The hottest Mysticism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Faith & Spirituality Topics

In the Desert of the Heart

The Abbey of Misrule • 523 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Inner silence matters more than external quiet. Calming the inner noise is what allows the Holy Spirit to dwell in the heart.
  2. Our identities, words, and stories become cages that block spiritual growth. Letting go of self-made opinions and returning to simple, childlike openness creates space for real transformation.
  3. Spiritual change is quiet, hidden work that grows through stillness and prayer. Even amid outer chaos, trusting God and deliberately making room for silence lets the soul be purified.

"Predictive History" and the Second Coming

What's Important? • 20 implied HN points • 27 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Conspiracy-style doom stories might grab attention but usually lower your agency; ask whether an idea actually increases your consciousness or capacity to act before you invest energy in it.
  2. Building communities that balance material and spiritual values—combining left-brain analysis with right-brain intuition—can reduce unnecessary suffering and help people co-create a better future.
  3. People with resources and influence should freely share wisdom and form networks that empower free will instead of manipulating attention, and act generously and promptly to support that shift.

This is the work

Silentium • 419 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. The essence of the work is about finding stillness and emptiness within ourselves. It's like stepping into a quiet room where you can feel a strong presence.
  2. This path is not limited to one specific faith or belief; it is a shared journey among all mystics. Everyone can connect with this work, regardless of their background.
  3. To truly understand our place and existence, we need to look within ourselves and recognize our connection to everything. Silence and stillness are key to discovering this deeper truth.

And you don't care?

Secretum Secretorum • 378 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
📖 Philosophy Mysticism
  1. Many big, world-changing ideas in the humanities come from altered states or sudden experiences that feel given, not from linear, conscious thinking.
  2. Anomalous events like levitation or ecstatic encounters, if they actually happened, would force us to rethink consciousness, physics, and what counts as reality, so dismissing them out of hand is a mistake.
  3. Refusing to take ontological positions (agnosticism) is itself a metaphysical stance that tends to support materialist reductionism, so we need to imagine new realities or the humanities will remain sidelined.

Walk Away From The Sea

The Abbey of Misrule • 324 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. A life spent chasing wealth and the sea can be answered by a deeper call to leave it all and live simply in the woods.
  2. Dreams and quiet visions can push a person to change course, acting like a summons to a new vocation and a kind of rebirth.
  3. The wild—its trees, animals, and simple food—becomes a sacred home where humility, song, and transformation are possible.
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Days of Awe

davidabell • 257 implied HN points • 05 Oct 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Many people today struggle to feel awe due to busy lives and technology that makes us feel in control. It’s important to take moments to reflect and appreciate the greater universe around us.
  2. Science has revealed how vast and complex the universe is, but this should inspire awe rather than diminish it. We still have much to learn about the world, and the mysteries of nature can be humbling.
  3. There is a balance between questioning everything and accepting that some things are beyond our understanding. Accepting our limits and feeling awe can lead to a deeper appreciation of life.

Going Under, Coming Up

The Abbey of Misrule • 989 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Baptism and illness are framed as forms of rebirth that strip away pride and the false self, drawing a person into deeper dependence on God and a simpler, more childlike way of being.
  2. A conscious withdrawal from public life and the internet is being taken to recover health and rediscover the joy of writing, with a shift toward pilgrimage, nature, storytelling, and a slower, less regular publishing rhythm.
  3. All future writings will be free to read and supported by a voluntary subscription model so that able readers can fund the work and make it accessible to those who cannot pay, with paid tiers offering community access and extra perks.

Acts of Faith

As Ever • 7 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. When everything collapses, art and poetry still remain and can bring comfort and meaning in the darkest times.
  2. Life can feel like wandering through old traditions and long silences; we keep moving, sometimes speaking with regret, but staying gentle among friends and enemies.
  3. Certain single moments—a touch, a wave, a song—are enough to satisfy us forever, turning into a memory that feels like an inheritance and brings contentment.

The Experience of God

Secretum Secretorum • 479 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Materialist or naturalist accounts can't fully explain why anything exists or why consciousness and physical laws make sense. That suggests we need a transcendent ground beyond nature to account for existence.
  2. Ultimate reality is best understood as an infinite source of being, consciousness, and bliss that grounds and sustains all finite things, not as just another object within the world.
  3. Human knowing is inherently directed toward transcendent ends like truth, beauty, and goodness, and experiences of wonder, beauty, and disciplined contemplation are presented as the proper ways to encounter and confirm that transcendent reality.

The Advent Salon

The Abbey of Misrule • 363 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Taking a planned, month-long internet break can help recovery from exhaustion and burnout. It's okay to accept help and let the body heal at its own pace.
  2. Quiet spiritual reading and reflection can bring comfort during illness, offering a perspective that suffering is temporary and can have deeper meaning.
  3. Keeping an open community salon lets people connect and keep conversations alive during absences, and sharing seasonal music or invitations to worship helps people feel linked together.

