The Mystic Nation (an update on my search)
Obsession
Is the mythical(?) mystic nation an urban legend or not? Let me tell the story. You decide.
As some of you know, I’ve been obsessed with researching a social phenomenon known as the mystic nation. The more I ask around the more I continue to suspect that “the mystic,” as they are known, are more than the urban legend I first thought.
Purportedly, the mystic nation is inhabited by “mystic warriors” each of which enters the nation through a mystic guide. No one enters “the mystic” without this guide, it is said.
I came close to tracking down one of these enigmatic creatures recently, I think. Witnesses are sparse but I’ve contacted a couple of people [including a prophetic seminary prof and a visonary “poster of threads”] who seem to have some knowledge of these things.
Blogring
I’ve added a “blogring” on my xanga account (www.xanga.com/alexmcmanus) for those who will help me in my search for this practically invisible nation. [And perhaps the blogring will ferret out one of these elusive warriors. In fact, word is that there may already be one or two of “the mystic” lurking there. As I look down the list of those of you who have joined the blogring I realize that it could be any one of you.] Well, anyway, any help you can lend me in following up clues is appreciated. I’ll travel any length at any cost to speak even if only for a moment to any member of this clan.
Parchment in Barcelona
Oh yea, one more thing…I think I’ve started to piece together –from a small, fragmentary parchment that was mysteriously placed in my lap top while I was in Barcelona — a clue to the code of “the mystic.” More on that later.
Photograph
- Title: “into the mystic”
- Photographer: Niza
- details: on my way by train from London to Brussels following clues.
Into the mystic…
Alex McManus
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Here to leave a comment. Looking forward to reading more on the mystic nation. Not sure where to enter my name so I’ll just say this is Deana…obahsomah.
Comment by Alex
# August 5, 2005,
thanks, Deana. I’m glad you’re here.
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Alex…”Mystic Warriors” will as you know not be any more than anonymous in their life style…blessings
….stonepavement
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
“We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We will see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!” - The Message
Mark is here
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Leaving a comment as you asked… Allen Arnn
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
‘Tis I, Sally
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
I agree with Deana, I’m excited for more about the mystic nation…meanwhile, there’s an article in the NY Times Op/Ed about the Blogosphere this morning…thought it was an interesting read. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/opinion/05fri4.html
/dave
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Hope it is ok that I found this place.
- marty
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Alex,
Excited that I can finally leave a comment (since I am not a Xanga guy that has been an impossibility for me. This will give more people more opportunities to connect with you and others.
Thanks for making the move!
Stephen Hammond
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Like the site, I’m at seminary now does that disqualify me from being a mystic???
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
‘Tis I, Sally Schilling!
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Hey Alex,
Following you to your new site…”The Mystic” live!
Debbie Arnn
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
The nation is growing before your eyes my friend!
Mike Harris
www.xanga.com/ijourney
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Keep looking, but rumor has it, if you find it, your life will never be the same.
Brian
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
letting you know that i’m here–and there.
ginny
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
hi alex, leaving a comment as well. im here in londrina brazil with a student team serving and encouraging a family from our church who has lived here intentionally for the past 10 years. we are doing some culture exchanges with high school kids. very fun. brazilians are so great… but you already knew that… - tony
tonytsheng.blogspot.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Alex,
here for the journey…
Claudia
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Hi Alex,
Kristi Cornwell here. Can’t wait to hear more about “the mystic” and iMosaic. Are you with your grandmother right now? I read on Niza’s site that you went to see her. I hope you have “forever moments” with her, always to be cherished.
~Kristi
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Glad to see you have a non-Xanga home where I can post a comment from time to time. Looking forward to hearing of your next step.
Parke
parkeb4.blogspot.com
one of those mosaic arlington folk
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Alex,
I can’t wait to hear more about the “mystic nation” and iMosaic. Are you still with your grandmother? I read on Niza’s site that you went to see her. May this time with her become precious memories.
~Kristi Cornwell @ www.kristicornwell.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Checking in and looking forward…
I think I’ve seen something…
Can you tell me what it is..
-Mike
theoquest.blogspot.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Found you, Alex…thanks for the invite to follow.
Michelle Cuthbertson
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
maybe you need to know the secret handshake to get info.
-kyle
expanding my sphere
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Kyle - it’s the ruby slippers!
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
These Mystic Warriors sound pretty awsome. I am looking forward to reading more about them.
-Kelticwarrior(xanga)
Comment by Anonymous
# August 5, 2005,
Are we there yet? I want to come along. - Amy [mcnickgirl]
Comment by Anonymous
# August 6, 2005,
Thanks for the invitation. eric
Comment by Anonymous
# August 6, 2005,
Mystics are as mystics do… and I’m still here.
