Signs and Mystics

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“If you were waiting for a sign, this is it.” – unknown

I would never describe my father as a mystic. He was a Presbyterian pastor through and through. His theology and rituals were aligned with the institutions he served.

But my mom told me a funny story about when he decided to retire. She reports that he came home and said, “I’ve decided to retire because the clock stopped working and the stapler ran out.”

 Isn’t it interesting how we interpret the signs in our life? Something happens and it resonates with what we’ve been thinking, feeling, or intuiting. And often, speaking for myself, that resonation can have great power to shift what previously seemed immoveable.

Three things I need to align with the signs in life: quiet, curiosity about new ideas and ventures, and awareness of the world around me. I’m quite sure I’ve never seen a sign when my head is down, the blinders are on, and I’m marching towards a deadline. Or maybe I have, and just failed to take it in. Maybe mystics are simply the people who open to possibility more often than not.

One of my favorite signs comes from when I was in my late 20’s. I was driving to work on a sunny Spring morning with the top down on my little VW Cabrio convertible. I’d just broken up with a boyfriend and was wondering what to do next. I took the exit for I-90 bridge over Lake Washington and as the traffic slowed, Mt. Rainier loomed over the view. I thought, “I should climb that.” It launched my amateur climbing pursuits that took me throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as Russia, Nepal, Peru, and Mexico.

Every time I see Mt. Rainier, especially from the freeway, I’m reminded of the power of signs. I get a powerful goose to put the top down, whatever my proverbial top is at the moment, and look around.

60 thoughts on “Signs and Mystics”

  1. From the Tao Te Ching,: “When the student is ready the teacher will appear.” To put it more clearly, as I see it, the teacher is always near, if only we are ready to see him.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to after some reflection and observation. We can only handle s much information in our day to day bandwidth, so we filter everything else out that we don’t feel we immediately need. When we’re ready, then we see what has been before us.

      Liked by 4 people

  2. A mountain is as big of a sign as you’re going to get from the universe, Wynne! 😆 What a story and what a pivotal moment in your life. So many inspiring stories have come out of that.

    I too take note of these signs in life, often times a subtle wink, nod or nudge towards a direction or a reinforcement or affirmation that things will be ok. Whether or not we infer things we want to see or they are truly signs, is part of the fun! 😊🙏

    Liked by 5 people

    1. I’m giggling about, “A mountain is as big of a sign as you’re going to get from the universe, Wynne! ” Excellent point. Who knows how many smaller things the Universe showed me before I got it! 🙂

      And I love you wink, nod and nudge. Yes all part of the fun! 🙂 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  3. ”I should climb that” is a good motto to follow in life, Wynne. It needn’t always (or ever!) be a mountain we’re climbing, but a positive goal that stretches us in some way.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I believe the same. I think the signs and synchronicities are there, but too often we dismiss them instead of embracing them.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Oh, I love this story, Wynne! Both your father’s sign to retire, and your sign to begin a new adventure.

    I’ve encountered many such signs in my life–reminder that I’m being guided, nudges to do something, and trepidation that I would later learn saved my life.

    As Dr. Stein and Tamara share, I also believe the meaning and invitations appear when we’re ready to see them. All we need to do is keep our eyes open.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Yup that’s it, I’m retiring today. My stapler ran out of staples. I tried to log on this morning and my laptop had to reboot. I called a coworker and instead of the call going through, it just continued to spin. All signs right Wynne. Wahhhhoooo. I’m a big believer now in mysticism. I can’t wait to retire now. Ha, ha.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh geez – you should retire! Invite me to the party, please! Of course if I retired every time a laptop rebooted in my career, I wouldn’t have gotten out of the starting blocks. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I hadn’t heard the story about the stapler…that really got my attention. 😜Your mom continues to amaze me…and your ability to weave poignant stories that make me stop, consider, mull? So good. And “mysticism” is the just-right word you used recently to help me see something I was missing. xo to you! 💕

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Oh my goodness Wynne, oh the signs of the times of our lives! Love this reflection:
    “Three things I need to align with the signs in life: quiet, curiosity about new ideas and ventures, and awareness of the world around me.” 🙏🏼

    That mountain in the distance will stop me in my tracks if I were there. So majestic for sure! 💖 That was a sign to make one stop and simply be still. Thanks for sharing this special moment my friend. 🗻🌄🗻

    Liked by 2 people

  14. What a great reminder to hold on to our awareness Wynne, even when we are busy and may have those blinders on. Noticing the sign is important and equally important is doing something about it. Just as you did with the mountain. How inspiring you are.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Great story, Wynne!

    “I should climb that,” is the kind of thought that people have from time to time, but how many people actually act on it. We’ve just got to act on those signs when we see them.

    Liked by 2 people

  21. “Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” – Albert Einstein

    Thank you for sharing your signs and your story. Have a great day!

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Having read your book, I love how this snippet gives me another glimpse into his heart. I 100% believe God does sprinkle signs/serendipitous circumstances in my life. It’s all about balance… you can quickly find yourself in the ditch of life, if you put too much stock in them, if they’re not balanced by peace, wisdom, etc. yet at the same time, they can add so much enjoyment, Difference between watching a movie in black and white, or in color.

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  23. Thank you. ❤️This post was definitely a sign for me. I’ve been stuck in a rut, feeling in the dumps. I’m ready to find a way out of my dungeon of despair and get back to my usual self.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. My thought is that observant people who are in tune with their own selves, become what other people call mystics. I’m told I’m fey but I suspect it’s just that I’m paying attention to what I need and how I can help others.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Wynne, your thoughts on signs and synchronicity really resonate with my Burning Man experiences. There’s just something about the vast desert landscape and community spirit that seems to amplify the mystical energy – it’s like the playa is constantly sending us little winks and nudges, if we quiet down enough to tune in.

    In my recent post [‘Beyond the Flames’](https://exaltedarticlesbykathleen.wordpress.com/2024/11/04/beyond-the-flames-a-journey-through-the-surreal-experience-of-burning-man-festival/), I talk about how I’ve lost count of the times I’ve felt this divine guidance on the playa – stumbling upon transformative art or conversations that were exactly what I needed in that moment. There’s just this palpable sense that the Burner community is constantly exchanging these energetic signals, if we have the presence to pick up on them.

    I’d really encourage anyone curious about tapping into that mystical current to check out my post. The desert is such a crucible for the soul, offering an escape from default reality and a chance to reconnect with our truest selves. Let me know what you think – I’d love to hear your take on the parallels!

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