What's Going to Happen Next.

What's Important? • 62 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Tightly curated, small-scale communities are coalescing into a larger “Network of Networks” that will share teachers, members, and resources to scale remedial spiritual and personal development.
  2. There is a big, unmet demand from mid-career professionals for purpose, embodiment, and real community, and these groups can grow quickly because people want human connection and transformation more than AI-generated content.
  3. Success depends on three things: strong, high-integrity founders and training; the flow of people, places, and capital between groups; and a curated content/tech stack plus deliberate funding that values embodied wisdom over commoditized intelligence.

Soul Renewal During the Times of Heavy Lies and "the Files"

Tessa Fights Robots • 20 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Many public voices use rehearsed talking points and spiritual-sounding words to manipulate people, so be cautious about accepting popularity or fancy language as truth.
  2. It’s natural and important to grieve when trusted people or movements betray your expectations, and stepping back to process rather than reacting to media pressure helps you regain clarity.
  3. The antidote is to choose honesty, inner integrity, and courageous aliveness—opt out of performative narratives, defend your truth with love, and walk your path rather than follow crowd control.

The owl season

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 2536 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. The newsletter discusses folklore, book releases, and interviews about myths and legends, emphasizing the importance of nature and storytelling.
  2. The writer shares personal reflections on aging, seasonal changes, and the joy of creating in solitude, highlighting the cyclical nature of elderhood and the importance of setting boundaries.
  3. The post also features updates on community events, reading recommendations, and a workshop on the myth of Psyche and Eros, showcasing a diverse range of literary content and upcoming activities.

In Case You Know Someone Who Is Dying, Has Died, or May Die in the Future

Think Future • 738 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Different religions have exoteric and esoteric approaches to death and the afterlife, which influences their views on heaven and the divine.
  2. Mystic beliefs often emphasize the presence of the divine in everyday life and the idea that we are part of The Beyond, both while alive and after death.
  3. According to mystics, individuals reunite with the divine and loved ones after death, and their presence continues to impact the world through memories and teachings.

Feeling the weight of the world.

Neckar’s Notes • 78 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Many people are carrying a deep, collective heaviness that comes from sensing large-scale crises, not just from lacking material comforts. This weight can feel lodged in the body and make it hard to talk or write about what’s happening.
  2. Periods of widespread suffering can act like a crucible that forces rapid change and can eventually lead to a rebirth or more unified way of being. Painful collapse may be the precursor to heightened creativity and new social organization.
  3. A helpful response is to honor and accept these feelings, avoid numbing habits like excessive social media, and use grounding practices—like nature, breathwork, and making space—to process what’s coming. You’re not alone in carrying this weight.

Liber Ludens

Secretum Secretorum • 580 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Life can be seen as a game rather than just a series of problems. Embracing playfulness can lead to greater joy and creativity.
  2. The journey of understanding ourselves and the world is filled with ups and downs, and love often comes with challenges. It's through these experiences that we grow.
  3. Divine intervention or unexpected help can change everything. By being kind and surprising others, we can bring more love and light into the world.

What Happened to me Inside the Great Pyramid

What's Important? • 76 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Initiatory experiences often give you what you need, not the dramatic proof you want; the real result can be inner shifts like greater presence and healing rather than supernatural encounters.
  2. Sacred spaces and their acoustics can powerfully change bodily awareness and open access to somatic wisdom, with resonance and ritual highlighting the importance of the feminine and interoception in transformation.
  3. Lasting change often comes from practical somatic work and small shifts in the body, which can release long-standing pain and emotional patterns and make it easier to receive love and be present.

Four Ways to Spend Your Days

What's Important? • 44 implied HN points • 24 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. You can sort what you consume by how much it boosts your awareness and your ability to act, and it’s wise to steer toward content that raises both.
  2. Don’t get stuck in low-value traps like doomscrolling, one-sided hustle culture, or unintegrated spirituality—each stage has use, but the goal is to integrate lessons so they actually improve your life.
  3. Notice how information makes you feel and favor sources that give an embodied, energizing charge while aligning with your curiosity and the common good; small, aligned actions and stronger relationships amplify real change.

Why I don't ask ChatGPT about my dreams.

Neckar’s Notes • 72 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Using AI to interpret dreams can add another authoritative voice that blurs what is truly your intuition and what is projected. That extra layer can create confusion and bias in delicate inner work.
  2. Psychedelic and peak spiritual experiences often inflate the ego and can feed fantasies of being special or chosen. Without grounding, these states can become an escape from real life and responsibility.
  3. Healthy spiritual practice means grounding and integrating insights into everyday life through nature, relationships, and practical duties. Resist the seductive pull of endless transcendence via screens or AI and bring the light back into the world.

