In the face of a religious and cultural dominance built around doctrine and sectarianism, it takes courage to be an outsider, a mystic who looks within to the ultimate authority, not to dogma nor religious teachings- a very different perspective from those adhering to a creed that someone else has written and many follow. The Mystic takes the "road less traveled", and dares to be different from so many others. The mystic is an outsider who knows about persecution through the ages of those of a similar stripe, and courageously moves forward even though the threat of exclusion or misunderstanding can follow. With the cultural onslaught of the superficial and the glamorous, the mystic finds heart to move into the depths of Being guided by spiritual intuition, un-dazzled by the world of appearances. In the face of our living in "interesting times" it takes courage to integrate the indeterminacy of a volatile outer world, and to aim ourselves toward a peaceful inner life. In the face of fear, it takes big-hearted mystical courage to confront the demons within us so that, with perseverance, we might eventually find deepening wisdom and empowerment and meaning in our suffering. Mystics dare to say an unconditional "Yes" to life, despite its perils; even allowing the Yes in despair, resentment and collapse. The mystic aiming toward Oneness takes full responsibility for all that unfolds in life, conscious or unconscious, whether by our own agency or that of another, finding in ourselves Courage, finding in ourselves Heart, finding in ourselves the alchemy inherent in This, Here, Now.