Mysticism and Modern Spirituality
Esha Sangha, Issue #1, Summer 24
Although we may overlook it, mysticism, originally a concept from Ancient Greece, has crept into daily life in the Western world. From yoga and meditation to tarot card reading, mystical philosophy has spread to every corner of the world.
The term ‘mysticism’ has roots in Ancient Greek philosophy, where the word ‘mystic’ referred to a learner of a mystery religion or cult. Yet, when the term made its way into Christianity, it ironically lost its sense of the ‘secret’ or ‘mysterious’ and instead became a way of openly practising religious ecstasy. In the Middle Ages, Christian mysticism was about capturing the rapture of the soul and unifying one’s spirit with God’s essence. The harnessing of the soul in these practices was intense and powerful, with participants seeing visions of Christ and experiencing shaking and swaying – something still seen today in modern Pentecostal churches.
Although mystical practices were common in Christianity, they also appeared in Eastern religions such as Hinduism. In Hinduism, mystical philosophy entailed reaching a state of realisation and the release of one’s spirit from its ‘prison’ of matter, often achieved through the consumption of hallucinogens to truly gain mystical insight.
For instance, in some parts of India, a Vedic sacrificial meal was carried out and shared with the devas (Gods). A chosen individual then drank a beverage made of the hallucinogen ‘soma’. This person was considered a sacrifice, as they had gained mystical insight and had become one with the cosmos.
Yoga, another example of a mystic Hindu practice integrated into Western life,consists of withdrawing all sense of self perception and realising one’s cosmic identity. While yoga is now primarily used for relaxation, its true mystical purpose was to unify oneself with the divine essence. Some yogis even believe they’d achieve knowledge of their deaths, or insight of their past lives through the practice.
Although many interpret mysticism as a way of unifying the soul with the Absolute or God. Other mystics, such as 14th-century philosopher Meister Eckhart, believed the experience consisted of reaching a state of ‘nothingness’, where the soul disappears, leaving behind only the mind and emotion. Others claim mysticism allows insight into an extrasensory realm, hidden by our regular senses but unveiled through mystical perception.
For example, many ancient philosophers argued that Pythagoras’ formulas provide an extrasensory reality; suggesting that a number or mathematical expression exists independently of human knowledge, regardless of individual awareness. It requires no thinker or perceiver, or any senses. Thus, it concerns an extrasensory phenomenon, perhaps providing proof of an extrasensory world. As the spiritual phenomena mystics experience are hidden from the senses, some believe the world around us to be merely illusory, with the real, spiritual world only accessible through such practices.
Many members of Shamanism partake in this belief. Through falling into trances, they visit spiritual planes in a disembodied form, to gain visions of spirits or ghosts. Substances and hallucinogens have also been historically used in mysticism, with some Native American Churches using peyote, a small cactus plant. Some people speculate that manna, or the holy bread mentioned in the Bible, was psychoactive. In some areas of Jewish mysticism, sex between a man and woman was viewed as mystical, where masculine and feminine elements of the divine unite in theological practice.
In modern times, mysticism has lost any single definition and has instead become deeply diverse and interpretative, unique to different cultures and religions. According to surveys, around 1/3 of the UK and US population have had one or more spontaneous mystical experiences.
In the UK, spirituality and forms of mystic practice can be found in many spaces such as yoga classes, reiki sessions, and even palm readings. In London alone, there are countless occult bookshops, spiritual ceremonies and even psychedelic parties to attend. Although mysticism has no clear-cut definition, its impact on modern spirituality and Western culture is evident. §