MSI Press Blog

  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...

  People rarely come to interfaith gatherings because they’ve lost faith. They come because something inside them is expanding—an intuition that the Divine might be larger than any single vocabulary we’ve invented. Interfaith doesn’t ask people to trade their tradition for another; it invites them to listen across boundaries without fear of losing themselves. The Quiet Stretch Interfaith attracts the ones who feel that tug toward something wider. They’ve prayed in one language all their lives yet find themselves moved by a chant in another. They’ve seen kindness in people whose theology doesn’t match theirs and realized that grace isn’t proprietary. For them, curiosity isn’t rebellion—it’s reverence. The Seasoned Seekers Some arrive because they’ve lived long enough to see that “us versus them” never produces wisdom. They’ve watched division wear people down and want a better way. Others come because love or friendship made the world more porous—a marriage, a neighbor, a shared los...