The music of Emily Maguire

[Jhanananda]

Woke Up - Emily Maguire

Emily Maguire's music and video have given voice to a recurring nightmare I had during my protracted dark night of the soul.  I think you will like it as much as I do. This morning I listened and watched more of her videos. I believe she is a natural mystic.

In this interview she reveals that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disease, which I believe is a common misdiagnosis of a mystic going through a dark night of the soul.  Relevant to us, in this video interview we see a Tibetan Buddhist tanka in the background, which suggests that she might be a Buddhist.

[Michel]

A remarkable woman, strikingly handsome, of noble spirit and grace, of powerful intelligence. I was moved to tears by this music. Thank-you for sharing this with us, Jhananda.

The destruction of our Mother Earth is a subject that has concerned me for a long time. For a time, I was optimistic that we would somehow get through this, and supported a number of environmental groups and projects, but now I'm truly convinced we are led by fools blindly moving us into total oblivion, and there's is nothing that we can do to stop them. I think we're at about 300ppm of CO2 in our atmosphere the last time I checked.

It's interesting that Emily Maguire is diagnosed as bipolar. My type of manic-depression was characterized by chronic, severe depression punctuated occasionally by manic episodes of moderate to severe psychosis requiring confinement in the psychiatric hospital.

Despite on several occasions, since 1979, being in states of manic psychosis, I believe I experienced some of my best insights into the nature of reality; they were truly mystical revelations of deep truths. In these states I realized that the idea that I held of myself was a total fiction, a creation of the intellect, and that I really did not exist in that sense. I also thought that there was an endless battle between the spirit and the intellect. The spirit I define as the knower of all things, and the intellect is simply deluded ignorance. I came to the conclusion that when the spirit is totally supressed by the deluded intellect, you have the cause for depression, and that this was the cause of my depression and neurosis, and this was also true for every one else. I also thought that I, my spirit, or whatever one wants to call it, was older then the beginning of time itself, and that all things are always in a state of change, and that there is nothing you can hold onto, and that there was an endless repeating cycle for all things; that we are doomed to experience the same horrors, with the same people, over and over again, in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. I remember having a vision of falling in love with this woman, then watching her die, then seeing this same experience from life to life, this experience of love and loss endlessly repeating. I also thought that the crows, these noble, dark spirits of the sky, knew all about these things, so I became friends with them. I commune with them whenever they're around. I bet this all sounds familiar to many people on this forum - it's real Buddhist stuff, but I did not know this at the time of my experiences, and I didn't think that there was a way out of this endless nightmare, until I discovered the Pali Cannon.

Some of the sanest people I've ever met were mental patients, and most of  my friends were also mental patients. Some of them were going through the dark night of the soul experience when I met them in the hospital. As you know, the doctors and nurses don't understand any of this, they just think you're crazy, and put you on higher doses of drugs.

I plan to make mp3 recordings of three of my most recent compositions, and perhaps I will post them on YouTube, when I learn how. One of them I have dedicated to you, Jhananda.

[Jhanananda]

A remarkable woman, strikingly handsome, of noble spirit and grace, of powerful intelligence. I was moved to tears by this music. Thank-you for sharing this with us, Jhananda.

As accomplished as she is as a musician, and with her psychiatric past, it is a good bet she is also a genius.

The destruction of our Mother Earth is a subject that has concerned me for a long time. For a time, I was optimistic that we would somehow get through this, and supported a number of environmental groups and projects, but now I'm truly convinced we are led by fools blindly moving us into total oblivion, and there's is nothing that we can do to stop them. I think we're at about 300ppm of CO2 in our atmosphere the last time I checked.

Yes, I agree, "we are led by fools blindly moving us into total oblivion."  Good news is an asteroid is coming to cleans the earth soon.  So, the best thing we can all do is take up the contemplative life in earnest.

My type of manic depression was characterized by chronic severe depression punctuated occasionally by manic episodes of moderate to severe psychosis requiring confinement in the psychiatric hospital.

Despite on several occasions, since 1979, being in states of manic psychosis, I believe I experienced some of my best insights into the nature of reality; they were truly mystical revelations of deep truths.

