Mysticism is a spiritual journey anyone can begin, but few will complete in this life. It is a maze filled with false starts, dead ends and self-doubt. Both charlatans and deluded believers abound. It may be more successful for the strong; the weak can be easily misled.
There have been deceptive claims of mystical experience. Some were hallucinations of psychotics and others induced by psychedelic substances. Unfortunately, there were also the boastings of bloated egos and the lies of outright frauds. Some cults distorted mysticism.
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism all have rich mystical traditions. Other religions have had mystics among them. First learn about mysticism, in all of its aspects, in your own faith before choosing a course best for you. Only then should you begin to explore its practices and systems in different religions; you may find each has something positive to offer. It is not exclusive.
Divine union is a noble goal, but the Western religions are often skeptical of mysticism. Do not expect the leaders of your church, mosque, synagogue, or temple to support your efforts. If they do believe that you are truly serious, they may be able to introduce you to someone in your faith who can guide you or refer you to some literature which may be helpful. A few of them may discourage you.
Most mystical traditions recommend finding a spiritual teacher. The acaryas of Buddhism, gurus of Hinduism, shaykhs of Sufism in Islam, zaddiks of the Kabbalah in Judaism, and the masters of Christian mysticism taught according to the levels of dedication, abilities and awareness of each person. Your own teacher should be chosen carefully; those best qualified seldom take all who seek them; beware of those who accept any who are willing to pay.
Some people have read essays or poetry written by mystics of their faith, while others studied the mystical teachings of the world’s religions. Devotees have attended lectures, workshops or retreats where mysticism was imparted to them. There are those who pray daily, meditate for a short time regularly or spend hours thinking of the divine. A few people have had life changing experiences which increased their spirituality. There are no short cuts or sure ways for realizing divine unity. To be in the soul is to be in the divine.
The greatest hindrance to awareness of divine union is you: your own previous beliefs, prejudices and misconceptions might cause judgments which will make learning the unfamiliar so difficult. The greatest source for divine oneness is you. It is you who must seek and find your soul: that shared spiritual essence in which all of existence is united in divine Reality. It is always here and now.
Unlike searching for exotic places at the other ends of the Earth, the divine is constantly present. Travel to other planets, however, might seem easier than reaching the divine. This is one trip that you cannot carefully plan in advance. All of your research will only get only you to the foothills of the mountain. It is you who must scale the precipices, avoid the chasms, adjust to the rare air at higher levels, and suffer the various pains of climbing. The summit awaits.
Most people who undertake the mystical quest rarely speak of it to others. Few of their family or friends would be supportive. You can seldom identify mystics, those who have already realized divine oneness, although you will usually notice spiritual qualities in them. Be suspicious of all who publicly