30 Most Famous Mystics in History

The history of religion is long and fascinating. While most people know a thing or two about the pope, Christianity,
Buddhism, and other big concepts, not much is known about the mystics in the various religions.

Though mysticism mostly refers to the idea of becoming one with God (or another Absolute figure), it has in many
instances described the general desire to find an ecstatic state of spiritual consciousness. Most mystics, or those with the
ability to practice mysticism, simply want to study and understand the unknown. Dozens of mystics have gained
prominence throughout history, from the Greek empire era to modern time. Mystics also come from just about any
religion. There are Catholic mystics, mystics of eastern religions, and female mystics. Below are the 30 most famous
mystics in history.

Aleister Crowley

Despite being incredibly controversial, there is no doubt that Aleister Crowley has a place among the most famous mystics
in history. This modern mystic founded several occult societies, the most famous of which, Thelema, promoted the Black
Arts. Though this certainly makes Crowley a different type of mystic than others who appear on this list, perhaps it is not
surprising considering he often referred to himself as both “666” and “The Beast.” Apparently, when Crowley met famous
contemporary mystic, George Ivanovich Gurdjieff (also on our list of the most famous historical mystics), the latter
referred to Crowley as “dirty inside.”

Angela of Foligno
The life of Angela of Foligno, one of the most famous female mystics, is one of both tragedy and inspiration. When Angela’s
mother, husband, and children all died suddenly, she became devoted to the work of St. Francis of Assisi. In 1291, Angela
experienced a powerful vision while she was walking to St. Francis’s shrine on a pilgrimage. Angela was able to dictate her
visions into what would become the immensely popular Book of Experience of the Truly Faithful.

Buddha
Ask any person anywhere in the world to name a famous mystic, and it’s very likely they’ll answer “Buddha.” Gautama
Buddha, born sometime around 500 B.C.E., is the famous Eastern mystic whose lessons form the foundations of modern
day of Buddhism. The essence of Gautama’s teachings include the need for humans to find a “Middle Way” between
sensual indulgence and severe asceticism in order to ultimately end the suffering that comes with rebirth. As an
enlightened man who was able to achieve full Buddhahood, Gautama Buddha’s oral teachings have been passed down for
centuries.

Confucius
Though he was a teacher, politician, and editor, Confucius is best known as a famous Eastern mystic and philosopher.
Confucius’s famous teachings, known collectively today as the basis of Confucianism, include the importance of morality
and sincerity, correct social relationships, the need for justice, and a number of other traditions and beliefs inspired by
Chinese tradition. Confucius’ ideas continued to evolve after his death when some of his students journeyed to the West to
develop what would become known as Neo-Confucianism.

Dogen
Though he studied and became enlightened in China, the Buddhist monk Dogen remains one of the most famous Japanese
mystics in eastern history. The knowledgeable Dogen taught his students a variety of subjects, though his most famous
teachings included the study and practice of full self-realization — a typical idea of the Chinese Zen masters under whom
Dogen studied, but a concept that was completely new to Dogen’s Japanese contemporaries.

George Ivanovich Gurdjieff

George Ivanovich Gurdjieff is easily one of the most famous mystics in history. He also happens to be one of the most
interesting. Though not much is known about Gurdjieff’s upbringing in Armenia, we do known he once worked as a Russian
spy. Most believe that it was sometime during this phase that he learned about the traditions of Eastern religions and
experienced his “awakening,” because shortly after, Gurdjieff left to establish a school in Paris where he taught self-
realization and mindfulness.

Hadewijch of Antwerp
Hadewijch of Antwerp is a famous female mystic who lived during the early 1200s. Nearly everything we know about her
life has been learned from the three known books she authored: Letters to a Young Beguine, in which Hadewijch included a
series of spiritual letters; Poems in Stanzas and Poems in Couplets; and Book of Visions. Letters to a Young Beguine holds
the majority of Hadewijch’s mystic ideas. The most prominent is the idea that the soul — created by God in his own image
–constantly yearns to become one again with the divine.