Rational Mysticism

Those of you who have visited this blog before may well be asking WHERE has everything gone? 

Well in an attempt to re-organise the various aspects of my work I took the decsiion to take down the existing blog and start again.

Regular readers might like to visit my entertainment based blog at www.psychicentertainer.net. It contains many of the posts that were hosted here.

The rationale behind this move has been the desire to create a clear distinction between my entertainment work and, what I would like to become my rational-mystical approach to issues, ideas and experiences. This blog will be about those reflections, provocations and ideas which excite, interest, fascinate and infuriate me.

Over the next few months I am hoping to launch a Rational Mystic Podcast which will further develop the themes I write about here.

Rational Mysticism is not my 'invention', although I came up with the term before I had researched it fully. For me it was a way to link my interests in science with my interests in what can be called 'mystical experiences'.

The scientist within me likes to question, think critically and explore ideas within the framework of a clear methodology. 

The mystic within me is interested in those experiences which are often termed 'mystical' and 'paranormal' but which for the most part are generally the result of beliefs influencing perception.

The performing magician is aware of the tricks and illuisions which can be created in the outside world, whilst the psychologist in me is fully cogniscent of the illusions our minds create.

A life long interest in esoteric traditions informs me that personal mystical experiences can be very empowering...

In some ways my interests seem to create a conflict - a dissonance. In order for me to explore the things that interest me I am happy to adopt both a rational and a mystical world view at different times in order to explore different ideas.

Recently on a BBC Radio interview I was asked to explain what I meant by Rational Mysticism. The metaphor of 'day' and 'nigh' came to mind.

The rational part of my mind is 'day'. The drive to look closely at ideas, theories, attitudes and motivations in daylight so developing by critical thinking and understanding of scientific method.

The mystical part of my mind is 'night'. A realm of metaphor and symbolism. Here things are never what they seem BUT a consideration of them can bring about personal insight and perhaps personal growth. It is the mystic within me that maintain that astrology, tarot and similar esoteric approaches are not about revealing truths, but about enriching dialogue. Using symbols and archetypes these aproaches CAN promote self-reflection and poetic self-dsicovery. Unfortunately far too many of those 'working' with these 'tools' create a mist of 'psychic confusion' around them which in more cases than not serve the ego of the 'reader' and not the thinking of the 'listener'.

Thsi blog will reflect the thinking and explorations of those who travel berween the 'real' and the 'symbolic' worlds.

Alan