Ritual and Symbols. The inner meanings of the scriptures, the spiritual teachings of the prophets and those personal searchings which can lead to divine union were often given lesser importance than outward rituals, symbolism and ceremony in many institutional religions. Observances, reading scriptures, prescribed acts, and following orthodox beliefs cannot replace your personal dedication, contemplation, activities, and direct experience. Preaching is too seldom teaching. For true mystics, every day is a holy day. Divine revelation is here and now, not limited to their sacred scriptures.

Conflicts in Conventional Religion. “What’s in a Word?” outlined some primary differences between religions and within each faith. The many divisions in large religions disagreed, sometimes bitterly. The succession of authority, interpretations of scriptures, doctrines, organization, terminology, and other disputes have often caused resentment. The customs, worship, practices, and behavior within the mainstream of religions frequently conflicted. Many leaders of any religion had only united when confronted by someone outside their faith, or by agnostics or atheists. Few mystics have believed divine oneness is exclusive to their religion or is restricted to any people.

Note: This is just a consensus to indicate some differences between the approaches of mystics and that of their institutional religion. These statements do not represent all schools of mysticism or every division of faith. Whether mystical experiences vary in their cultural context, or are similar for all true mystics, is less important than that they transform each one’s sense of being to a transpersonal outlook on all life.

The “scary void” is a common experience, but there are many places you can go for help. Start with your academic advisor. Talk to the faculty in your area. Are you in a field where internships are appropriate? Ask in the department office who is responsible for coordinating internships in your area. Ask faculty if they know alumni — including recent alumni — that you might contact and seek their advice. Visit the Career Center on campus.

These are somewhat generic suggestions since I don’t know your specific interests, but you’ll notice they all have one thing in common: Talk to people. Make connections. Build a network. Find out what others have done.

I’d be interested to know if there are things you have tried that have led to dead ends. Please feel free to write again.