Becoming a Mystic: Discovering your spirituality
What does it mean to walk a spiritual path that’s truly your own? What might it feel like to follow an inner knowing that doesn’t neatly fit into the boxes of systems, doctrines, or expectations? What does it mean to become a mystic—to follow your intuition, trust your direct experience, and discover a spirituality as unique as your soul’s journey? Let’s explore.
What does it mean to be a mystic?
To me, a mystic is someone who seeks direct insight and experience of sacred and spiritual truths—of ultimate reality—beyond conventional knowledge. The mystical tradition is, by nature, fluid, esoteric, and deeply intuitive.
Mysticism often involves working with profound intuition to receive guidance, experiencing altered states of consciousness, shedding the constructed self, and stepping into a greater sense of unity—and into the truth of one’s authentic self.
Mystics and religion
Mystics are found across every tradition—from Sufi poets to Christian contemplatives, Hindu yogis to Buddhist meditators—all seeking to transcend ordinary perception and tap into deeper wisdom.
There’s often a distinction between learned spiritual scholars and intuitive mystics. The latter tend to bypass dogma in favour of direct experience.
Institutions and Origins
Now, I’m not a theologian—but we sometimes forget that the religions we know today haven’t always existed. The earliest spiritual practices across the globe were rooted in shamanism.
Enlightened beings—prophets, sages, those considered spiritually advanced—didn’t set out to create religions. They shared divine messages or unique perspectives, which were later canonised (often alongside the voices of others), eventually forming what we now call a faith or philosophy.
The words of wise men (let’s be honest—not women, as this wasn’t recorded or shared), spoken in a specific culture, worldview, and patriarchal framework, were recorded, translated, edited, and reinterpreted over millennia—transforming into the religious structures we see today. Most are now led and maintained by well-meaning, but often unenlightened, humans working far from the original source.
The Role of Structures
Here’s my point: these religious systems were created. Rules and structures were built around them—shaped by the culture and society of their time. They can evolve over time (some more than others).
Many people feel that to live a spiritual life, they must fit themselves into one of these predominant frameworks. But for some, that’s like trying to squeeze into clothes that no longer fit. Others may find comfort and flourish within those structures—and if so, this blog likely isn’t for you.
For my clients, my students, and myself included, spirituality often takes a much more fluid form—drawing on a tapestry of teachings, deities, philosophies, and influences. This, I believe, is the way of the mystic. So let’s explore what that might look like—and why it matters.
Who we are and where we are from
Soul age, influences and guides
Depending on the age of our soul and how many lifetimes we’ve experienced, we may carry echoes of previous religious practices or deity connections—understood as aspects of consciousness—as well as past allegiances or relationships. These connections may resurface in this lifetime across traditions: Pagan, Norse, Egyptian, Buddhist, Christian, and more.
The same goes for spirit guide connections. We may have known them in other lives.
For example, I’ve been spoken to in languages I don’t consciously understand—Japanese, for instance. I once wrote down what I’d heard, phonetically, and asked a friend what it meant. It made perfect sense. I’ve seen symbols in dreams, drawn them, then tried to uncover their meaning—sometimes with success, sometimes not.
For months, I dreamt of the Sri Yantra without knowing what it was. I once heard the name of a teacher during meditation, Googled them, and they turned out to be a real person. I’ve seen Egyptian goddesses, felt the presence of ‘Christ consciousness’, encountered Durga and angels—often while practising what was technically a ‘Buddhist’ meditation. These beings don’t see boundaries. They show up with wisdom we need at that moment—to guide, uplift, and expand our awareness.
Our connection to ‘the sacred’, or the way we receive spiritual insight or support, depends on both our soul history and our innate gifts in this lifetime. Not every teacher or message takes the form of a being. Some of us tune into sound, frequency, nature, the collective consciousness, beauty, light, celestial energy—and beyond.
Not All Souls Are From Around Here
Not all of us are from Earth—or at least, not all our soul’s experiences originate here. That might sound wild—it did to me—until I began witnessing it through my clients.
What does this mean? That some souls have had more experiences beyond this planet—angelic, fae, vibrational, interplanetary—and so their reference points for what resonates spiritually may be vastly different from others.
For example, I’ve worked with interplanetary souls whose memories revealed lifetimes in systems where there was no concept of the sacred—just survival. It was shocking at first. I hadn't realised just how deeply the sacred shapes our earthly consciousness until I witnessed what life felt like without it.
How do we find our spirituality?
So how do you discover your own sense of spirituality?
It begins with openness. Let your intuition nudge you—towards a book, a podcast, a retreat, a conversation, a teacher. Try different practices. See what feels most like ‘home’ to you right now—knowing that your home may evolve, and that’s okay.
For years, I struggled to identify my main deity within my Buddhist lineage—because the tradition required choosing only one for sadhana. But I had three show up constantly: Vajrayogini, White Tara, and Prajnaparamita. Others appeared, too—like Yeshe Tsogyal. Choosing one felt like choosing which arm to keep. Eventually, I realised they’re all deeply interconnected. My natural experience was being blocked by bureaucracy—which seemed almost absurd, given the mystical nature of what we were exploring.
You might also find that what resonates with you is a blend. Something your conscious mind may not fully understand—but your soul recognises.
So stay curious. Stay open. Be okay with not knowing. And be okay with being different. Don’t worry about fitting into dominant constructs or labels. Ultimately, to me at least, most spiritual paths are saying the same three things: love, let go, and remember you are one with everything.
Further reading
Spiritual development and shifts in your level of consciousness
