Spiritual Alchemy
Alchemy is an ancient practice whose practitioners sought to turn lead into gold, Spiritual alchemy uses the metaphor of transforming metals into gold for attaining spiritual enlightenment, or breaking down the image of who we think we are to discover who we truly are, at the soul level.
Centering Prayer Meditation
Are centering prayer and meditation the same thing? How do you meditate, and why should you do it? Our group of contemplative practitioners talks about why meditation is important and how they practice it.
Is Contemplation Isolating?
The Contemplative Path—is it Isolating? We asked our speakers if they felt that being a contemplative means being isolated, or removed from the world. Here are some of their responses.
Contemplation: How to Practice It
How is a contemplative practice done? A contemplative, or unitive experience, is often reached by “letting go” rather than by direct effort. Ironically, this requires an intentional effort: the goal of the contemplative is to move toward an interior quiet and an openness to life as it is in the present moment. Formal meditation is […]
What is Awakening or Enlightenment? (8)
Mystical awakening can occur when something happens that makes us realize that there is a larger mystery of existence than we had thought. This mystical experience can be like awakening from a dream, and you are suddenly able to see life in a completely different way. People awaken to see the inner truth and higher […]
Mystical Awakening Through Prayer (7)
Prayer is an important part of the spiritual practice which can lead to a mystical awakening. From a mystical standpoint the intention of prayer is the intention of achieving a mystical awakening in which our consciousness achieves union with the divine consciousness. This union is the same for all people communing through their mystical awakening […]
Techniques for Mystical Awakening (6)
Seekers of spiritual experiences can achieve a mystical awakening by using a variety of techniques, including sounds, dancing, meditation, and praying. Sounds have been used throughout history to help achieve a mystical state of mystical awakening and communion with the inner spirit. Instruments, including drums and gongs have aided with the mysticism seeker’s ability to […]
How Can We Achieve A Mystical State? (5)
Throughout history and different religious traditions, people have used a great number of techniques to enter into a mystical state and to open themselves up to the mystic experience. Many are successful because the mystical state is completely natural and lies in the background of everything. Because mysticism is a natural state, it can manifest […]
How is mysticism different from religion? (3)
Mysticism is an essential element in all religions. However, it can never be the whole content of any religious tradition. This is because religions must be based in a context of history, dogma, and institutions in order to be effective. Religions are a social phenomenon which binds people together in a positive way. However it […]