We are entering a time when information is coming at us lightning quick through all forms of media from movies, to music, to social media. Spiritual resources had not been readily accessible to most of us outside of the bible, given to us through rituals of the church. Now, the widespread availability of various sacred texts highlights that the world around us is ever evolving and beckoning us to explore it through these informational channels. The Black community has been aligned with traditional perspectives of spirituality, based on our generalized foundation with Christianity. This begs the question of whether our spirituality and understanding of it should also evolve as well. We think it’s time and essential to our survival as a people .

Mysticism is defined as: “…distinctive practices, discourses, texts, institutions, traditions, and experiences aimed at human transformation…defined in different traditions. It is derived from the Greek μυω, meaning “I conceal”, and its derivative mystikos, meaning ‘an initiate’. It has also been defined as “”the science or art of the spiritual life” .

Mysticism may be described as deeper study of sacred texts that promotes growth and increase of knowledge. The purpose of this article is hopefully to spark a new viewpoint for those wanting to expand their knowledge within a current belief system, or those wanting to pursue deeper understanding of spirituality as a discipline rather than a belief system. I also hope to demystify mysticism, and show that it is the next step in our pursuit of advancement for the Diaspora .

1. The path of mysticism is personal .

Many of us in the “Black conscious thought” movement stumbled on newfound information that opened our eyes to new perspectives outside of indoctrinated religious or spiritual upbringings. The information was so profound that we had to go tell everyone we knew how much they needed this information, and if they didn’t get it, they were clearly lost and not ready for the coming revolution. Guilty as charged, because I have been that person within and outside of religion. However, wisdom and maturity have taught me that this path is individualized and very personal, and has to be CHOSEN by a seeker. It is wonderful to have a fellowship, spiritual advisor or mentor to guide us, but generally when pursuit of new knowledge is self-initiated does it become most rewarding and useful. Whether you affiliate with a mosque, temple, lodge, or pagan circle, the time spent in solitude doing research is the way of the mystic .

2. You do not need to abandon your current belief system. Yet, or at all .

Yes, I said it. The way of Black conscious thinking in some respects has been to dismantle all religion, but I would argue that we need all spiritual perspectives because they are parts to the whole picture; what is required now, is individuals who can integrate many perspectives. There are the paths of Jewish Mysticism, Christian Mysticism, Buddhism, Islamic Mysticism, among many others. The key here, as defined, is to become an initiate of the concealed knowledge behind these spiritual systems to understand the systems and human experience more deeply; and more specifically for us, the Black experience. Deeper study can push anyone out of a spiritual rut, breaking up the monotony of the same spiritual practices day in, or week in- week out. The Black Church has been the foundation for, or departure from institutional religious practice in adulthood for many of us. I am critical of the institution mainly because it does not overtly promote individual study of the doctrines and text, but rather a dependence on the clergy for knowledge and sustainment of group-think within the congregations. Making personal time for in-depth study of the many texts may actually create a more fulfilling chosen religious path, or lead you to a new one; but the point is to be open to expanding your knowledge base in whatever faith system aligns with your perspective.

A good place to start with is Afro-Centric spiritual systems in order to understand the progression of spirituality around the globe, and how changes have affected us for better or worse. It is important to know the foundations of Christianity, Islam, or whatever your path is, but also to master the knowledge so it can ultimately be put to use. Even for the agnostic or atheist, studying the “concealed” knowledge can open your mind to new ways of thinking and perceiving the world for your personal evolution. The path might be the study of science in the way of mysticism. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is an example of presenting science in an almost spiritual thought-form, because at its root, religion is truly science, and scientific research can be a form of a religious practice. The mystical information attained may lead you to become a more “enlightened” student of your chosen belief system, which increases knowledge, then action, and ultimately personal growth and expansion which in turn improves the collective .

3. The Black Community will be strengthened by your personal mystic path .

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean” Ryunosuke Satoro .

As stated, the world is literally at our fingertips with all the information sources available to us. Whether you read on a Kindle, tried and true paper books, surf the Internet, or watch YouTube videos, there is more than enough information out there to add to your knowledge base. A quick Black history lesson-our ancestors gave knowledge to the Western world. The enlightenment was brought to Europe by Sub-Saharan and North Africans, and adepts from Asia including India, so the expansion of deeper understanding of the world is not something separate from Black people, it was separated from us .

Rather than be passive learners who wait for deeper knowledge to be imparted into us on specific days of a week, let us become pursuers of scientific and spiritual knowledge even if for a few minutes a day. We are looking for mental and physical liberation through political, economic, religious, and educational institutions, which are indeed viable tools in this pursuit; however, through our individual paths of increased consciousness and knowledge we can contribute to the evolution of the entire Black population because as our thoughts change for the better, so do our actions overall. I find it a passion, pleasure, and a duty to our collective growth to study as much as I can every day .

A more conscious Black man or woman is of the utmost value during these times- you can literally become a dangerous weapon to any agenda that seeks to enslave us through your own personal initiation into the information found outside of gossip sites, bogus news sources, or spiritually dead doctrines that keep the mind at basic thinking. A Christian may find themselves studying Sufi texts that lead to new understanding of the bible. An atheist may study quantum theory and find a new way to conceptualize the meaning of “God”. It does not mean abandon our simple pleasures or mainstream sources completely, but making it a part of our daily activities to pursue new knowledge. Places to start may be YouTube videos and finding a spiritual or scientific lecturer whose teaching style you enjoy and that resonates, or start collecting books and researching on topics such as Kemetian science, or African spiritual systems. Our enemy has been one-way thinking and limited view anchored to religious practices that were not geared toward allowing us to find out who we are and what we are capable of when we put our knowledgeable minds together .

The goal for us is to add to our arsenal, sharing with one another, and most importantly passing the knowledge on to our children. A new age of enlightenment is here, and I am certain that it will be ushered in once again by the Original people who take the path of the Mystic.