We grow up surrounded by everyday mysticism. Dreams and visions were normal topics of conversation. Ancestors and elders shared their wisdom with us, even from beyond the veil, offering blessings, warnings, and guidance. Mysticism is the lived awareness of the sacred and interconnectedness permeating all existence. It never occurred to us that this was unusual until others told us it was. Entering academic spaces, we often tried to suppress this heritage, relying on sterile explanations that dulled the life of the mysteries we carried. But mysticism is undeniable. It’s in the rhythm of drums, the words of sacred texts, and the presence of the divine in daily life. Our ancestors knew this. They lived with one foot in this world and one in the next. It’s time we reclaim that connection, openly and unapologetically.
May we embrace the sacred mysteries woven into daily life,
honoring the wisdom of our ancestors as we walk
with one foot in this world and one in the next.
(inspired by Barbara A. Holmes, Everyday Mysticism)