A Brief History of Mysticism

Fast-paced intro to the History of Mysticism in under 10, strap in

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:17 (Prehistory) Birth – One with Nature
Animism, Shamanism, Indigenous/Native Traditions, Egyptian, Proto Indo-Iranian, Proto Indo-European, Vedic and Mesopotamian Religion
• 1:36 (1000BCE) Infancy
Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroaster, Greco-Roman Mysteries
• 2:07 (500bce) Discovering Self
Upanishads, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Hebrew prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Greek Philosophers Pythagoras, Parmenedies and Plato, Taoism - Lao tzu
• 3:08 (0) Rebellious age
Early Jewish Mysticism: Essenes, Qumran, Hasideans, Therapeutae, Apocalypticism, Merkava, Hechalot. Philo - Middle Platonism. Early Christian Mysticism: Paul, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine, Pseudo Dionysius, Christian East: Maximus the Confessor. Gnosticism and Hermeticism. Neoplatonism: Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus. East: The Bhagavad Gita. Theravada and later Mahayana Buddhism
• 4:14 (5th – 10th/11th) Dark Night / Death of Mysticism
One exception in the West: John Scotus. Sufism: Al-Hallaj and Al-Farabi. East: Shankara, Advaita Vedanta. Zen and Tibetan Buddhism
• 5:14 (12th-15th) the Rebirth – Renaissance
Christian Mystics: Francis of Assisi, Albertus Magnus, Mesiter Ekhart, Raymond Llull, Nicolas of Cusa. Jewish Mystics: Ibn Gabirol, Isaac the Blind, Chasidei Ashkenaz, Eleazar of Worms, Avrohom ben HaRambam, Azriel of Gerona, Avrohom Abulafia, Nahmanides, Publicising of the Zohar, Joseph Gikatilla's Shaarei Orah. Sufis: Rumi, Ibn Arabi. Sikhism. Christian Kabbalists: Marsilo Ficino, Pico della Mirandola, Giordano Bruno
• 6:14 (1500s) Growth
Safed Kabbalists: Joseph Karo, Shlomo Alkabetz, Moses Cordovero, Isaac Luria, Hayim Vital. Christian Mystics: Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross
• 6:45 (1600s)
Spinoza - Pantheism. George Fox - Quakers. Mulla Sadra - Illuminationism
• (18th) Enlightenment – Waking up, Mirror Phase
Newton, Rosicrucianism, Swedenborg, William Blake, Yisrael Baal Shem - Hasidism, Jakob Böhme - Bohemian Theosophy. Idealism & Romanticism: Berkeley, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel and Schopenhauer
• 7:32 (1800s)
Transcendentalism, Emerson and Thoreau.
Occultism: Eliphas Levi, Madam Blavatsky and Manly P. Hall - Theosophical Society
• (1900s)
Rudolf Steiner - Anthroposophy, Gurdjieff - Fourth Way, René Guénon - Traditionalism. Modern Perennialists: William Jame, Aldous Huxley. Neohasidism: Hillel Zeitlin, Martin Buber, Avraham Yeshua Heschel, Zalman Schecher-Shalomi. Buddhist Modernism and NeoVedanta: Alan Watts, Professor Suzuki, Christmas Humphreys. New Age. Modern study of Mysticism
• 7:55 [Summary]
• 8:46 (2019:) You #ProjectUnity
• 9:10 Conclusion

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Heyo, let me know if you want me to cover any of these, periods, traditions, movements or mystics in greater depth, we could defs dedicate a whole vid to each and any of these.

Looking forward to hear what u thought of it.

Check out this epic artist:

If you’d like to stalk me

[SeekersofUnity]

Subscribe to Seekers for more Mysticism:

[ahobimo]

I love "big picture" analysis like this. It's why I was drawn to history as a discipline. There have been many postmodern critiques of "metanarratives" in academia in recent decades, but I think that there is an undeniable value in having a broader historical context in which to place individual events.

