Mystic Process

Often there is an ongoing succession of states that marks progress in the man/God relationship. These aren't goals to be achieved, for human striving most often is the cause of the death throws of mystic opportunity. Rather, one virtue often rises from the benefits of a previously-acquired one, as though preparing for it. Don't be discouraged if you get stalled or if the principles and process don't seem to apply to you. As long as you faithfully put God in control you don't have to count on human logic.

But there is a lot of historical information that points to a mystic process that flows naturally from the mystic principles. Much mystical writing deals with the stages a soul goes through in the process of walking the path towards union with God. There are very many ways of categorizing this process, because each mystic has had individual experience with it, and each individual is different.

To begin, let's explore the mystic process by expanding on the seven mystic principles. 

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Now, to restate the steps on the mystic path in practical terms:

Recognize God's presence in you and around you; suffusing everything within you and your world. Realize that you aren't fit to judge what goes on in the natural world let alone the supernatural one; that only God knows what's best, and He will always act for your good, no matter how it seems to you.

Abandon your free will to God's own desires. Since you're imperfect, the best way to invite perfect guidance into your spirit is to want only what God wants, whether you understand His desires or not.

Determine to put God above all things of the world. It's the inordinate love of things that don't matter to God that is evil in us, not the things themselves, which were made by God for us and our good. While it's never right to pervert their goodness, you don't have to do without every earthly thing in order to put God first. Once you put God first, He will do all the work until one day you realize the worldly stuff you thought was so great is suddenly appallingly lame. God has filled up that void with something infinitely better.

Use Christ as your example; there is no shortage of ways to learn about Him. Everything Jesus did was out of love for God and the people God loved. In this He showed respect and gratitude, not fear. He recognized God's love, which cannot be lost, and knew in His heart the right reaction to it. Christ's humility and obedience should be your response too. Consider reading the Bible to find out what Jesus did and you will find that following Him is a taking part in the mystic process itself.

Remember the Golden Rule -- it doesn't stop at your loving God; you are also to do good for His other children. You can't just put righteousness on a shelf like a trophy -- you have to use it in any way that God calls you to do for the benefit of others.

Now notice that in every instance above, what you are being told to do goes against human nature. Exactly the point! Vanquishing your pride, abandoning your free will, putting your favorite things last, being humble and obedient, loving others before yourself -- Mysticism is all about moving against the tide of human nature and putting yourself in God's hands by walking the divine path. That's why it used to be practiced by recluses at hermitages where the world and all it's temptations could be shut out. God's ways are always right and almighty God is a pretty good thing to have on your side, but you don't have to give up everything. Remember that before sin, human nature and the divine nature were in sync. Sin destroyed that relationship, but still, human nature isn't all bad and is necessary for survival.

So then, how do you know you're on the right path?

Pray to God for help to see the right way, to take that way instead of another, and to stay on that path in good times and in bad times. If you do this sincerely, it will happen. God will take over because you've let Him; He will be sure you have the knowledge and grace that's just right for you. Once you realize you're in God's hands you will have a taste of the joy and contentment that waits for you in heaven, where there is no sin. This isn't a reward -- it's a return to the way God wanted it all along.

And then, the thing of greatest importance in Mysticism . . .

Be receptive at all times for the ways in which God responds to you. I can tell you that when He chooses to He can bring Himself in front of you in the most amazingly diverse ways! Notice I don't guarantee miraculous and I don't guarantee exhibitionist. Some mystics do have visions that they see with their eyes and they do hear voices with their ears. Some have fallen into raptures where they cannot move. I haven't, but I don't feel the worse off for it. The favors God gives us are just exactly what He knows we can handle, and like walking the path, there's no one way that all can attest to. But the difference will be how you look at God from the new point of view, and how you will see Him in a way you never did before when He shows His works to you. I hope you will experience this joy and contentment that wells up in your spirit once you have given it over to your loving Creator and Father.