MSI Press Blog

  Mysticism has never been a static thing. It’s a living current that keeps reshaping itself around the spiritual, cultural, and intellectual needs of each era.  1. The Desert Fathers: Mysticism as Withdrawal and Purification The earliest Christian mystics — Antony, Macarius, Syncletica, Evagrius — understood the mystical path as fundamentally ascetic and apophatic . Their goals were: Purity of heart (katharsis) Inner stillness (hesychia) Direct encounter with God through silence, fasting, and solitude Combat with the passions and the “logismoi” (thoughts) Mysticism was not a specialty; it was the core of Christian spiritual life. It had enormous credibility because it was seen as the most serious form of discipleship. The desert was a laboratory for holiness, and the mystic was a spiritual athlete. The form was simple, embodied, and often extreme: caves, vigils, repetitive prayer, manual labor, and long stretches of silence. 2. Medieval Mysticism: From Solitude to Syste...

  Mystical experiences—moments of union, illumination, or transcendence—have been reported across centuries and cultures. Yet they seem to visit some people often and others never. Why? 🌿 1. The readiness of perception Mystical awareness may depend less on divine favoritism and more on attentional openness . Some people cultivate silence, contemplation, or awe—conditions that quiet the analytical mind and heighten intuitive perception. Others live in constant sensory and emotional noise, leaving little space for subtle experience to register. 🔥 2. The temperament factor Psychologists note that people high in “openness to experience” (one of the Big Five personality traits) are more likely to report mystical states. They notice patterns, beauty, and paradox without needing immediate explanation. Those wired for control and predictability may resist the surrender such experiences require. 🌊 3. The neurological doorway Neuroscience suggests that mystical states correlate with decre...

  Visions are among the most striking of mystical experiences. They can come as a single, vivid image that imprints itself on the mind, or as a living sequence—like a film unfolding before the inner eye. Some arrive with accompanying words, forming a hybrid of vision and locution. Others are purely visual, silent yet eloquent. The saints and spiritual writers—from Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross to Thomas Dubay—agree that visions are not rewards for holiness but instruments of grace. They are meant to teach, correct, or console, and they require discernment as much as wonder. 🌿 The Three Main Types of Vision 1. The Single Image A single, unmistakable image that conveys meaning without words. It may appear suddenly, often in prayer or contemplation, and carry a clear directive or insight. Example: Years ago, Elizabeth Mahlou saw the image of a colleague whom she barely knew imprinted on her last bottle of holy water from the Baptismal Site every time she happened to look a...

  Recently, Spiritually Homeless (Girrell), reached #93 in faith and spirituality. #117 in mysticism and spirituality, and #235 in spiritual growth. Book description: Many have walked away from organized religion not out of apathy, but out of honesty. Still the spiritual hunger remains; the longing for community and a place called home persists. Spiritually Homeless offers a deeply compassionate and practical guide for those navigating spiritual life beyond church walls. Whether you left organized religion years ago or never belonged to some sect to begin with, this book will meet you right where you are. Through stories, reflection, and decades of experience in spiritual leadership and psychological insight, Spiritually Homelesss explores how we find belonging, create ritual, face the dark night, and rediscover awe—without needing to return to doctrines that no longer fit. keywords: spiritual hunger; spiritual seekers; leaving organized religion; life beyond church; spiritual...