[andythedishwasher]

I've been really enjoying your more recent work, but this was a really useful foundational summary. You seem to have planned this channel well.

[noxot]

eastern orthodox christians had Isaac of Nineveh in the 7th century also known by Saint Isaac the Syrian. 14th century John of Ruusbroec is another good name to mention. also a few christian women mystics of note such as Catherine of Siena 14th, Catherine of Genoa 15th, Julian of Norwich 14th.

[ericaguzzo]

I've been looking for a channel like this.

[Pyro-Moloch]

And so the history of mysticism proves that our civilizations prosper when we embrace mysticism, and rot when we abandon it.

[r-pupz]

Really interesting! I am from an atheist/kinda new agey background (really not into new age either, but I grew up around it.) I started looking into Buddhism at uni, then went through my own "dark period" when I just focused on my career (med school gave no time for mysticism!) After a personal tragedy I left clinical medicine and ended up battling mental illness and addiction, now in recovery but the past year has pretty much been one long existential crisis. I finally realised that what was missing was some form of spirituality or mysticism. Since then I've been trying to find a way to mesh my scientific, rational side that led me to reject new age & embrace atheism, and my deep yearning for the spiritual side of life.

I honestly sometimes wish I could put my skepticism aside and just believe, I really struggle with existential crises and how to handle death & impermanence (my partner died a few years back.) I'm also struggling to find a way to cope with all the pain and suffering I see in the world, without numbing it with drugs/alcohol or turning a blind eye (which is not acceptable to me.) I've become vegan, a climate activist (even being arrested at a protest last year) and am hoping to start a masters in Public Health soon so I can try to address health inequalities related to socio-economic status, but I need something more. I can't handle life if I just focus on the practical struggle. The sheer amount of suffering, combined with my personal existential crisis and fear of death just paralysed me, and science really can't save me there!

All that is to say - I am so relieved to discover this channel. I am currently exploring Buddhism & Paganism (reconstructionist Heathenry rather than Wicca, there are some great anti-racist Norse & Hellenic Heathens on YouTube - many people associate it with the Nazi appropriation & with white supremacy but most Heathens actively oppose that. I always feel the need to explain that, would hate for anyone to get the wrong idea!) I find both those traditions very interesting, Buddhist mysticism has always appealed but I've not considered Paganism before as it was muddled with New Age in my mind. I'm not sure it's a path I'll walk down personally but i love learning more about different traditions.

Anyway, sorry for the essay, and thank you v much for this channel! I wish there was more support out there for atheist/agnostic people who experience existential crisis, I find people often suggest just stopping being atheist but belief is not something I can just will myself into doing.. but what i _can_ do is explore different traditions, religions & philosophies, and seek a moreystical perspective

[fedorbutochnikow]

don't worry about the video being 10 or more minutes. those who appreciate your insights would stick around for 20 and 30 minutes too. it's the quality content that's scarce these days, too much small talk, memes and entertainment. i'm ready for truly informative, engaging and thought-provoking content.

[annekaltschmidt]

I do like the storyline. One would have to really research into the reasons for the western world abandoning mystism. Even until today...
But also loooong before Renesaince and Kant's Aufklärung.
What was going on 5-900 ac?

[christopherparker]

Amazing, super-informative video on probably my favorite topic. Was wondering if there is a single volume, or perhaps just a couple of books, which go more into depth into many of these eras or mystical personages, movements, especially from the standpoint of historical development, like what you did here. LOVED IT!!

[Jurg-n]

it is comprehensive explanation about mysticm. Do you have a softcopy of your explanation? Would you mind giving me that paper? Greeting From Indonesia
Wilfridus Papin

[dwoski]

Just seeing this now. Perhaps this is the fertile ground from which references to perennialism led to discussion with/vs. Jon. Regardless, it may be worth considering that teenage rebellion is not considered normal and healthy universally across the human condition. There are various cultures in which failure to sublimate teenage urges into socially useful participation without expectation of reward is considered a sign of lack of health, maturity, and potentially grounds for expulsion.

