There’s no better day than fourth of July to ask: What is it that sets us free?
James Rouse, otherwise known as “Dr. Energy,” answers that question this way: “Moving from me to we will set you free.”
When the writers of the Declaration of Independence appointed themselves, “Representatives of the united States of America,” and acted “in the Name and by the Authority of the good People of” the Colonies,” they moved from “me to we.”
The following mystics moved from “me to we.”
- Teresa of Avila
- John of the Cross
- Hildegard of Bingen
- Teilhard de Chardin
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Gandhi
- HowardThurman
In addition to being mystics, they were activists. To them, religion was not a solitary experience.
Matthew Fox opens his book, Christian Mystics, with a quote from Einstein:
“I wish I had read more of the mystics earlier in my life.”
According to Roger Juline (in his article, Matthew Fox, Visionary, Prophet, Mystic), “Mysticism is about connection, communing and ‘oneing,'”
That’s what many of us do on the fourth of July, create what James Rouse calls “positive wellness waves” in our circle of friends and the universe.
“The great lesson from the true mystics…is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one’s daily life, in one’s neighbors, friends, and family, in one’s back yard.” –Abraham Maslow
Which means we’re all mystics and the healing and liberating experience of the mystical is all around us.
How’s that for a positive message?
As always, thanks for stopping by,
It looks like a pretty interesting book. I will put it on my every growing (sigh) list!
I know what you mean, Rosi. Not only do I have a humongous list yet to read, but about 40 books I want to reread. Sigh.
yep, mystics are among us. to me it is like you have a thought and the thought comes true for you.
Hi Dorothy. The thoughts you focus on have a way of weaving themselves into your life, a good reason to weed out the negative and feed the positive. The weeding and feeding takes a little practice, but it's not an impossible task.
The topics you write about are so interesting. Mysticism precisely describes the way our nation comes together on the 4th. That common oneness in all of us – celebrating our beloved country's birth as a free land.
Thanks for sharing the book suggestion. I will certainly read about it a little more. I like learning what's out there. Sometimes, I'm quite surprised to see what appeals to at any given point. Maybe this will be one of them. =D
Come by to read my recent posts…
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~Cathy Kennedy, Children's Author
The Tale of Ole Green Eyes
Thank you, Cathy. Yes, the way Maslow defines mysticism–that we can find the sacred in everyday life–makes us all mystics. If we remember that we are are good and that we exist to spread light and love, our world will be an even better place.