Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is one of the most influential spiritual narratives of contemporary literature, celebrated for its philosophical insights into destiny, self-discovery, and human fulfillment. The novel chronicles the transformative journey of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd whose search for worldly treasure evolves into a profound quest for spiritual enlightenment and...
This study examines the influence of the Persian Sufi poet Hafez on Ralph Waldo Emerson and explores Hafez’s role in shaping American Transcendentalism. When Emerson encountered Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s West-Eastern Divan in 1838, he developed a sustained interest in Hafez and subsequently studied Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall’s German translation, Der Diwan von Mohammed Schemsed-din Hafis....
Abstract The Other Condition is a type of experience. It is a way of experiencing the world that is very different from the way we normally experience the world. And a much more valuable one. This Other Condition is what we find ourselves in when we have aesthetic experiences, but also when we have a mystical experience or if we are in what he calls the “ardour of love” (Musil 1925/1990, p....
Abstract This chapter examines the debate surrounding the common core thesis of mystical experience by situating contemporary empirical psychology within the longer intellectual history of psychology, philosophy, and theology. It traces how William James and Walter Stace defend the distinction between experience and interpretation, establishing a foundation for a cross-cultural,...
Shahmaran (or Yamlika), a mythological figure depicted as half-human and half-serpent, holds deep significance in both Iranian and Turkish cultural traditions and functions not merely as a folkloric character but as a complex symbol representing transformation and wisdom. The narrative of Shahmaran can be read as an allegory of spiritual initiation, depicting the hero’s descent into the sacred...
Background: Despite the rapid growth of psychedelic research, limited attention has been given to how psychedelics are used, experienced and integrated within highly conservative religious communities, and in Jewish contexts more broadly. This study addresses this gap by examining ayahuasca use among the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community, a highly religious, conservative, and collectivist...
Space and Culture, IndiaJune 20, 2026P Kadek Wulandari Laksmi, P Komang Widhya Sedana Putra, Ign Oka Ariwangsa
Mystical illness beliefs—encompassing notions of witchcraft, spirit possession, and supernatural affliction—remain embedded in many societies and continue to shape health-related behaviour, work practices, and economic life. In Denpasar, Bali, where traditional spiritual frameworks intersect with an increasingly modern urban economy, such beliefs retain social relevance. However, empirical...
There are empirical studies on both the cognitive and performative outcomes of learning via VR and the affective aspects of the use of VR in learning. Studies on affective outcomes in relation to the learning object, such as the attitude towards it or the atmospheric effect of a visited environment on the students, are still pending. This desideratum of educational research is addressed in this...
Salta al contenuto principale Byzantine Studies Collana | Byzantine Studies Miscellanea | Holy Mountain(s) in Byzantium and Beyond Capitolo | Holy mountains of the Byzantine East and mystical experience (ninth-fourteenth c.) Holy mountains of the Byzantine East and mystical experience (ninth-fourteenth c.) + Stephanos Euthymiadis Stephanos Euthymiadis - Open University of Cyprus - email open...
The academic study of Western esotericism has developed a sophisticated set of research approaches over the past three decades: historical-philological, discursive, sociological, anthropological, depth-psychological, and cognitive-scientific. Each approach illuminates important dimensions of esoteric traditions. What remains underdeveloped is a seventh approach: the...
This chapter will be divided into two parts. The first section analyses and explains Lāhījī’s teachings concerning the necessary prerequisites for the mystical path of the ṭarīqat . The Way of the Sufi friends and darvīshes is a way of life that involves the daily practice of a host of ascetical and contemplative practices. When practised sincerely under the spiritual guidance of a living Sufi...
Modern life, characterised by the dominance of rationalism and materialism, has given rise to a profound spiritual crisis, manifesting itself in the form of alienation, anxiety, and a loss of meaning. This research article examines the theology of divinity in the Sufi tradition as a potential framework for addressing these contemporary issues. Focusing on two main metaphysical doctrines—Wahdat...
Hakim al-Tirmidhi occupies a distinguished place in the intellectual history of Islam as one of the most influential scholars, theologians, and mystics of the ninth century. His contributions significantly shaped the development of Islamic spirituality, ethics, and theological thought. Through his extensive writings, al-Tirmidhi introduced innovative concepts concerning sainthood (wilayah),...
This study focuses on oral literature as the primary object of analysis, specifically folklore transmitted verbally across generations. Moving beyond general thematic analysis, this article critically examines the specific characteristics of mystical and magical language embedded within the Totok Kerot Legend in Pamenang Village, Kediri Regency. A descriptive qualitative method with an...
Here, the reader is taken through the history of shamanistic beliefs and practices to highlight its parallels with the contemporary helping professions. Seeking their power to heal, exorcise evil spirits, and commune with the dead, some consider shamans offer a mystical means of dealing with the vicissitudes of life. As can be said of people undergoing psychoanalytic treatment, altered states...
ABSTRACT This essay examines the implications of methodological plurality in the sciences for interactions between the sciences and religious or theological modes of thought. It will do so by examining the rise of “Science-Engaged Theology” (SET) as a response to the existence of diversity and theoretical plurality in both the sciences and religions. The second part of the essay suggests ways...
FocusJune 11, 2026Nana Supiana, Muhammad Yusuf Wibisono
This study analyzes the relevance of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s thought through the concepts of the noosphere, Christogenesis, and the Omega Point within the frameworks of progressive theology, evolutionary mysticism, and post-secularism. The study responds to the growing need for a theological framework capable of bridging the relationship between religion, science, technology, and...
This interdisciplinary research monograph examines a broad range of Exceptional Human Experiences (EHEs), including Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), Reincarnation Memories (RMs), Deathbed Visions (DBVs), Terminal Lucidity (TL), Shared Death Experiences (SDEs), and Mystical Consciousness (MC). These phenomena have been reported across cultures and historical periods and continue to attract...
This study investigates the artistic and philosophical expression of Hurufi concepts in Nasimi's mystical poetry.By carefully examining selected poems from Nasimi's Divan and Rubaiyat, the study explores how divine unity, the sanctity of the human form and the symbolism of letters are reflected in poetic language, structure and imagery
This essay discusses feminist ideas in connection to the occulture present in opera, musical theatre, and film, focusing on femme fatales, tricksters and ‘wicked women’ in a transcultural approach to religion, (Western) esotericism, and the performing arts. A culturally critic debate is facilitated here via the spiritual-scientific embodiment of Afro-Brazilian traditions, as seen through the...