| My mother introduced me to the Charismatic Renewal. | | | | often say that the Roman Church accepts its mystics |
| This was within the Catholic Church and involved what | | | | but prefers them to be deeply hidden in a monastery |
| is called the Baptism by the Holy Spirit. People who | | | | or deceased saints. |
| participated in the Charismatic Renewal often | | | | When I discovered what is called the New Age |
| displayed what is known as the Gifts of the Spirit: | | | | movement, I found a group of people who were |
| praying in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, | | | | active mystics. They knew about, believed in and |
| prophecy, releasing of spirits and the healing of the | | | | wanted to have spiritual experiences many people |
| sick. The greatest of these gifts is love. (You can read | | | | consider eccentric, off-beat or down right crazy. |
| about this in 1 Corinthians 12-14.) | | | | The desire for a personal relationship with Spirit was |
| I was actively involved in the Charismatic Renewal for | | | | paramount. Everyone wants it. They want to know |
| approximately 6 years. It was my introduction to | | | | what is their path, what they are called to do in this life. |
| mysticism. | | | | In Christianity "path" would be the same as vocation, |
| I explored mysticism more deeply through what is | | | | mission or ministry. |
| known as Centering Prayer. In this type of prayer you | | | | Meditation, often using a mantra, is a given in the |
| use a mantra to assist in emptying the mind of all but | | | | metaphysical community... not that everyone does it, |
| God. Connecting to God in this manner was powerful. | | | | but is held in high esteem and greatly encouraged. |
| It is what some call "a personal relationship" with God. | | | | When a group of metaphysical people gather, they |
| Before I entered the convent I had the mistaken belief | | | | easily talk about their connection to Spirit, their struggles |
| that everyone there had a personal relationship with | | | | to be true to their path and their spiritual experiences. |
| the divine and knew about and practiced mysticism in | | | | They... perhaps I should say "we"... enjoy being with |
| some way. That wasn't correct. Yes, there were | | | | others who accept that mysticism is everywhere and |
| some, but not many... which, by the way, doesn't | | | | that what others call strange spiritual experiences are |
| discount these women's commitment to living their life | | | | common place. |
| according to the teachings of Jesus. | | | | And, by the way, the Gifts of the Spirit mentioned |
| The Catholic Church has a rich history of mysticism. | | | | above are commonly found in the metaphysical |
| What I discovered, however, is mysticism was an | | | | community. Some may use different terminology, but |
| unusual experience which most people considered, | | | | they are there. |
| shall we say, different and somehow on the fringes. I | | | | |