Mysticism, Spells & Rituals.

Mysticism.

'The mystery religions developed and prospered during the time of Alexander the Great, when much of the known world, including Egypt and Persia, was becoming Hellenized.

Mystery religions became popular as people grew tired of the moral decay that resulted from the cold materialism and abstract rationalism of the philosophers.

People wanted and needed to believe in the gods again - not just the passive, state-sanctioned veneration of the traditional gods, but an active religious participation that would deeply touch the emotional lives of worshippers. The mystery religions satisfied this need.

Coinciding with the popular worship of the deities, there were secret initiatory ceremonies that were attended by a privileged few.

The Greek word mysteria or 'mysteries,' implied private or secret rites that were not intended for the general public.

(...)

The Greeks held that there were three types of knowledge: mathesis or knowledge that could be learned, gnosis or knowledge that could be gained through meditation or intuitive perception, and pathesis or knowledge that was felt.

The mystery religions tried to instill enlightenment through all three, but especially through pathesis, by supplying the initiate the opportunity for direct personal experience of the higher teachings. They promised a transcendent type of experience or spiritual ecstasy that was lacking in the more popular forms of state-sponsored worship.'

-- Quoted from 'The Essential Golden Dawn' by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero.

This blog's author thinks that mysticism in his case is mostly insights, thoughts & feelings experiences caused mostly by meditations he participated in.


Spells.

This blog's author thinks that an 'Act of Magick', a Spell is a Speech with Universe, using the symbols & magickal meanings as arguments - that result in a change according to will.


Rituals.

'A formalized ceremony including a series of actions, physical as well as mental, that results in the release of magical energy and the fulfillment of a specific objective'.

-- Quoted from 'The Essential Golden Dawn' by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero.

This blog's author thinks that a Ritual is more advanced & developed Spell - many rituals are spells that are practiced for long time, perfected & developed into a whole ceremonies.