting me know what You want me to do with the gifts You've given me. I may not do great things, or serve You with the vehemence I would like to show, but I will do my best to do whatever it is You want me to do.