Christian Mysticism




I believe that the Divine touches every part of us at every moment of our lives. This is perhaps the very heart of Christian Mysticism: the belief that it is possible for us to have direct and personal experience of God. People take a variety of approaches to achieving this experience. Some engage in meditation, contemplation, or centering prayer. Some seek God through liturgy or ceremony, either private or communal. Sometimes the Divine simply intrudes into our life so suddenly and so profoundly that we have no choice but to be transported by the experience. Whatever path one chooses, it is the determination to seek that is important.

This is a point where several of interests come together. I have always had a passion for the Arthurian Epic and its tales of the Quest for the Holy Grail. This Quest is more than just a literal search for the Cup of Christ. The Grail represents the Divine and the place where the Divine meets the human. It can take many forms and may present itself in different ways to different people, or even at different times.

Part of the Quest lies in seeking to recognize those times and places where the Divine makes itself known. It is a mystical quest of the heart and soul. It marks those who undertake the Quest as a Seeker, one who is drawn to search for that transcendent experience of God in whatever way they can.

It is also a journey of purgation; the hardships of the Quest call us to become stronger, to improve ourselves in order to better experience the touch of the Divine. So to, we must rid ourselves of the doubts that keep us from seeing and touching God within our own hearts.

The knights of the Arthurian Sagas were frequently called to help others in the course of their own Quest. This is a part of the accolade of knighthood and another aspect of those who undertake the Quest. It includes the call to help others to experience the touch of the Divine in their lives. The Seeker is called, not only to a personal growth, but to aide in the transformation of our world in whatever way they can. This may include working for social or environmental change, or merely in a gentle word and a helping hand.

The path of the Quest is seldom obvious. It is important for the Seeker to listen carefully to the Spirit of God speaking in their hearts. God speaks to us all the time. We must listen carefully to the promptings of the Spirit in order to discern the message. At times, what we hear may not agree with what we are taught by the world and by those who are supposed to "know". But the personal revelations of the Spirit are vital to the Quest.

Throughout the centuries many saints and major figures of the Church have been drawn to the path of mysticism. The list includes Francis, Clare, Bernard of Clairveaux, Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, and John of the Cross, to name but a few. Many people are skeptical of the mystical path, and afraid of the dangers of being mislead. But these great mystics of the past, and the writings they left behind, are like beacons on the path. It is a path that can encourage great growth and yield to the seeker the blessings of peace.



I have been greatly blessed in the course of my journey. My liberal post-Vatican II education encouraged me to seek my own path to God. I have had wonderful teachers, most specifically, Bill Raddell and Frank Smith. It has also been my good fortune to encounter many fellow Seekers on the Quest. First and foremost among these is my dear friend, Amanda Walker. Countless are the days and nights we have we have whiled away in conversations on the Divine.

I have also been drawn to a singular and unique organization known as The Order of St. Michael (OSM). The OSM is a Christian Fellowship modeled after the "Third Orders" of the Catholic Church. The "First Order" of a religious community was comprised of the clergy. The "Second Order" was made up of the monks and nuns. The "Third Orders" were established by religious communities as a way for the laity to take part in the religious life of the monastery. It was created for those who wish to experience something of the monastic life while remaining a part of the world.

I have met some truly wonderful people through my association with the Order of St. Michael. It has been a blessing to know them as companions on the Quest. If you would like more information about the Order of St. Michael, click here.

A wonderful tool I discovered through my association with the OSM is the Labyrinth. The one pictured to the left is a replica of the labyrinth set into the floor of Chartes Cathedral in France. The original is about 40 feet in diameter. It is a wonderful tool that you should try to experience for yourself. The Labyrinth is a meditative aid and a representation of the spiritual journey. It is not a maze, since there is only one path in and out.

The pattern of the Labyrinth is usually laid out on the floor. Sometimes this is a temporary installation created with tape on the floor. Sometimes it is painted on a large canvas that can laid out on the floor. A few have been set into terrazzo or as plantings in gardens.

You clear your mind and walk along its winding path. The act of moving through the Labyrinth aids concentration and allows the inner creative voice to speak more clearly. Walking the path involves three stages. The inward journey is one of purgation: letting go of the obstacles between us and what we seek. In the center lies illumination. The outward journey is one of union: taking what we may have learned and fitting it into our picture of the outer world.

A Kentucky Hilltop LabyrinthIt is best to approach the Labyrinth the first time without too many pre-conceptions. You can learn a lot more about the Labyrinth from VERIDITAS - the World-Wide Labyrinth Project, administered by Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco. You can reach their web site at: http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/. The site includes a locator to help you find the Labyrinth nearest you.

It my hope that you've found my ramblings at least a little interesting. Please feel free to contact me about any of the things you've read here.

Steve Otlowksi: aiden <at> alfar <dot> com