Myths & mysteries
Discover facts about myths & mysteries. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Myths & mysteries
Ignatius of Loyola deeply regretted his extreme fasting
Even fiercely dedicated founders of global orders occasionally realize they pushed the envelope entirely too far. After spending his early conversion severely…
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Isaac Luria claimed souls reincarnate directly into rocks
If you thought coming back as a lower animal was a bad deal, sixteenth-century esoteric philosophy has worse news. This influential thinker proposed a complex…
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Thomas Müntzer led a chaotic religious rebellion
While his more grounded peers were busy writing dense theology, this apocalyptic fanatic decided the path to true enlightenment involved arming angry peasants…
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Digambara ascetics aggressively refuse to wear clothing
For those seeking ultimate non-attachment, even a simple loincloth is considered a worldly luxury. This specific ascetic tradition demands that its most…
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Charles de Foucauld moved to the Sahara to be nobody
Some people seek fame, but this wildly intense guy desperately wanted to be entirely entirely forgotten by civilization. He left massive wealth behind and…
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Mary of Egypt survived on limited loaves of dry bread
Talk about stretching your groceries. After fleeing to the desert to repent for her wildly hedonistic youth, Mary reportedly brought only a tiny stash of…
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Early hermits intentionally lived in infested swamps
Because a barren desert simply was not miserable enough, some particularly eager ascetics sought out marshes loaded with massive swarms of aggressive insects.…
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Plotinus was deeply embarrassed to be entirely physical
The founder of Neoplatonism was so resentful of having a biological form that he refused to let anyone paint his portrait or celebrate his birthday. He viewed…
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Nachman of Breslov heavily commanded isolated screaming
If quiet prayer isn't entirely cutting it, wandering into entirely empty woods to yell at the sky is supposedly highly effective. This radical leader…
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Richard Rolle claimed to feel a literal internal fire
Experiencing deep spiritual warmth is a completely common metaphor, but this medieval hermit insisted the absolute temperature entirely spiked. He frequently…
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Zusya of Hanipol only feared not being his authentic self
While most religious leaders terrified their followers with complex rules and looming judgment, this eighteenth-century master took a wildly different…
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Early ascetics actively sought out harsh public insults
While modern people spend hours agonizing over mild social slights, late antique zealots considered public humiliation a competitive sport. To completely…
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Anandamayi Ma officially stopped feeding herself
Reaching peak mystical states sometimes means completely forgetting how basic human mechanics operate. Her followers claimed she became so utterly absorbed in…
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Russian holy fools intentionally walked naked in winter
Mocking society’s obsession with wealth and status takes true dedication, especially when it involves sub-zero temperatures. Russian Yurodivy chose to abandon…
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Syncletica of Alexandria equated salvation with misery
According to this incredibly strict desert mother, achieving divine grace is entirely identical to experiencing a truly terrible toothache. She fiercely…
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Macarius discarded a woven basket because he liked it
Material detachment requires you to hate absolutely everything you own. When this highly respected desert ascetic noticed that he felt a tiny spark of pride…
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Catherine of Siena survived exclusively on dry wafers
If you think modern diet culture is extreme, you clearly have not met medieval mystics. Catherine decided that earthly food was a worldly distraction, so she…
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Baal Shem Tov meditated in freezing winter rivers
While most people entirely sensibly avoid wildly frigid water, this massively influential mystical founder purposely sought it out. He would frequently…
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Thomas Aquinas quit writing forever after a single vision
After dedicating his entire life to writing millions of words to perfectly organize all known theology, the smartest guy in Europe abruptly put down his pen.…
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Early Quakers absolutely refused to remove their hats
You know you are fully committed to your theology when you refuse to bare your head for absolutely anyone, including angry judges and furious kings. Early…
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Sabbatai Zevi claimed messiahship before converting
Starting a massive global movement claiming you are the ultimate chosen savior is incredibly bold. However, the momentum completely vanished when the Ottoman…
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Prahlad Jani claimed he went decades without any water
Hydration is entirely optional if your theology is strong enough, or so this specific ascetic insisted. He casually claimed that he had not consumed a single…
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Dendrite ascetics chose to live inside hollow trees
When caves are fully booked and pillars are too pretentious, moving into a tree trunk is clearly the next logical step. These highly specific hermits carved…
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Brother Lawrence found enlightenment by washing dirty pots
While heavy intellectuals were completely busy debating complex theology in massive libraries, this humble guy achieved total cosmic unity by scrubbing…
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