–Larry
http://yis2005.blogspot.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 6, 2005,
We found you~ but will you find us?
Krys
Comment by Anonymous
# August 6, 2005,
Alex, I’m here - good to see you, especially to see you in the mystic sense of the word…
Keith
Comment by Anonymous
# August 6, 2005,
Are we supposed to be saying “Here” or “Present”????
dSwinburne
Dale
www.thoughtscrashing.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 7, 2005,
Art is here…as opposed to there, I guess.
Comment by Anonymous
# August 7, 2005,
Advance! -Brent
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=brentpittman
Comment by Anonymous
# August 7, 2005,
Found it…
-Scott
Comment by Anonymous
# August 7, 2005,
Lori’s in. Tag. YOU’RE IT!!
Comment by Anonymous
# August 7, 2005,
i’m late but i’m here…
stephen
xanga.com/wolftrax
Comment by Anonymous
# August 8, 2005,
katie’s here, but a bit confused by the mystic language.
rosekat
www.antionionsociety.blogspot.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 8, 2005,
I’m in…
Mike
treysdad.blogspot.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 8, 2005,
Alex - glad to be part of the quest. JVD
Comment by Anonymous
# August 8, 2005,
Looking forward to following your new blog….rj3b here…up in Ottawa - Canada…http://rj3blog.blogspot.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 8, 2005,
thanks for leading the way alex.
terrytimm
www.xanga.com/terrytimm
Comment by Anonymous
# August 8, 2005,
found it too!
Crashing Forward
Comment by Anonymous
# August 8, 2005,
Alex,
A mystic - how will you know when you’ve found one? I suspect you have to be one to recognize one. And if you’re not one but destined to be one, something in you will recognize something in another that evokes a desire to investigate and follow.
Do you know exactly who it is you’re looking for? If so then define “mystic”. Somebody (or many) might just raise a hand and say “present”.
A Mystic Nation - this implies a connection or awareness of each other if such a nation already exists. A shared geography of some manner although not in the literal sense. Or do none of the inhabitants know about each other yet and the goal is to find them, connect them, and congeal them into this nation? Define “Mystic Nation”.
Hunger is the food of the mystic, Alex. Your hunger will determine your success.
G. from W.
Comment by Alex
# August 8, 2005,
GreggyD,
They exist I’m beginning to suspect. Individually they are known as mystic warriors but corporately they are know as “The Mystic”.
Definitions — Yes, that’s a good idea. I’ll pull together the clues I have and offer some tentative definitions.
Good to hear from you. When in November will you be in LA?
Comment by Alex
# August 8, 2005,
hey all, thanks for letting me know you’re here. i’ll keep working on this blog as well as on iMosaic until it does what we want.
we’re still waiting on some others to come in out of the fog and let us know they’ve arrived.
Comment by Anonymous
# August 9, 2005,
Hey Alex, This is Brian, SecondSunday. I’m a Systems Administrator. If I can help with iMosaic in anyway let me know.
secondsunday.blogspot.com
Comment by Anonymous
# August 9, 2005,
Alex,
Right now the date set is Nov. 10-13, possibly a day or two longer if I can swing it. That’s a BIG “if”, though.
Greg
Comment by Alex
# August 9, 2005,
Brian, thanks so much. i’m sure you can help me with iMosaic. what does a systems admin do? email me at alex@originsproject.org.
Comment by Anonymous
# August 10, 2005,
In the myst. Dexmo
Comment by steve watson
# August 10, 2005,
I’m here and ready for the journey!
Breathe fire.
Comment by Alex
# August 10, 2005,
thanks, steve. now we can see who’s “saying it”.
Comment by Lon
# August 11, 2005,
Arrived. Thanks for the invite.
Comment by Bobby V
# August 11, 2005,
Mystic Warriors, while anonymous, want to be found. They just won’t be the ones out there screaming, “Here I am!”
Comment by Peter
# August 11, 2005,
I like the new theme.
Comment by Lori
# August 11, 2005,
VERY NICE, Alex! The site looks great, and…. functional! Way to go! Have fun in Michigan!
Comment by Cliff
# August 11, 2005,
Comment…
I left my copy of Napolean Dynamite at your house. I’ll come by to get it eventually… probably tomorrow.
cliff
Comment by Alex
# August 11, 2005,
Bobby V,
You’re right. Sam Rima who’s here with me as I write says, they won’t have their name badges on.”
Comment by Nicolas Nelson
# August 11, 2005,
“No matter where you go… there you are.”
So I guess I’m… here! ;-)
And glad to be along on the mystic quest.
Grace and strength to my fellow travellers!
