The essence of mystical unknowing is to surrender one's ego-identity to an ineffable reality that transcends all human understanding, while queer indeterminacy involves refusing socially imposed identities to explore new ways of being beyond binaries such as masculine/feminine, straight/gay, dominant/submissive, etc. Both involve disrupting established frameworks for categorizing people based on their attributes and behaviors. In mysticism, this can be done through meditation, contemplation, prayer, or ecstatic rituals; in queerness, it can manifest as gender bending, fluidity, and nonconformity.
Both require an intentional suspension of binary thinking and embracing uncertainty, which may lead to feelings of vulnerability, confusion, and isolation.
Mystics often emphasize the interconnectedness between humans and nature, seeing themselves as part of a larger cosmic web that connects everything and everyone. Queers similarly challenge conventional ideas about individual identity by exploring relationships without traditional boundaries or hierarchies. Mystics seek meaning and purpose through communion with the divine; queers find meaning and purpose through self-expression and connection with others. Both reject patriarchy and heteronormativity, promoting social justice and liberation from oppressive systems.
Mystical unknowing and queer indeterminacy are not always positive experiences, as they can cause anxiety, alienation, and even violence. Some religions and societies reject these modes of being as deviant or immoral, leading to persecution and exclusion. But both have also been used as tools for resistance against oppression and liberation from restrictive ideologies.
Mystics like Rumi and Hildegard von Bingen challenged medieval religious orthodoxy, while queer activists such as Harvey Milk fought for gay rights in 1970s America.
Mystical unknowing and queer indeterminacy offer ways of transcending fixed identities that can foster spiritual growth, creative expression, and social change. By embracing mystery and uncertainty, we can expand our understanding of ourselves and each other beyond binary categories, allowing us to explore new possibilities for living authentically and free.
What parallels exist between mystical unknowing and queer indeterminacy as modes of transcending fixed identity categories?
The concept of "mystical unknowing" refers to the experience of transcending one's sense of self and gaining access to a more encompassing or universal understanding of reality beyond one's individual perceptions and beliefs. It is often associated with spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, and contemplation, and can lead to feelings of humility, awe, and wonderment.