The Threefold Way of Christian Mysticism

Purgation, Illumination, and Union

Christian mysticism isn’t about escaping the world or locking yourself away in a cave (though some monks definitely went for that route). At its heart, it’s about transformation—a deep, soul-level journey into the heart of God. For centuries, mystics have spoken of this path using a threefold pattern: Purgation, Illumination, and Union.

This journey isn’t a checklist. It moves like waves or spirals—fluid, mysterious, and holy. You may revisit purgation over and over, have moments of clarity in the middle of a storm, or taste union while washing dishes. That’s the beauty of it. Every step, every stumble, every silence draws you closer to the One who is Love.

Let’s walk this sacred path together.

1. Purgation: Letting Go So You Can Grow

The first stage is purgation, and yes—it can feel intense. This is the season where God gently, and sometimes not-so-gently, begins peeling away the layers of the false self: our ego, attachments, sin, and distractions.

Think of it as spring cleaning for the soul.

You may start praying regularly and suddenly realize you can’t focus for 30 seconds without checking your phone. Or you find yourself in a spiritually dry season—relationships strained, control slipping through your fingers, and your identity in things other than God starting to crumble. It’s disorienting. It’s holy.

Here, God invites surrender—not perfection. We’re asked to release what no longer serves our souls and to lean into grace through practices like fasting, confession, solitude, silence, or spiritual direction.

“God is not asking for your performance. He is asking for your heart.”

Reflection

• What attachments or habits are pulling me away from God?

• Where is God inviting me to surrender?

Prayer

“Lord, cleanse my heart. Help me release what no longer serves Your purpose in me. Give me courage to face discomfort and grace to walk forward in trust. I surrender all that I am into Your hands.”

2. Illumination: Seeing with God’s Eyes

After the refining of purgation comes illumination—the light breaking through. In this stage, the soul begins to see differently—not just with the mind, but with the heart.

It’s like stepping out of a cave and being overwhelmed by color, beauty, and clarity.

Prayer deepens. Scripture feels alive. You start to notice divine patterns in ordinary places. You feel more aware of God’s presence—not always in lightning bolts, but in stillness, music, a friend’s voice, or the shape of a tree against the sky.

You begin to walk through life with eyes of love.

Real-life illumination moments:

• You're walking in nature and suddenly feel like the trees themselves are singing praise.

• In a tense conversation, you feel compassion rise—not from your own strength, but from somewhere deeper.

It’s not about chasing spiritual highs. Illumination is about learning to live awake—to the Spirit, to love, to the sacred in all things.

Reflection

• Where have I experienced divine presence lately?

• What is God revealing to me in prayer or daily life?

Prayer

“Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see with Your light. Let Your truth and love shine through me. Teach me to walk in step with Your Spirit and to recognize You in the ordinary.”

3. Union: Resting in Divine Love

The final stage is union—but don’t imagine it as floating in the clouds or seeing visions (though those things do happen). At its core, union is about rest—being one with God in stillness, in love, in trust.

This is the fruit of surrender. The ego has been softened, the heart illumined, and now the soul rests—not in striving, but in simply being with God.

This can happen in quiet prayer, in suffering, in joy, or in the smallest everyday moment.

Examples of union:

• A mother holding her sleeping child, whispering prayers in silence.

• A monk sweeping the floor, every motion an offering of love.

• You, sitting in stillness, with nothing to say—just being with God, and knowing that is enough.

As Jesus said in John 15, “Abide in me, and I in you.”

And here’s the miracle: You don’t have to wait until you’re a saint to taste this. Moments of union are possible even in the chaos of a Monday morning.

Reflection

• Where do I experience the stillness and peace of God?

• What would it look like to simply abide with God today?

Prayer

“Draw me into Your presence, O God. Let me rest in You. Beyond words, beyond striving, beyond fear—help me to simply be with You, as I am, in love and quiet trust.”

Final Blessing

The Threefold Way isn’t about reaching some spiritual status. It’s about falling in love with God more deeply, more freely, more truly. You may revisit purgation many times. You may taste union in the middle of sorrow. That’s okay.

God is in every part of the journey.
God is with you, drawing you home.

“May the journey shape you,
may Love transform you,
and may the presence of God
become your deepest home.”