You don’t need to be religious to be a mystic

In fact, it helps if you aren’t.

Being a mystic is a spiritual pursuit, not a religious one.

I started on the mystical journey after becoming disillusioned with religion, and that took some time. I needed to work through a long transition to disentangle myself from my religious upbringing. If you’re facing a similar challenge, take heart, it can be done.

Religion gives you certainty: a set of beliefs presented as the truth. Religion works through doctrines and rules for living. It is the safe highway. You don’t have to think for yourself. All that’s required is following the rules. Salvation is guaranteed — as long as you live within those rules.

Becoming a mystic requires moving beyond rules and doctrines and finding your own truth. It requires a leap of faith and moving through the fear that you’re putting your salvation at risk by stepping off that safe way your religion provided.

If you want the truth, set out on the mystical journey. That’s where the excitement is.

Spirituality is what happens when you start looking for your connection with God in places beyond the rules and safe havens of religion. When you shift to spirituality, you work through your direct connection with the divine.

Spirituality is for grown-ups – the people prepared to take responsibility for their lives.