Mystic have some specific characterizations that make then different to the others around them. Mystic tend to be strange looking to the rest of the world. Most people see the principles of this world in the form of ideas and words, whereas Mystics tend to see the principles of this world in the form of pictures; they process information through pictures. I would speak in pictures directly to people without using words if I could.

Mystics tend to be combiners. They see similarities in things because of their shape, characteristics, roles, and principles. The below is how a Mystic may look at the world.

Let’s use the example of a ruler, authority, principles, a lion, a kingdom, other animals, relationships, the interior life, and God. So let’s take the ruler and authority first. These are two characteristics that have a lot in common and they go well together; a ruler has authority or uses authority. And because there is principle of authority in this world there can be such a thing as a ruler.

Now, a ruler is a lot like a lion; as people say the lion is the king of the jungle. Now rulers have a lot in common with lions. They watch, they run fast, but usually not for long distances. Rulers like to hang out with other lions but are always wary of other lions asserting their dominance over them. Lions live in groups called prides and so rulers tend to be very prideful. Lions and rulers exhibit extravagance with their flowing mains.

Lions also are hunters. They look around for prey to kill. Certain animals they don’t even bother with. Giraffes don’t worry too much about lions. Giraffes are not one of their favorite prey. So, what do you look like to a lion is very important to your survival around a ruler. Are you competition, family pride, food, or of no value or concern to them.

Now these animals are like also the cities that the ruler controls. What is the nature of your city? Is it a city that is full of resources that the ruler can get sustenance from, is your city a city that is of no concern to them (but if that is the case, a ruler won’t be concerned with running off another lion that may be attacking you). What value does your city have for ruler and what do you look like in the eyes of the lion.

Now inter-personal relationships have a lot to do with lions and rulers, because if there is someone around you who has great lionistic traits them you may now understand why they treat you the way they do. And the way they treat you is the way the see you. But, beware of getting wounded around them because you now may become part of the food chain.

Now rulers are like our own personal interior life. We all have the ability to control the different areas in our life, and each area is like a city. We have the city of finance, the city where we rule from and make agreements from, we have bases or cities where we defend ourselves and send out attacks on others, cities that involve how we trade with others; trade cities; cities of knowledge, cities of refuge, cities of mysticism, cities that we let others rule (other people have control of these areas of our lives), we can start wars with people and end peoples abilities to have embassies in our city of rulership, etcetera.

Now lions are like God. God is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah in the Bible and so a lot these aspects of lions relate to the aspect of the nature of God. I have heard one person say of God, ‘he is not a tame lion.’ They may have been referring to a statement in the book Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.

So, Mystic tend to see in pictures, at least this is how I see and how I categorize and process information, but I far from claim that all mystics are pictorial mystics. I will not limit at all the creative qualities of God based on what I have not seen.

With Mystics being so pictorial that is why they are so prone to having visions; that is, internal visions which are different than external visions. This is how mystic think. Like when you get an ‘aha’ moment or epiphany and all of a sudden understand something. Mystics are like that. But, the epiphany comes in a single picture or in a series of pictures like a movie.

Now, mystic can have a hard time relating what they believe to others because they have all these pictorial principles that they filter ideas through. So, a person asks them why they believe a certain thing they either have to take two weeks explaining all the pictures and explaining all their beliefs, or they just fumble through with trying to give a short answer, and which generally is not well received. Mystic may have a hard time translating the pictures in to words for other to understand.

Mystics also don’t know why they may think certain thoughts toward certain people, but their filters are sending them warning flags. “Warning! Warning! Warning!” But, the mystic does not realize their filters are saying, “This person has the resemblance of a self seeking and very vicious lion.”

Now Mystics can have other problems as well like with images that are intrusive and defiling to them, just as you may get a song stuck in your head. The mystic may get a defiling image reoccurring to them. These can be very dangerous to a mystic; these can actually drive a mystic crazy. Prayers of washing and cleansing of these images from the mystics mind can be very helpful. Note: to those who are praying, use pictorial and imagery prayers.

