Mystic and Mystery Come From Closing the Eyes
A mystic seeks direct experience of the divine. The Greek root means to close the lips or eyes, as an initiate did.
A mystic is someone seeking direct experience of the divine. The Greek *myein* means to close the eyes or lips, referring to initiates of the ancient mystery religions who were sworn to silence. *Mystery*, *mystical* and *mystique* all descend from that closing, and so, remarkably, does the *mute* of silence.
- One seeking union with the divine. *A Christian mystic.*
- Mystical — of spiritual mystery. *A mystical experience.*
- Mystique — an aura of mystery. *The mystique of the brand.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mystic | A medieval mystic. |
| Plural | mystics | Sufi mystics. |
| Adjective | mystical | A mystical vision. |
| Noun | mysticism | Christian mysticism. |
| Related | mystery | An unsolved mystery. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Mystery religions required silence.Initiates were sworn not to speak.
- Sufism is the mystical tradition of Islam.One of many.
- Mystique means an aura of mystery.From French.
Mystical traditions
- Sufism — the mystical dimension of Islam
- Kabbalah — Jewish mystical tradition
- Christian mysticism — including Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart
- Zen — a Buddhist school emphasising direct experience
- Common feature — direct encounter rather than doctrine or ritual alone
From Greek *mystikos*, from *mystes*, an initiate, from *myein*, to close the eyes or lips.
Are mystery and mute related?
Yes, at a distance. Both connect to the idea of keeping silent, and mystery religions required initiates to say nothing.
Mystic or mystical?
Mystic is usually the noun for a person; mystical the adjective. Mystic can also be an adjective in older or poetic use.