In these states I realized that the idea that I held of myself was a total fiction, a creation of the intellect, and that I really did not exist in that sense. I also thought that there was an endless battle between the spirit and the intellect. The spirit I define as the knower of all things, and the intellect is simply deluded ignorance. I came to the conclusion that when the spirit is totally supressed by the deluded intellect you have the cause for depression, and that this was the cause of my depression and neurosis, and this was also true for every one else. I also thought that I, my spirit, or whatever one wants to call it, was older then the  beginning of time itself, that all things are always in a state of change, and there is nothing you can hold onto, and that there was an endless repeating cycle for all things; that we are doomed to experience the same horrors, with the same people, over and over again, in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. I remember having a vision of falling in love with this woman, then watching her die, then seeing this same experience from life to life, this experience of love and loss endlessly repeating. I also thought that the crows, these noble, dark spirits of the sky, knew all about these things, so I became friends with them. I commune with them whenever they're around. I bet this all sounds familiar to many people on this forum - it's real Buddhist stuff, but I did not know this at the time of my experiences, and I didn't think that there was a way out of this endless nightmare, until I discovered the Pali Cannon.

Some of the sanest people I've ever met were mental patients, and most of  my friends were also mental patients. Some of them were going through the dark night of the soul experience when I met them in the hospital. As you know, the doctors and nurses don't understand any of this, they just think you're crazy, and put you on higher doses of drugs.

You know you are in hell when you realize that the insane are in charge of the insane asylum, and the residents are the sane.

I plan to make mp3 recordings of three of my most recent compositions, and perhaps I will post them on YouTube, when I learn how. One of them I have dedicated to you, Jhananda.

I look forward to hearing it.

[Michel]

Michel:

I also thought that there was an endless battle between the spirit and the intellect. The spirit I define as the knower of all things, and the intellect is simply deluded ignorance. I came to the conclusion that when the spirit is totally supressed by the deluded intellect you have the cause for depression, and that this was the cause of my depression and neurosis, and this was also true for every one else.

Jhananda, do you think this theory of mine is valid, or is it nonsense? Perhaps it's too simplistic? By deluded intellect, I meant that intellect can't really know the nature of reality.

[Jhanananda]

Michel:

I also thought that there was an endless battle between the spirit and the intellect. The spirit I define as the knower of all things, and the intellect is simply deluded ignorance. I came to the conclusion that when the spirit is totally supressed by the deluded intellect you have the cause for depression, and that this was the cause of my depression and neurosis, and this was also true for every one else.

Jhananda, do you think this theory of mine is valid, or is it nonsense? Perhaps it's too simplistic?

That is the same theory I subscribe to.  Stilling the mind puts the intellect asleep, so that the spirit can sing.

[Michel]

Jhananda:

That is the same theory I subscribe to.  Stilling the mind puts the intellect asleep, so that the spirit can sing.

That's interesting, well said. The intellect thinks it should be in control, but it should be the other way around, with the spirit as lord and master. In effect, most of us have the cart before the horse.
Jhananda:

Yes, I agree, "we are led by fools blindly moving us into total oblivion."  Good news is an asteroid is coming to cleans the earth soon.  So, the best thing we can all do is take up the contemplative life in earnest.

You seem to be concerned about environmental issues, you use biofuel for your vehicles. Do you think there's any hope for the fight on climate change, and that we should do whatever we can? At the very least, in whatever way we can, we should still respect Mother Earth. We're at 393ppm of CO2, the highest it's been in the last 800,000 years. I think we're toast. I don't understand why people like James Hansen et al. are still fighting on. The war is over, the bad guys won. It's now a case of what do we do with all the broken pieces, we can't put them back together; Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a big fall...

[Jhanananda]

You seem to be concerned about environmental issues, you use biofuel for your vehicles. Do you think there's any hope for the fight on climate change, and that we should do whatever we can?

I have powered my vehicle mostly with recycled vegetable oil for almost 7 years.  I have powered most of my electrical needs with solar panels. I am now working on a device that will recycle almost anything into fuel, such as: plastic, paper, or wood. I do all of this partly because there is not enough funding to fund the GWV, so I use my technical skills to make my own power.  I also do it, because I chose to lead an ethical life.

Those who chose an ethical lifestyle will of course not harm the earth, and do what we can to avoid harm to planet and its creatures.  However, how many are going to go to the trouble and expense to power their home and life with solar panels, wind generators, and biofuels?  Not many.