The above is offered as a cautionary observation, that if one wishes to place the history of mysticism on a cyclical timeline reflective of the human life cycle there is much food for thought in exploring whether or not certain rebellions were for the greater good.

Also, leaving Avraham (roughly 1800BCE) out of the timeline seems odd. He was certainly a mystic given his milieu; arguably Miriam, Moses, and Aaron (roughly 1200BCE) as well.

[IntuitMachine]

A very curious observation is the absence of mysticism in Europe from 500 to 1200 AD. What is the explanation?

[ComptonWar]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I appreciate your framing of philosophical evolution. I believe in your description of the 1600-2000CE I believe it is important to mention the introduction of Voodoo and African Spiritual mysticism into Western society via the Atlantic Slave Trade. It shaped many cultures and social rebellions which transcend through mystic practices today. Good video though. 💯

[neuroinsect]

I very much move toward the rebellion against the established traditions, maybe not the core of the thing as a whole. But that tend to create this convoluted biased that inhibits inspiration, you can see it very powerfully in modern Wiccan culture, ironically for a universally eclectic belief system. But you also see it very strongly in Christianity, whom, however you look at it, are mystics, rather they know or like it or not. If I may, I would enjoy a video that breaks down the fundamental differences and similarities between mysticism and spiritualism. It gets mentioned in passing a lot but the way you explain things is ideal for dissecting the topic.

[RedAhmed]

You fused Lacanian psychology with mysticism. Now that is very interesting, I want to dig deeper on that connection when I get the time.

[adritars]

Really informative, loved it. Maybe you can add powerpoints in your videos? New to your channel btw! Loving the topic you are going for :)

[madsenketty]

My iPhone is perplexing. The RamBam is on it. Here is a question: did Christ achieve a Perfect Union with god, via his ‘Kiss of Death’, and did the union achieve his resurrection?

[ngonfinda]

The length or lack there of doesn't bother me one way or another

[deepblack]

I think you start a bit late. IMHO - While there is no specific text to refer to I think one could suggest that the Harrapan civilization (standing on the shoulders of an India that starts around 15k bce) had mysticism as early as 2500-3000 bce with the yogi seal that was found which shows a yogi sitting in a meditation posture common to the shambhavi mudra, this of course is speculation but I think fair. Also one could point to ancient northern Egypt of the Delta, the Libu, who have a long connection to the Star Worshipers of the Levant, I would say practiced mysticism. The Pyramids of Giza and the other megalithic sites which have recently been dated to between 2700-3200 bce can confidently be seen not as tombs, the Pharonic Egyptians would never be buried in such structures without spells and their name on them (Khufus name was forged by an Englishmen seeking further funding), but as sites of sacred rites for the living - the 'second death' of the Christened. The Tomb of Osiris which is deep underground was dated to 2700 bce may have been a water initiation, while the Great Pyramid has been C14 dated to 3200 bce. This is controversial but Freemasons who got their practices from the Sufis and the Coptic Christians professed that the Egyptians carried out a series of initiations (also found in the Kobrin Bible) which started under the Sphinx, progressed to the Tomb of Osiris, and on to the chamber under the Great Pyramid and then to the Queens and Kings chamber both of which are built as Harmonic resonant rooms built on sacred geometry. The successful seeker there in the Kings chamber would lie in the chamber for 3 days and nights experiencing the second death before exiting reborn. This is described in Book of the Dead and the pyramid texts. This is of course controversial but fits with what is found and in the teaching that appear around the levent connected to the early Christians who were developing a syncretic practice bringing together Egyptian, Judaic, Greek, and Buddhist thought. Hermetic writing from the Ptolemaic period also derive from this. Even without the sites the text describe rites that I find hard not to see as that of Mystics seeking transformation and union.