Reflection #128 (2nd August 2026 at Essex Church / Kensington Unitarians)
I have a question for you to ponder: Are you a mystic?
Mirabai Starr says that you are – we heard that in the reading from Jasmine earlier – and that view turns up quite frequently in writings on mysticism. Mysticism is not just the preserve of some kind of spiritual elite; it’s a way of being that’s available for all of us. We don’t have to go and live in a cave, or stand on one leg for 40 years, or take a vow of silence, or spin like a dervish, in order to follow a mystical path. Yes, there are all sorts of esoteric practices out there, but there are also mundane ways of being a mystic.
And, as we heard in the story of the mystic and the scientist, mysticism doesn’t even depend on you being on-board with God-language (though if you do feel able to use God-language, or at least grapple with the mystical writings of others who do, it will enable you to engage more deeply with a long lineage of people who have engaged in the same fundamental questions of life and death, meaning and purpose, for centuries). But it doesn’t really rest on God-language. Mysticism is more about a way of seeing the world – a mode of perception – which puts you in touch with a sense of ‘something more’ – perhaps a sense of oneness or connection – the underlying nature of reality.
John C. Robinson has written a bit about this, in his book ‘Mystical Activism’, he said: ‘The mystics tell us that the cosmos is completely saturated and infused with divine consciousness, including us. They say the divine is closer than our own breath, nearer than thought, always present, and ultimately our truest self. In other words, we are literally made of God, for the divine is everything. If you want to know divinity, they say, know yourself. Mysticism is about perception – the direct and transformational perception of ultimate reality. Although it may lead to or confirm religious or spiritual beliefs, mystical experience itself requires neither, and can occur in the absence of belief or to those with atheist convictions. In this way, mysticism is in a category by itself, free from any particular dogma or theology, making it available and useful to activists across the religious and nonreligious spectrum. Mystical experience is the heart and soul of mystical activism. It is the key to transforming self and world, and the power we each possess to change humanity’s course in this apocalyptic time.’
Like I said at the top of the service, I wanted us to get away from the assumption that mystics are disinterested in the real world, or are trying to escape from it somehow. Maybe that’s true for some who call themselves mystics, or who are labelled that way. But there’s also a significant strand who combine contemplation with practical action. Beatrice Bruteau, the contemplative pioneer of interspirituality, wrote this: ‘Nothing is more practical for realizing our desire for a better world than mysticism. Better worlds have to be built on sure foundations; they must be able to withstand deep impediments to their development… Rearranging energy from within is what mysticism does. How does mysticism do this? Consider that domination, greed, cruelty, violence, and all our other ills arise from a sense of insufficient and insecure being. I need more power, more possessions, more respect and admiration. It’s never enough; the fear always remains… But, fortunately, everyone is a mystic. At some deep level, we know that we are not mutually alienated from each other and that we do have sufficient being… We are helping each other know that we are deeply related, that we are all precious and deserving, that the universe is our home, that we can feel safe on the deepest level of our being. The sense of oneness that is the hallmark of the mystic is increasing. This oneness – freedom from alienation and insecurity – is the sure foundation for a better world. It means that we will try to help each other rather than hurt each other.’
John Robinson’s book on ‘Mystical Activism’ (subtitled ‘Transforming a World in Crisis’) runs with this premise – that adopting a mystical way of seeing and being will transform us, and ultimately the world, in very practical ways. The book opens with these words: ‘Mystical Activism… is an invitation to transform your personality, life, work, spirituality, religion, even the world itself, to become a divine human in a divine world, and a mystical activist in a time of apocalyptic cultural, political, and climate disruption. To call these “end times” is hardly hyperbolic. We are in trouble and the signs are everywhere: extreme political divisions; xenophobic violence; wealth inequity; poverty and homelessness; persistent racism, sexism and ageism; cruelty towards indigenous peoples; arms buildups and unending wars; and, most threatening of all, terrifying climate disruption… Whenever humanity teeters on a terrifying cliff-edge, mystics offer hope, and it always begins with our own personal transformation… This apocalyptic time in history represents a profound evolutionary challenge urgently calling us to the next level of spiritual awakening. We are all mystics… those who pursue the path of enlightenment will learn to dream a new dream of humanity, replacing the illusions of identity, time, and story, with the creative power of love, beauty and enchantment.’ Words from John C. Robinson.
All I want to do today is encourage you to look at life through a mystical lens – to be attuned to the ‘something more’ (whatever you choose to name that deeper dimension of reality) – and interpret your everyday experiences in a way that keeps you in touch with the presence of God or the Good all around you. Reach out, in prayer, to that oneness that connects us all, ‘in whom we live and move and have our being’, for the strength you need to keep on doing good in this world.
In that spirit, I’ll close with some brief words of prayer, adapted from Clarke Dewey Wells.
Spirit of Life, God of All Love, Source of Hope and Courage,
we turn our minds and hearts again toward thee.
Awaken us again to the mysteries that humble us,
the realities that orient us,
the truths that judge and guide us,
the beauty that informs and ravishes us,
the love that nurtures us,
the fellowship that sustains us,
the creativity that heightens and deepens and reorders our living,
that we may give ourselves in honesty and openness to the larger life before us.
May it be so, for the greater good of all. Amen.
Reflection by Jane Blackall