Up: [[Mystery]] Course: The Spiritual Paradox of Addiction, Ashok Bedi for Jung Platform Created: 2022-11-27 Updated: 2024-08-01 Psychologist William James suggested these first four qualities or characteristics of a mystical or transpersonal experience. #### Ineffable The experience cannot be described in words. If you try to grasp it too hard, you’ll lose it. [[Image]] is really helpful here. #### Noetic This word means ‘inner knowing’. Even though the experience can’t be described, some part of us knows what it is. #### Transient A mystical or transpersonal experience doesn’t last for a long time. There aren’t any common ranges of time attached to it. It’s simply considered ‘limited’. #### Autonomous You must be willing to surrender to your unconscious. If you try to actively manage an experience, it will disappear. [[C. G. Jung]] added three more qualities. A mystical or transpersonal experience: 1. has a purpose 2. has a meaning 3. is numinous. Jung defined numinous as *a unique experience that is inexpressible, mysterious, terrifying, directly experienced, and pertaining only to the divinity*.