On Being a Mystic

On Being a Mystic in the Modern World

by Tanis Helliwell 

“We are what we think

All that we are arises in our thoughts.

With our thoughts we make the world.”

–Dhammapada

What is a mystic?

A mystic is someone who experiences directly the spiritual truths and other realities that underlie the foundation of everyday life. Most of us have had a singular, occasional or even repeated mystical experience. This could have happened during sexual merging with a loved one, sleeping under the stars, swimming in a mountain lake or even been a “Eureka” insight on how to solve a problem.

Mysticism is at root an individual process but there are certain things, which may help prepare the soil and water the plant so it has a better chance of thriving.

How does one become a mystic?

Step one

If we find ourselves asking the following questions we have probably set our feet firmly on the path of becoming a mystic. “What is the purpose of life?” “What is the real reason behind the events that are taking place in my life?” “How can I understand the divine laws that control the evolution of all beings?”

There are many tools we can use both to hasten and to co-operate with the process.

• It may be helpful to read literature that attempts to answer these former questions.
•  Meet with others who have interests like yours.
•  Follow your gut hunches in work and personal life in deciding when to speak, what to say, what to do, etc.
•  Set aside private time for reflection and meditation daily.
•  Beautify your surroundings to invoke feelings of love, peace and harmony.

Step two

One of the dangers during intermediate development in becoming a mystic is that we develop an inflated view of our progress. We have a tendency to think “I know all this” or “I’ve done that.” Boredom may set in during this stage and we may seek outer proof that we are on the right track.

•  Do not lose heart and become either depressed or lazy.
•  Give your ego a job so that it won’t have time to sabotage your higher self. A perfect job is to attempt to become conscious at all times.
• To develop love, wisdom and right motivation for all your actions evaluate your lacks in these qualities and work continually to develop all three of them.

Step three

What St. John of the Cross termed, “The dark night of the soul” is usually the harbinger of this stage in our mystical development. Often a period of anonymity is necessary where we either withdraw or are withdrawn from the eyes of the world.

•  Develop your weaknesses or qualities that you have undervalued.
•  Keep a sense of humour.
•  Appreciate the simple things in life.
•  Discover and practice ways to serve others.
• Relinquish all goals and discover what Buddhists call, “the journey without the goal.”

A mystic is not just a gifted psychic or medium. Mystics work for the betterment of all beings and may be found in all walks of life. They may be a chartered accountant or our next-door neighbour. At this time in human evolution it is not either necessary or desirable for most of us to spend a lifetime meditating in a cave in India. We need to develop our mystical talents while remaining a functioning member of our society. This is the challenge of our coming millennium. Mysticism need not be airy and vague, it is a practical way to transform ourselves so that we can assist in the transformation of our world and become co-creators with the divine. That is the ultimate goal.

Tanis Helliwell, a mystic in the modern world, has brought spiritual consciousness into the mainstream for over 30 years. Since childhood, she has seen and heard elementals, angels, and master teachers in higher dimensions. Tanis is the founder of the International Institute for Transformation (IIT), which offers programs to assist individuals to become conscious creators to work with the spiritual laws that govern our world.

Tanis is the author of The High Beings of Hawaii, Summer with the Leprechauns, Pilgrimage with the Leprechauns, Embraced by Love, Manifest Your Soul’s Purpose, Hybrids: So You Think You Are Human and Decoding Your Destiny.

For information on Tanis’ courses, click here.