mystical
Beyond ordinary understanding
Mystical describes experiences or beliefs involving direct communion with ultimate reality, the divine, or hidden truths beyond ordinary understanding.
A mystical vision transcends rational explanation.
Mystical traditions exist across religions—Sufism in Islam, Kabbalah in Judaism, contemplative Christianity.
The word can also mean simply mysterious or spiritually evocative: The forest had a mystical quality at dawn.
Worthy of reverence
- holyDedicated to the divine
- divineOf or from gods
- numinousSpiritually awesome, beyond ordinary
- spiritualRelating to the soul
devotion · contemplation · meditation · prayer · reverence · awe · wonder · grace
Profound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
ethereal · otherworldly · celestial · divine · beatific · ecstasy · rapture · ascension
Obscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
veiled · obscure · impenetrable · sphinxlike · elusive · ineffable · unknowable · hidden
Concealed from view
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
- witchcraftPractice of supernatural magic
- wizardryPractice of casting spells
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
clairvoyance · prophecy · vision · second sight · omen · portent · apparition · specter
Formal event marking occasions
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
chant · altar · offering · shaman · oracle · priestess · initiation · sacrament
sacred
Worthy of reverence
spiritual · devotion · contemplation · meditation · prayer · reverence · awe · wonder · grace · blessing
enlightenment
Profound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
sublime · ethereal · otherworldly · celestial · divine · beatific · ecstasy · rapture · ascension · awakening
cryptic
Obscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
unfathomable · veiled · obscure · impenetrable · sphinxlike · elusive · ineffable · unknowable · hidden · secret
occult
Concealed from view
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
- witchcraftPractice of supernatural magic
- wizardryPractice of casting spells
divination · clairvoyance · prophecy · vision · second sight · omen · portent · apparition · specter · enchantment
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
invocation · chant · altar · offering · shaman · oracle · priestess · initiation · sacrament · consecration
- Arabian NightsAladdin, Scheherazade, Ali Baba, Arabian Nights, Sinbad
- sublimesublimity, grandeur, vastness, awe, majesty
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- fantasy adventuredragon, dragons, wizard, wizards, magic
- supernaturalghosts, ghost, witches, spirits, vampire
- mysteriousmysterious, cryptic, enigmatic, arcane, obscure
mysticalrational
Governed by logic
logical · empirical · scientific · analytical · reasoned
mysticalexoteric
Suitable for outsiders
transparent · plain · open · explicit · undisguised
- mystical creaturesSupernatural beings from folklore
- mystical experiencesTranscendent encounters with ultimate reality
- mystical powersSupernatural abilities beyond explanation
- mystical artsSupernatural esoteric practices
- mystical journeyTransformative search for meaning
- mystical visionsSupernatural perceptions of beyond