mystic

A mystic is a person who seeks direct, personal experience of the divine, ultimate reality, or a transcendent truth beyond ordinary perception. The term can also describe experiences, practices, or traditions associated with that pursuit. Etymologically, mystic comes from Latin mysticus and Greek mystikos “secret, hidden,” ultimately from mystērion “mystery,” reflecting a focus on hidden knowledge disclosed through experience rather than outward ritual alone.

In religious contexts, mystics aim to perceive or unite with the sacred through contemplation, prayer, or inner realization rather than solely through external rites. Throughout history, various traditions have produced mystics, including Christian contemplatives such as Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, and Teresa of Ávila; Sufi mystics and poets such as Rumi; and Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish mystics who emphasize inward insight.

Common themes include the ineffable character of the experience, a sense of unity with a greater reality, ethical or ascetic disciplines, and the belief that truth is apprehended inwardly. Some scholars distinguish mysticism from doctrine or institutional authority by stressing direct, personal encounter over dogmatic systems; others note overlap with spiritual or esoteric currents.

In contemporary usage, “mystic” may describe a person or tradition associated with esoteric or spiritual knowledge, or be used more broadly to denote mysterious or enigmatic phenomena. The term is neutral in describing practices, but discussions of mysticism often involve debates about its nature, attainability, and how it relates to organized religions.