Mystics of all cultures and traditions since time immemorial have experienced profound connection to something larger than themselves.
Please understand that I am not promoting any particular “religion” here. There is a distinct difference between “religion” and Spirituality. Religions are man made institutions filled with rules and doctrines meant to impose a particular viewpoint or interpretation of agreed upon “sacred’ texts. Participants are expected to live by these rules or be judged harshly. This is not Spirituality. Spirituality is about an individual’s journey of connection to Source and his/her/their own Soul’s expansion and growth, without interference from others.
Now, that being said, certainly there have been “Mystics” who practiced within a particular religion. Mystics are those who experience in a direct and sometimes ecstatic way, that Divine Connection to their Source/Universal Consciousness/Higher Self. Sometimes there are Practices within a religion, that will enhance one’s ability to go Deep within and connect with that Divine Essence. Practices such as Meditation, Singing, Chanting, Dancing, Playing Music, Affirmations, Painting, Prayer etc. These are “Practices” or methods, that people from all traditions have had great success with.
As I have mentioned before, I had much experience with these practices, even as a child. I was brought up within a very Evangelical background, and though I do not ascribe to most of their “doctrines” they did do a lot of singing, meditation and prayer practices. And again, I do not always agree with their brand of worship, but I did find certain songs or the act of being in meditation, to be practices that catapulted me into ecstatic communion with God or an Angel or Yeshua or Mother Mary. I learned a certain Openness to these experiences that was supported or accepted.
But getting back to Mystical Experiences. Besides being Open to these experiences, it is also important to not have expectations for it, because that will create anxiety or limiting beliefs about what should happen. It is best to just blissfully want nothing more than to commune with God or Nature, and to express your Gratitude for all that is. That will keep you within that childlike state of Openness and Wonder.
Have you ever watched a little child play outside? or remember what it was like? They can wander around, finding things to be excited about, every inch of the way, can chase after a butterfly with complete abandon, suddenly come across a puddle, and change gears, jumping in it and finding new things to discover. They might not have a set destination or goal in mind, or if they do, it easily set aside for a new experience.
If you are familiar with the words of Yeshua/Jesus, “the Kingdom of Heaven is within”? And “unless you be like a little child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven”? These words are about being able to Connect/Commune to God/Source/Heaven, within your own Heart and Soul. To not only have Faith that it is possible, but also to be childlike in your Openness to discover and allow the experience to be whatever it may be.
So, For many reasons, I was very much Open to these Mystical experiences growing up and as an adult decided to continue cultivating these practices and experiences. I did choose to look into other “religions” to see what Practices they kept and what wisdom might have been found. I discovered the same practices within all. There have been those who experience Mystical Connection to The Divine in every culture and tradition, who may explain their experiences in different words than I would use, but the Key Wisdoms and Essence of God were the same.
Here is a moving experience I had, “connecting” with the Divine feminine Essence of Compassion, that some traditions call Quan Yin. I was meditating by a small garden fountain and pool of water with intriguing rock formations, that is a stopping point along a path to a Buddhist Temple. I was new to this place and was very much enjoying the tranquility. I decided to offering gratitude to the Divine Feminine Aspect of God, in the form of Quan Yin. As I sat with eyes closed, my Inner Eye suddenly activated and I “saw” Bright Fuschia Sparkles descending from the Temple above, to where I was seated. I felt an Amazing Motherly and Compassionate Presence move all around me as if embracing me. It uplifted my Spirit tremendously, and it was such a deeply moving experience to feel held in that Love and it was beyond any earthly human experience I had ever had. It was incredibly profound, moving me to tears, to know that such Compassionate Love existed.
I have connected to that very same Divine Essence many times through out my life. I have adopted a practice of chanting “Om Mani Padme Hum”, which often will bring about connection to that Presence. Another great experience was when I picked up my first book on the subject of Reiki, an energy healing modality that calls upon the Essence of God to flow through the hands in a specific manner to facilitate healing. As I picked up that first book and opened to a random page, my eyes fell upon the name Quan Yin (as God’s Essence of Compassion) and I spoke it out loud. Immediately, my throat chakra started vibrating exponentially, and opened widely. It was a very physical sensation that startled me and I dropped the book. I had never heard of Reiki before that day but I knew I needed to study that! I studied through three levels of Usui Reiki and then had to wait 6 months before starting to study Karuna Reiki, which works directly with the energy and Presence of Quan Yin, but it was all so worth it! My connection to Quan Yin deepened the quality of my Faith as well as Opening me up to even more Beautiful experiences with The Presence of God in its various qualities and aspects.
Everything that exists is an expression of God. All humans are an expression of God. All of Nature is an expression of God. God created All of it. The various “forms” or “expressions” of God that exist are as individual and unique as snowflakes are, as grains of sand are, as we are. Therefore, everyone’s experience of “God” will be different. So let us have no expectations and let us not judge another person’s experiences, as we would hope to not be judged. Let us All be Open to every conceivable and inconceivable, Beautifully Majestic and Infinite Experience of God.
