What is Mysticism?

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Mysticism is "a direct experience of the sacred, unmediated by conventional religious rituals or intermediaries," says Mireille Starr.

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The word is derived from the Greek for ‘I conceal’ and the related word meaning ‘an initiate’. The Oxford University Press describes it as:

• the belief in union with the divine nature by means of ecstatic contemplation

• the belief in the power of spiritual access to ultimate reality

• domains of knowledge closed off to ordinary thought.

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More succinctly, it is "the personal experience of the absolute or divine."  

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Mysticism is found in all religions and faith paths - Christianity is no exception, and it is within the Christian tradition that we will focus most deeply throughout this series.

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Mysticism is much misunderstood and maligned by some arms of the Church, and deeply respected and encouraged by others. It is a path that invites us to move beyond ourselves to the presence of God in all things. Walk with us as we explore the path together.

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*https://www.learnreligions.com/mysticism-definition-4768937