mystical v magickal paths

[ISFP]

hey all,

i'm going to paraphrase some william james here.

a mystical experience is one that defies description and must be experienced to be understood.

and in which one feels that some greater spiritual knowledge or truth (as opposed to a truth meant solely for the person undergoing this epiphany) has been revealed.

if anything, these things seem to imply surrender to rather than control of spiritual power.

[I, Brian]

Indeed - I find the concept of "controlling" spiritual "powers" to be a bit odd - like someone claiming they have a leash on God.

[ISFP]

Brian-

i agree. from my point of view, manipulating or controling spiritual power as one's sole religious practice doesn't sound balanced. though i could be looking at this all wrong....

still, i get the impression that the terms "mystic" and "magick" get confused fairly often, which doesn't help sort things out. one's experiences when practicing magick may be mystical. but as i understand it, mystical experiences often fall upon a person like a sort of grace, and are not learned and acted out.

[JJM]

Originally Posted by ISFP

mystical experiences often fall upon a person like a sort of grace, and are not learned and acted out.

This is how it is with Christian Mystics.