So, to me the solution to all human social and environmental problems is to inspire everyone to lead an ethical, contemplative life.  If they did, then no one would seek to harm the earth and its creatures.

At the very least, in whatever way we can, we should still respect Mother Earth. We're at 393ppm of CO2, the highest it's been in the last 800,000 years. I think we're toast. I don't understand why people like James Hansen et al. are still fighting on. The war is over, the bad guys won. It's now a case of what do we do with all the broken pieces, we can't put them back together; Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a big fall...

Well, yes, industrialization has caused a huge amount of CO2 to be dumped into the atmosphere, which is surely to cause a great disruption.  All nuclear reactors will eventually melt down and cause great harm as well.  However, the ecosystem has a way of repairing itself after considerable disturbance.  After all there have been far worse environmental disasters caused by asteroid impact, which caused the extinction of up to 98% of all species here, and yet the earth came into a new balance, which allowed new species to evolve, such as us.

On the other hand, the species homo is capable of detecting and destroying, or diverting, asteroids that threaten to impact the earth.  For that effort to work, it will take all humans participating.  Perhaps the threat of impact will be sufficient to inspire everyone to work for a greater cause than self-preservation at the expense of everyone else.  And, perhaps it will be those very nuclear weapons, which have threatened all of our personal safety, that will be used to destroy, or divert, an asteroids that threatens to impact the earth; and at the same time those nuclear weapons will be taken off-world, and destroyed in the process.

All most of us have to do is just meditate deeply, regardless of whether Asteroid 2013 TV135 impacts the planet in 19 years; or the oceans are turned into acid by excess CO2 emissions; or some other catastrophe brings life, as we know it, to an end on this planet.

[Michel]

Did you ever have psychotic, manic episodes, with hallucinations? Did you gain any insights from them, if you did?

In some so called primitive cultures psychosis is regarded as a highly significant, spiritual experience. It is encouraged and even induced by the use of mind altering drugs such "ayahuasca", which is used by natives in the Amazon rainforest. One western anthropologist who tried ayahuasca, described the experience as like being shot through the barrel of a gun, lined with baroque paintings, and landing in a sea of electricity. Apparently one who takes this drug has hallucinations, and comes face to face with their demons. The task is to overcome your demons. So, they use this drug not for the fun of it, but because it is beneficial for ones personal development. I think that in our own culture we should allow people to go through their psychotic experience, and just let them work it through by providing a supportive environment. I was always extremely disappointed when my psychosis was interrupted by the intervention of some well meaning psychiatrist with an arsenal of drugs.

Quote of the day: The only way to understand the mathematical concept of infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity. - Voltaire

[Jhanananda]

Did you ever have psychotic, manic episodes, with hallucinations? Did you gain any insights from them, if you did?

I am not sure if you have read William James' Varieties of Religious Experience; however, the backstory behind it, and the work of his graduate student Edwin Diller Starbuck, is they were working under a model that the religious experience is nothing more than "religious psychosis."  Therefore, since I have religious experiences, then by the definition of the DMS IV, I am psychotic, with manic episodes, and hallucinations.  Worse than that, I have spent my whole life cultivating them through leading a contemplative life.

In some so called primitive cultures psychosis is regarded as a highly significant, spiritual experience. It is encouraged and even induced by the use of mind altering drugs such "ayahuasca", which is used by natives in the Amazon rainforest. One western anthropologist who tried ayahuasca, described the experience as like being shot through the barrel of a gun, lined with baroque paintings, and landing in a sea of electricity. Apparently one who takes this drug has hallucinations, and comes face to face with their demons. The task is to overcome your demons. So, they use this drug not for the fun of it, but because it is beneficial for ones personal development.

I am an Anthropologist, and I have studied in depth the use of psychoactive substances for stimulating the religious experience as a participant observer.  Ayahuasca is just one of many drugs that have been used by primitives who wanted to stimulate a religious experience.

I have also lead a contemplative life to stimulating the religious experience as a participant observer.  I have found that the psychoactive substances only mimic the religious experience, and never result in producing a positive transformative product in the subject.  Whereas, I have found that leading a contemplative life to stimulate the religious experience does produce a positive transformative product in the subject.