Be Still and Know

The Abbey of Misrule • 337 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. There are different types of people in the world, and some seek deeper meaning in life. This search often leads them to seek advice or guidance from wise figures.
  2. Struggles with self-worth and faith can be overwhelming. Moments of desperation may lead to reflections on spirituality and the desire to find purpose.
  3. Saintly figures can inspire hope and provide a glimpse of what it means to live a meaningful life. Their authentic kindness and wisdom can challenge our doubts and fears.

LSD and the Edge of Human Experience

What's Important? • 83 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Mysticism
  1. Dr. Bache had a lot of intense experiences with LSD, which led him to believe that the universe is a manifestation of a higher intelligence and that we are all connected to it.
  2. He suggests that reality is layered, and our journey involves letting go of our personal ego to reach greater understandings of oneness and collective consciousness.
  3. Bache thinks that exploring these deep ideas can transform our lives and help us understand that life has purpose, even beyond what we currently see.

Gnosticism: Convergences

Secretum Secretorum • 606 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Gnosticism and Buddhism share ideas that material existence is less real and that ignorance is the root of suffering. Both traditions emphasize the importance of mystical knowledge for liberation.
  2. Both Gnosticism and Tantric practices in Buddhism involve a focus on transgressions and a move beyond traditional religious laws. This shows they both seek deeper truths through breaking societal taboos.
  3. Gnostic communities, like some Tantric traditions, allowed more freedom for women and looked beyond social status for spiritual attainment. This highlights a common theme of valuing inner character over external labels.

Gnosticism: Awakenings

Secretum Secretorum • 454 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Gnosticism encourages personal spiritual journeys and questions conventional religious authority. It's about believing in your own spiritual nature rather than strictly following church rules.
  2. Throughout history, different groups have revived Gnostic ideas, often facing persecution for their beliefs. Figures like Menocchio and movements like Frankism challenged mainstream beliefs, showing the ongoing struggle for spiritual expression.
  3. Recent New Age movements echo Gnostic principles by prioritizing personal experience over traditional teachings. They seek to redefine spirituality in a way that feels more authentic and individualistic.

The Unseen Real

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Advanced AI and media consolidation are concentrating power and enabling a new techno-fascist form of social control that threatens democratic life.
  2. Widespread automation makes elites see large, diverse populations as expendable, creating an existential crisis of meaning and social survival.
  3. Turning toward practices like Tantra, breathwork, psychedelics, dreamwork, and sensory training is offered as an antidote to that crisis, aiming to heal eros, deepen consciousness, and reclaim hidden feminine power.

Divine immanence & the binding of a people

Becoming Noble • 259 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Radical faith can unite and empower a minority group against oppressive forces.
  2. A metaphysically powerful belief system can enable a physically weaker force to overcome stronger opponents.
  3. The integration of sacrifice, pain, ecstasy, and divine transcendence were key elements in uniting a people for a common cause.

Civilizational Crescendo and the Law of Octaves

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Humanity may be at a civilizational crescendo where technological hubris, political power plays, and apocalyptic religious movements could push us toward catastrophe or radical change.
  2. Cultural and conscious evolution might follow natural, repeatable patterns (like morphic fields), with synchronistic events—such as the emergence of LSD—acting as triggers that reshape the collective psyche.
  3. Gurdjieff’s law of octaves suggests historical processes hit two unstable intervals that require an external “conscious shock” to move to a higher level, and the current political and spiritual crises are one of those moments determining rise, regression, or collapse.

The Second Coming as Inner Event

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Western civilization feels stalled and regressive because postmodern relativism has been weaponized by authoritarian figures and AI, creating a deep crisis of truth and legitimacy.
  2. The 'Second Coming' or messianic idea is best understood as an inner, spiritual event—an awakening of the higher self or Christ-being within each person—rather than a literal external apocalypse or political spectacle.
  3. Meaningful renewal depends on reviving public political life and deep intellectual cultivation. It also requires steady inner ethical work—learning to think clearly, resist outrage and othering, and let the inner messianic impulse guide action instead of relying on strongmen or technological fixes.

Things are getting kinda crazy

Charles Eisenstein • 2 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. A feeling that reality is breaking is growing as major revelations and events shift public understanding and spur deeper investigation.
  2. A multimedia project (videos and a podcast) is exploring sanity, myth, and collective stories, showing how ancient tales like the Eight Immortals still speak to modern life.
  3. There’s an emphasis on contemplative practice and community through an online summit on stillness and prayer, and the work is supported by reader subscriptions.

