Religious Alternatives
Spirituality and Mysticism Compared
Thoughts from Carl Jung, and what is needed right now
Mysticism is one of those few handfuls of words that attract my attention for some reason. Simple, straightforward words are less interesting. My favorite ones contain shades of meanings that are hard to pinpoint and decipher, and how they are used varies a little according to the person. Complicated things awaken our curiosity and imagination.
In my head, mysticism is a malleable term for any mysterious and inscrutable outcome that we cannot break apart and analyze, step-by-step. For many, the greatest magic tricks are mystical, because most of us fail to understand how the magician arrived at point B from point A. It is not that we actually believe the magician has god-like abilities.
A trick that our eyes read as jaw-dropping and impossible, is no longer mystical once an expert explains how it is done. Then, upon learning how the magician performs his craft and executes each part of the trick, we all exhale in unison and say “Oh, I get it now.” Or, something like that.
From all my experiences and teachings received, spirituality is the recognition that authority lives outside our selfish desires and transmutes guidance and knowledge.
