What Exactly is a "Mystical Journey"?

A Few Words About the Title (and Focus) of this Substack

Since this Substack is still pretty new, I thought I’d say a few words about why I’m calling it “Mystical Journey.” I’ll try to be brief!

Journey may not be that hard of a word to wrap our heads around, but mystical is a humdinger. And when we talk about mysticism, we bump into an entire array of words that are all problematic in their own way: words like God or Spirit or ultimate reality or non-duality… So perhaps the first thing I need to say is that writing about mystical spirituality is nothing like writing about science or mathematics, because the words are mostly poetic, deeply metaphorical, and often carry a spectrum of factual and emotional meanings. Mysticism is an invitation into our inner worlds. Each one of us is unique. So the very language we use will always be colored and shaped by our own uniqueness.

Maybe, then, I should start first with a word about you — who am I writing for?

Whoever you are, and whatever your story might be, welcome to Mystical Journey.

I’m writing for anyone and everyone, at any spiritual stage or level of experience, who wants a deeper connection with God (the Sacred Mystery, which cannot be put into words). I’m writing for anyone who seeks to integrate the wisdom and practices of great mystics and contemplatives into your own life, your own spiritual practice, your own faith journey. And I’m writing for anyone who simply enjoys reading inspirational spiritual writing and would like to receive regular quotations, meditations and prayers to encourage you.

Why “Mystical Journey”?