Defending the Trinity

What Is Called Thinking? • 56 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Memory, imagination, and identity shape how we experience time. They show us that our past influences our present actions and future hopes.
  2. Understanding ourselves and the world is a journey through our relationships and experiences. We are like bridges between our inherited meanings and our future choices.
  3. Philosophers like Augustine and Heidegger teach us that our identity is not fixed. It evolves as we navigate time and interpret our lives, making each moment meaningful.

The United States Of You

Weekly Wisdom • 79 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. States of consciousness include waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, each corresponding to different aspects of the self.
  2. Emotional states can be categorized based on valence and physiological arousal, affecting decision-making and interactions.
  3. Align your physiological, emotional, and motivational states for optimal performance and well-being.

"For you, the Grail."

What's Important? • 44 implied HN points • 31 May 25
📖 Philosophy Mysticism
  1. Technology has a big role in our evolution and consciousness growth. It's important to consider how we use it wisely.
  2. The stories of the Knights Templar and their secrets remind us of the balance between power and free will. Using mystical knowledge should enrich our personal journeys, not take away our growth.
  3. Choosing our own path is essential. The real value lies in our unique experiences, and no technology or guide should replace our personal lessons in life.

Babalon and Revelation

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Modern platforms and pop culture often siphon and commodify sexual and creative energy. They can act like parasitic technologies that distract people and may operate like occult mass rituals.
  2. Some esoteric traditions describe human evolution as an "etherization of the blood" that splits history into two streams: a rising, spiritualized current tied to an exalted feminine and a falling, instinctual current linked to the Whore of Babylon. Contemporary pop imagery like robots, cyborgs, and apocalyptic spectacle can be read as ritual enactments of that split.
  3. Other esoteric voices reclaim the Whore of Babylon (Babalon) as a symbol of wild feminine liberation and erotic sacredness rather than pure evil. This perspective sees her as embodying suppressed feminine mystery and natural power.

Goddesses, Chrysalises and the Destiny of the West

What's Important? • 36 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Mysticism
  1. Sound and vibration are more important than we often think. They play a big role in understanding life and our place in the universe.
  2. The idea of the 'divine feminine' is about reconnecting with wisdom and nurturing aspects of ourselves. This can lead to a more hopeful future for everyone.
  3. New technologies may help heal and bring us together. But we need to be careful with how we use them to ensure they promote safety and connection, not division.

As Above, So Garage

Breaking Smart • 83 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Mysticism
  1. Hermeticism blends mysticism with practical engineering. It encourages creativity and experimentation, much like how tinkerers and inventors think today.
  2. Modern technology can sometimes feel dull and overly cautious compared to the adventurous spirit of past inventors. The best innovations often come from taking risks and trusting your gut.
  3. The ideal of the 'garage hacker' symbolizes a deeper, more soul-driven approach to innovation, focusing on passion rather than just profits or strict theories.

Starting in Mysticism; Ending in Politics

The Joyous Struggle • 59 implied HN points • 10 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Mysticism
  1. Charles Peguy believed that everything starts in mysticism and ends in politics, emphasizing the importance of understanding the origins and implications of statements and ideologies.
  2. Peguy's concept of 'amodernism' challenges the traditional views associated with modernity, suggesting a different perspective that incorporates mysticism and transcendence.
  3. The idea of starting from a mystical perspective rather than a modern one can lead to a more meaningful and profound approach when shaping a shared world and understanding reality.

An Interview with Scott Alexander

Time Well Spent • 103 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Consider categorizing AI as self-contained slices of digital brain regions to understand its functioning better
  2. Maintaining babies on the same schedule helps in managing care more efficiently
  3. The rise in depression rates among young people could be associated with the impact of social media

Letter #17: Source Temple

Charles Eisenstein • 1 implied HN point • 28 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. Traveling to other countries reveals that the worries and obsessions people shout about online aren’t universal, and different places have different priorities. It’s a useful reminder that local noise doesn’t equal global reality.
  2. Stepping away for a retreat or focused time can refresh your perspective and supply new stories and insights. Returning after that time often brings clearer thinking and renewed creativity.
  3. Some material is reserved for paying subscribers, so fuller or deeper content may be gated behind subscriptions. That creates a split between brief public pieces and more extensive subscriber-only writing.

Restoring the Divine Order

Tessa Fights Robots • 29 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mysticism
  1. We all have a lot of power to create change, but we need to understand our true nature as light. This understanding is key to making a real difference in the world.
  2. The dogmas and strict beliefs pushed by some can distract us from our connection to a higher power. It's important to be aware of how these ideas can keep us stuck and focused on the wrong things.
  3. Real healing and growth come from letting go of past traumas and raising our energy. This process allows us to see ourselves and others as pure light, capable of spreading love and understanding.