Some Mystics can pray in pictures. When I am doing this I am usually silent, but pictures are flowing back and forth in my mind.

Now if a mystic learns how to communicate effectively they can become great story tellers.

Mystics also may find it easier to interpret parables, for they know they have to look for the key to the image. This key is based on what the person believed when they spoke it. What the person believes who is trying to understand it, is how that person will interpret it most of the time. If the giver of the parable and the receiver of the parable do not have the same belief system then there may me confusion or lack of true understanding of what the mystic meant.

Let’s take Jesus’ one of Jesus’ parables actually it is more of a spiritual reality with a pictorial example. If a person interprets Lk 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” as dealing only with money then you can understand what the receivers belief system is all about; money and maybe self

Let’s also take a command in the Law of Moses which stated,

Dt 25:4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

Paul fifteen hundred years later says,

1Co 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

That command was a pictorial command that is meant for people and not for cows. When I look at

Exodus 23:19; ‘Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.’

I think to myself, ‘Oh this person is pursuing after God with whatever teaching, so therefore don't destroy that person’s spirituality by using their own sources (mother) of revelation (milk) against them.

This is also a way mystics have hide information from those who don’t believe the same way. This may explains why mystics are so strange and un-comprehendible to non mystics.

Now Christian Mystics can have a very hard time expressing the terminology of their Mystic gifts to other Christians; for term ‘mystic’ is not a universally accepted term in today’s Christian culture. But there have been people down through the ages that the church has accepted and Mystics. I hope this helped.

The below is a definition and listing of Mystics.

According to the 1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language:

MYS'TICS, n. A religious sect who profess to have direct intercourse with the Spirit of God.
IN'TERCOURSE, n. [L. intercursus, intercurro; inter and curro, to run.] Literally, a running or passing between. Hence,
1. Communication; commerce; connection by reciprocal dealings between persons or nations, either in common affairs and civilities, in trade, or correspondence by letters. We have an intercourse with neighbors and friends in mutual visits and in social concerns; nations and individuals have intercourse with foreign nations or individuals by an interchange of commodities, by purchase and sale, by treaties, contracts, &c.
2. Silent communication or exchange.
This sweet intercourse
Of looks and smiles

MYS'TICAL, a. [L.mysticus.] Obscure; hid; secret.
1. Sacredly obscure or secret; remote from human comprehension.
God hath revealed a way mystical and supernatural.
2. Involving some secret meaning; allegorical; emblematical; as mystic dance;

MYS'TICISM, n. Obscurity of doctrine.
1. The doctrine of the Mystics, who profess a pure, sublime and perfect devotion, wholly disinterested, and maintain that they hold immediate intercourse with the divine Spirit.

The above are, according to Webster’s, definitions of who mystics are.

Below are some of the people down through Christian history who were considered to be mystics:

St. Clement of Alexandria (? –216)
St. Athanasius (c293–373)
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
St. Isaac the Syrian (c.700)
St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226)
St. Clare of Assisi (1194–1253)
St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (12211274)
St. Catherine of Sienna (1347–1380)
St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556)
St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
St. John of the Cross (1542–1591)
St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622)
Brother Lawrence (1614–1691)
Madame Guyon (1648–1717)

Researching some of these mystics, reading their writings, and understanding what they went through as a mystic can help you, if you think you may have some mystic tendencies. Plus, sometimes you can pick up clues about the mystic lifestyle by some of their comments.

Now, will all that said I don't believe there are mystics and non mystics, I believe there are people who have these characteristics but don’t use them, there are people who have some varying degree of the mystic in them, and there are people that are off the charts with their gift.

What I found help me was finding a large enough picture base to insert all of my thoughts into, and I use the world as my model. I insert my beliefs into that picture base, into that imagery, to categorize, interpret and file information. But, I am not saying that will work for every mystic.

I hope that helped...

God bless on your journey

Bible references were taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version

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