— parepidemos
Comment by Peter
# August 12, 2005,
Cool, i just saw the link to your seminar in Providence. It’s on a work day but I’ll see if I can make it. Are non-pastors allowed to attend?
I also saw the link to River’s Edge Community Church. I didn’t know there were any mosaic type churches in Montreal. That’s great! My wife and I dream of living there some day and it’s good to know God’s moving in that city.
Comment by Alex
# August 12, 2005,
Peter, yes anyone can come. Hope to see you there. The pastor of River’s edge (Lorenzo) is a guy I’ve come to know through ORIGINS. I suspect his church is
as dangerous as he is.
Comment by chuck
# August 15, 2005,
i’m here alex…laptop and cohiba at the ready…
Comment by Alex
# August 15, 2005,
Chuck, welcome. What’s a “cohiba”? Alex
Comment by niza
# August 16, 2005,
i hope it’s understood that i’m in and excited =)
Comment by Matt
# August 16, 2005,
I asked Eric about ARGs (altarnet reality gaming) Saturday at church. He just sent me a note to check out your site. Cool.
Enjoy http://www.SEEKFIRST.com feel free to login.
Hope to find out more about your approach with all of this. Looking forward to the future.
Matt
Comment by chuck
# August 16, 2005,
cohiba - a cuban cigar - one of the best…the only ones available here in the us are nicaraguan or dominican wrapped…one of my guilty pleasures…
Comment by Elle
# August 16, 2005,
I’ve somehow found myself here, and assuming that it’s more than just a “somehow.”
~elle strike
Comment by Alex
# August 16, 2005,
elle, welcome.
Comment by Andy J
# August 17, 2005,
I’m here. I’m ready, as ready as I can be, anyway. I didn’t pack much, but even still, I feel like I packed too much. I am willing to lay down some stuff on the way, especially if there are more important items dicovered on the journey.
Comment by Alex
# August 18, 2005,
AJ, welcome. they say that when one is ready they are already waiting.
Comment by Christina
# September 8, 2005,
Hi Alex. I am most intrigued by all of this. So, I will share some ramblings with you (a trip inside my head)…
When we talked on Monday, a part of me felt as if your words breathed life into a concept I have had rolling around in my head and heart for months now. Until now, it seemed that many of my ideas transcended those around me. I have kept quiet not knowing how to bridge the gap between this ‘way’ and the established organizations around us that have defined what the acceptable methods of spirituality are. I know this is just the beginning of who knows what!!!
Have you read Dean’s latest blog?
Yesterday while driving, a car pulled up next to me. There were large sticker letters pasted on the back window that read “Pay it Forward” and an 800 number listed below. If you remember on Monday I connected the ‘pay it forward’ concept to the mystic nation … coincidence? Then, later in the day I was commenting on a blog and another member who posted was named “mystic”. hmmm…
So, I Googled ‘Mystic Nation’ and ‘Mystic Warrior’ this morning and guess who’s name is attached to all of this …YOU! How funny is that!
Just thoughts … keep searching … keep dreaming…
into the mystic …
Comment by Alex
# September 8, 2005,
Christina,
So, you’re searching for the mystic too?
Alex
Comment by Christina
# September 8, 2005,
hmmm…
interesting question.
I will answer your question with a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’. Yes, I am intrigued. Yes, I want to know more about this movement that apparently already exists ‘everywhere and nowhere’ … and yet a part of me is desiring to create our own mystic movement because in a sense I feel we have been given permission to reach for something bigger. I believe we have tapped into something that is propelling us into the future. We have been given eyes to see and ears to hear and willing spirits that aren’t afraid to explore.
You know, Alex, in some ways, I wonder if we are creating the mystic nation as we search and share and get people buzzing about this intriguing and mysterious thing or, dare I say, legend. It’s like one day we are going to look back and realize that the very ones that began seeking were the very one’s who created it. Are we creating the mystic nation right now?
Comment by Idalisse Olavarria
# September 27, 2005,
I am hungry and ready for the journey. Show me the way In to the Mystic.
Comment by The Bishop
# October 6, 2005,
Been here a while, and didn’t know that “here” was a place. An ancient Japanese proverb says “The journey is the destination.” My journey has been rough but rewarding, and I’m looking forward to sharing it as we chase the mystic.
-Jason Bishop, The Journey
Comment by Christina
# November 8, 2005,
Hmm…
Alex, I posted my last comment exactly 2 months ago today. It is amazing how quickly things change and how quickly things are revealed…
life is moving like a ‘bullet train’ …
Comment by Agree with not believing a word of it
# March 18, 2006,
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.” There is nothing mystical about it.
The devil is the great deceiver. He’s doing a wonderful job with all of you! Turn now before it’s too late.
The path to Heaven is straight and narrow. All the others lead to hell.