Contemplative action, or 'social mysticism', is a form of non-doing that flows from contemplation, distinct from ordinary action. Examining the medieval English mystical tradition, the essay argues that actions arising from contemplation are detached. A coda considers three twentieth-century anglophone writers influenced by medieval Christian mysticism, showing that focusing on mysticism and action questions whether ineffability is the most useful marker for Christian mysticism.
The chapter argues that contemporary art can revitalize the study of comparative mysticism, which declined after Steven T. Katz showed that mystical experiences are grounded in their cultural and religious contexts. The authors bring Michael A. Sells' concept of 'performative apophasis' into conversation with the work of Belgian artist Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven (AMVK) on Marguerite Porete's "Mirror of Simple Souls." They contend that this approach highlights the importance of considering sex and gender in comparative mysticism.