Mysticism

[close] Conversation this November 24, 5-8 p.m., on why we write and why we read, facilitated by author Sharman Apt Russell. Writing is discovery of the self, a kind of archaeology, going into the unconscious, bringing up feelings and ideas into the light—the nature of insight. In sight. Writing is motion, action, throwing words on the page and being part of how they interact and resonate and attract and repel. Thinking really does come out of language. And writing is about being actively engaged in language. Writing is play. Writing is theater. We get to be everything in the stories we write--a different sex, a different age, a different culture, a different species. We are a king and a fox and a leaf in the wind. We are the wind. And I believe this reflects a basic truth. I believe we are, in fact, part of everything. Science tells us that. The mystics tell us that. Writing is a kind of experiential mysticism in which we try to mimic the unity of the universe. In which every sound, every syllable, every word, every idea, every image is part of a larger whole. Reading is a dialogue with someone engaged in this process. Like a good conversation with a friend, we are fully participatory. There is a back and forth. We bring our own ideas. We are part of the theater—we are also everything in the story. A king, a fox, a leaf. The wind. We experience the unity. These are my thoughts. I’d like to know yours.

[close] Find us on www.reddit.com/r/RadicalChristianity /r/radicalChristianity has emerged as a community of people discussing the intersection of philosophy, theology, critical theory, and revolutionary politics. We are interested in re-investing Christianity with its transgressive elements, and as such we are openly against oppressive discourses (sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia). Many of us find our beliefs marked by a certain desire for disassociation with and transgression against conventional Christian institutions and culture. We support divergent forms of thinking. Together we are a group consisting of materialists, idealists, realists, anti-realists, pragmatists, mystics, theists, atheists, occultists, heretics, socialists, anarchists, communists, Marxists, pacifists, insurrectionists, and many other identities burdened with either an inordinate number of prefixes or else with none at all. Not all of us are politically "progressive". Some of us are of a slightly more orthodox and conservative bent, too -- interested in what it truly means to enact the transformative power of the cross in our daily lives. With such a broad definition of "radicality" and "Christianity", we find that group discussion is of paramount importance. Viewpoints that may initially seem odd or shocking are often filled with critical insights and viable possibilities of being that a cursory dismissal would otherwise overlook.

[close] Esotericism.us is an online community dedicated to studying esoteric literature and promoting personal growth.

[close] A place to discuss all the unique aspects of Deaf culture as highlighted in the thriller Silent Fear (A novel inspired by true crimes) by Lance & James Morcan. This group can also be an intersection of sorts where Deaf and hearing people can engage and learn from each other.