The Way of the Mystics: Ancient Wisdom for Experiencing God Today

by Steve Rabey and John Michael Talbot

Book Overview

In The Way of the Mystics we are invited to take a journey to the heart of our faith by examining the stories of thirteen of Christian history's most revered mystics. These spiritual pioneers devoted their lives to exploring a deeper communion with God and through their examples show us how we can apply spiritual wisdom to our own lives. The mystics featured in this book are from different centuries, countries, and Christian traditions but all have...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787975729
• ISBN13: 9780787975722
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The Way of The Mystics

I found The Way of The Mystics to be helpful in gaining insights into some of the Mystics I have read of and some I didn't know anything about. This book gives me enough information about the types of Mystics so I can read further about the ones I am drawn to.

Loving God and service to others

The Way of Mystics - Ancient Wisdom for Experiencing God Today by John Michael Talbot & Steve Rabey These lessons from thirteen holy men and women of God encourage us to continue on our journey to both love God and be of service to others. They provide examples of prayer, solitude, reflection, spiritual direction, practicing the Presence of God and enduring dark nights of the soul and continue to mentor and guide millions by their lives. Theresa of Avila, "This Lord of ours is so anxious that we desire Him and strive after His companionship that He calls us ceaselessly, time after time, to approach Him." The practical, service side of Theresa was also deeply affirming. " True perfection consists In the Love of God an our neighbor and the more nearly perfect is our observance of these two commandments, the nearer to Perfection we will be. Pg. 122. She also said, "we cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may have good reason for believing we are, but we can know quite well if we are loving our neighbor." Pg. 129. St. Francis of Assisi has taught us much about his love for God and its expression in God's creation but this chapter also speaks about the social and spiritual difficulties of the time in which Francis lived and how that context moved him toward God rather than away from Him. His wealthy upbringing gave him a particular sensitivity toward the poor and weak as he gave away all that he owned and adopted a different lifestyle, one of poverty and service. Pg. 67. St John of the Cross helps us to better understand, "the dark night of the soul" times. Times when we hold on to God in the face of suffering or questions or wondering where is God. His response, "take up your cross." obey God and you will move toward his light. His writings reminded me of the Psalms where it was ok to question God or speak to Him what was on one's heart. He spent quite a bit of time in prison where his writings occurred, much of it in solitary confinement. He felt that attachments were a great hindrance to progress in spiritual journey. This book shows us men and women who wanted to know God more and what they did to find Him. Some will be shocked by their actions and the extent they deprived themselves but these people had an Audience of One that was their primary concern. They have much to teach us.

A page turner

First, I have to say that I am not a Catholic and only modestly Christian in my religious beliefs - I don't need much more than the Sermon on the Mount. I am closer to what Talbot calls a Universalist. That being said I found this book a wonderful read. This is a book about Christian mystics written by a mystic himself - and in a very accessible style. He searches the mystics from the third to the twentieth centuries looking to find some truth that transcends history in both their similarities and differences. Its a nice review of the times, biographies, and brief writings of these seekers. Its also a great way to find books you'd like to dig into deeper since he provides some thoughtful guidance at the end of each chapter on the essential readings from each mystic. I was particularly impressed with his balanced coverage of some important Christian mystics like John Donne and George Fox who are not Catholics. The only glaring omission from this book in my opinion is Meister Eckhart. If you're interested in a book on mystics that transcends Christianity you might consider Andrew Harvey's The Essential Mystics. However, Talbot does a much better job in anchoring each mystic into their place in historical times.

Something old and something new...

John Michael Talbot is probably better known as a recording artist than an author, but he has an extensive publication list too, particularly in the areas of music ministry as well as spirituality. Steve Rabey similarly has many publications to his credit, including articles in periodicals and newspapers. Together they form a good team to provide information in an accessible form about a special group of people in the Christian tradition - the mystics. Not all mystics are created equal. Mystics come in all shapes and sizes, and can be found in almost every denominational and religious framework. Talbot and Ramey wanted to stick close to their own Christian tradition with this book; the figures included here are both Catholic and Protestant, including some from the era of the undivided church. There are eight men, four women, and one unknown person representing a wide range of historical periods. This is in many ways meant to be a practical book - that is, it relates the history, teaching and insights of the mystics to the broader range of Christian practices. 'In the Christian tradition, sacraments like Holy Communion or the Eucharist of the Lord's Supper provide a public means for believers to share in such mysteries. Spiritual disciplines like prayer and meditation provide a more private means for such connection.' The earliest figures represented in this book are the Desert Fathers, with St. Antony in particular a highlighted figure. The most recent figure highlighted in Thomas Merton. Between these two, nearly two thousand years of Christian history can be found. These are in many ways pioneers, as Talbot and Rabey describe them in the introduction. 'If you are a Christian, these pioneers are part of your spiritual legacy.' In my seminary, we taught a class at the beginning of the degree, required of all students in the primary ministry programme, that surveyed the different practices and different denominational aspects of Christianity, because so many people come to seminary with only the experience of their own denominational tradition (and sometimes with only the experience of their own congregation) - that course introduces people to the wider range of possibility for Christian expression, showing valid practices and traditions from within the Christian tradition that are authentic even if different from what people are used to. This would be an excellent book for that course, and an excellent book for those who want a similar experience, of discovering the different ways in which Christian mysticism can be expressed and incorporated into one's own regular practices. Each section concludes with a 'Learning more about...' section, and each includes pull-quote boxes with highlights, and timelines that connect the particular individual focused upon with the wider Christian and historical context. Each chapter can be read in a short time, but a good deal of time for contemplation should be permitted. Essays are not si