I think that in our own culture we should allow people to go through their psychotic experience, and just let them work it through by providing a supportive environment. I was always extremely disappointed when my psychosis was interrupted by the intervention of some well meaning psychiatrist with an arsenal of drugs.

Quote of the day: The only way to understand the mathematical concept of infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity. - Voltaire

I love your quote. I would be diagnosed as bipolar with psychotic, manic episodes, with hallucinations; however, as I see it, the problem with psychiatry is they are all nuts, like everyone else.  Those who are dismissed as being mad, like: Emily, you and I, live in a mad, mad world, and we are among the few who know it. 

As I see it, the problem with the psychotic is we know there is something deeply wrong with the world, but wherever we go we are told that we are the crazy ones.  So, we wander from one disempowering situation to the next, with the mad rising and falling of the bipolar roller coaster.

The trick, for the bipolar, is to learn how to stay "manic" all of the time, while maintaining equanimity, which will avoid dissipating one's internal energies, which produces the depressive phase. I have found that I can be what is called "manic" and "psychotic" all of the time, while avoiding the depressive phase, by learning to manage my internal energy through leading a self-aware contemplative life. 

I read the mystics, and follow their lifestyle. Today they would be dismissed as bipolar with psychotic episodes.

Part of what works for me is to avoid the cities, live in the wilderness, and only come into small towns for my needs. So, I expect Christian's goat farm helps Emily stabilize; whereas, going on tour, while stimulating her manic phase, results in a depressive phase, because of all of the work involved in touring.

I noticed a White Tara tanka in the background of one of Emily's videos. I searched for Shaktu, her recording label, and found a Pakistan location, which confused me until I saw a photo of a man posing with Emily, who I guess is Muslim, Tariq Ali, so there might be both Buddhist and Sufi references in her personal philosophy, as there is in mine.

I pulled together references from the major mystics, as well as from western psychology, to build a cogent philosophy for today's mystics, which has helped me, as well as some friends of mine.  The link to it is below.  Perhaps you have read it already.

Jhana, the Joyful Home of the Way (Di.t.thadhammasukhavihaaraa). Understanding the meditative absorption states (jhanas) and their associated phenomena (phala) within the Buddhist canon.

By the way, I have found two more of her music videos that I like quite a bit: Who Knows Where The Time Goes... and Believer

[Michel]

I had a good time reading your post, it made me laugh. I've learnt more from you than I've learnt from anybody in my whole life. You make complete sense to me.
Jhananda:

I am not sure if you have read William James' Varieties of Religious Experience; however, the backstory behind it, and the work of his graduate student Edwin Diller Starbuck, is they were working under a model that the religious experience is nothing more than "religious psychosis."  Therefore, since I have religious experiences, then by the definition of the DMS IV, I am psychotic, with manic episodes, and hallucinations.  Worse than that, I have spent my whole life cultivating them through leading a contemplative life.

Welcome to the club. The DMS IV is a nasty, little book full of contradictions and nonsense, and even some psychiatrist recognize this, but they are the very few. I see it on my psychiatrist's bookshelf beside him every time I check in.
Jhananda:

I have also lead a contemplative life to stimulating the religious experience as a participant observer.  I have found that the psychoactive substances only mimic the religious experience, and never result in producing a positive transformative product in the subject.  Whereas, I have found that leading a contemplative life to stimulate the religious experience does produce a positive transformative product in the subject.

This is very believable, makes a lot of sense.
Jhananda:

As I see it, the problem with the psychotic is we know there is something deeply wrong with the world, but wherever we go we are told that we are the crazy ones.  So, we wander from one disempowering situation to the next, with the mad rising and falling of the bipolar roller coaster.

The trick, for the bipolar, is to learn how to stay "manic" all of the time, while maintaining equanimity, which will avoid dissipating one's internal energies, which produces the depressive phase. I have found that I can be what is called "manic" and "psychotic" all of the time, while avoiding the depressive phase, by learning to manage my internal energy through leading a self-aware contemplative life. 

This is a tough balancing act. I've never been able to control the high energy levels of mania, along with the intense euphoria, erratic thoughts, and the accompanying gross, delusional distortion of reality. I've always crashed into a severe depressive phase after the manic phase. But - the spiritual insights that one gains from the experience are undeniable, I think, and they are dismissed as nonsense by the psychiatric profession. The depressive phase of bipolar is useless for anything; you are simply incapacitated to various degrees.

