In every mystical gathering, of whatever nature, there comes that moment when a correctly constructed ‘vessel’ is taken over – however fleetingly – by a sense of ‘otherness’.

Experience teaches us that this is actually paradoxical. What is ‘taking over’ is the very state that is the goal of the activity, be that a deep talk, a shared, group exploration of a key topic, a ritual to unite and inspire, or an esoteric drama, constructed to allow that which is above the mundane things of life to inhabit it for a moment.

The word ‘above’ is tricky in this context. Correctly, it implies a more causal relationship to the assumed ‘lower’, but, really, ‘inner’ would be better, since all aspects of this relationship are present, even if some of them are not consciously so.

Such moments of otherness are accurately described in terms of their sense of difference to the…