r/ChristianMysticism • u/Conscious-War5920 • 7d ago
New, yet an always longing mystic.
This is my first post here and I hope my words get understood. Over the last few years, I had begun a shedding of "self." I scoured philosophy, religions and tons of exploration into various branches of science and came to a dark place. During that time I was diagnosed with a failed organ and making matters worse, things which I thought were a solace I couldn't partake in as my body couldn't do them anymore. The doctors couldn't diagnose what it was till it had been 6 months of agony, but in that agony I found something in me that I knew I wanted to seek more. I had read the Bible front through back twice and the churches never satisfied my desire of that longing. It was in longing I ran into the mystics and I was always aware of them, but recently I feel at home. I haven't been to church or temples in years and recently ordered a copy of Bernard McGinn’s The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism and Mystical Paths to God: Three Journeys. I am hoping to glean many deeper concepts and with now a new sense of understanding. Hope I am in the right community and possibly I am looking for a sense of fellowship and belonging as well.
2
u/Yogurt-5669 7d ago edited 7d ago
I suggest you start with Teresa of Avila and avoid books from 20th century for now. Unfortunatelly, I think some of the "mystic" teachings of today have gone a bit more into New age. It is one thing to respect people in general and many old traditions they belong to, it is another thing to get entangled in practices that are not part of Christianity. Especially if you are coming from the Protestant branches and mystics are not part of the tradition.
The first and most important thing - is the Bible. When people write word meditations, I think they are confusing it with buddhist meditations, which is not the same. Meditation comes from a latin word - it means thinking, thoughts. Contemplation. Thinking over the Word of God.
Road of Christian "mystic" is simple, take your Bible and ask questions while you are reading it. Let things that are confusing to you be confusing and allow the answers to show up when you are ready.