Would you go so far as to say that the manic phase of bipolar disorder is an out of control religious experience? You are saying that one has to learn how to bring it under control. It's interesting what you say about avoiding the depression phase. Indeed, this is a fine balancing act, difficult to master. Could you expand on this? I wish you would write an essay on this one too. Your insights are incredible. The world would benefit by your ideas, Jhananda. There are those who would listen, perhaps people like Emily.
Jhananda:

By the way, I have found two more of her music videos that I like quite a bit: Who Knows Where The Time Goes...  and Believer

I too very much liked "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." The visuals where incredible, I've  also listened to Emily's other various music videos and interviews. I plan to read her blog. Truly a remarkable woman. I noticed she has ten other YouTube videos. See here: http://www.youtube.com/user/EmilyMaguireFans/videos

Here's a piece of music I like very much, titled "Delicate Touch", by Steen Beeson.  It's kind of new age, but it's really good. It may even describe the lower religious experiences in terms of music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVkvWG_He-c

Jhananda:

pulled together references from the major mystics, as well as from western psychology, to build a cogent philosophy for today's mystics, which has helped me, as well as some friends of mine.  The link to it is below.  Perhaps you have read it already.

Jhana, the Joyful Home of the Way (Di.t.thadhammasukhavihaaraa). Understanding the meditative absorption states (jhanas) and their associated phenomena (phala) within the Buddhist canon.

I've read this essay before, and I've just read again. Thank-you. You have proven, supported by the suttas, how everything points to jhana as a solution to overcome the fetters, the seven deadly sins, the hindrances, the aggregates, etc.  Everyone should read this.

[Jhanananda]

I had a good time reading your post, it made me laugh. I've learnt more from you than I've learnt from anybody in my whole life. You make complete sense to me.

Thank-you. Every mystic uses logic to express themselves. So, if a philosophy is not cogent and logically true, then it is most probably flawed.  Which does not say much for so-called "crazy wisdom."  It is the crazy and stupid who fall for crazy "wisdom."

Welcome to the club. The DMS IV is a nasty, little book full of contradictions and nonsense, and even some psychiatrist recognize this, but they are the very few. I see it on my psychiatrist's bookshelf beside him every time I check in.

Gee, Western psychology and psychiatry are sounding a great deal like religions.

This is a tough balancing act. I've never been able to control the high energy levels of mania, along with the intense euphoria, erratic thoughts, and the accompanying gross, delusional distortion of reality. I've always crashed into a severe depressive phase after the manic phase. But - the spiritual insights that one gains from the experience are undeniable, I think, and they are dismissed as nonsense by the psychiatric profession. The depressive phase of bipolar is useless for anything; you are simply incapacitated to various degrees.

Would you go so far as to say that the manic phase of bipolar disorder is an out of control religious experience?

Yes, that seems reasonable to me.  For the psychotic one just has to learn discipline to control the mania, as well as, stilling the mind, because most of the delusional material is the mind mixed with insight, which just makes mush.

You are saying that one has to learn how to bring it under control. It's interesting what you say about avoiding the depression phase. Indeed, this is a fine balancing act, difficult to master. Could you expand on this? I wish you would write an essay on this one too. Your insights are incredible. The world would benefit by your ideas, Jhananda. There are those who would listen, perhaps people like Emily.

Those who are labeled "delusional" might listen to what I have to say, and some of them might actually take up a disciplined life.  If they did they could transition from the chaos of delusion into genuine mystics.  The hard part for most is negotiating the Dark Night of the Soul, because it takes great courage to face one's demons.

I too very much liked "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." The visuals where incredible, I've  also listened to Emily's other various music videos and interviews. I plan to read her blog. Truly a remarkable woman. I noticed she has ten other YouTube videos. See here: http://www.youtube.com/user/EmilyMaguireFans/videos

Yes, I have seen them all and like them all.  I have also read some of her blog.

Here's a piece of music I like very much, titled "Delicate Touch", by Steen Beeson.  It's kind of new age, but it's really good. It may even describe the lower religious experiences in terms of music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVkvWG_He-c

Thanks for the video link.  It is very nice, but I think it would be far better in high fidelity, than in MP3 format.

pulled together references from the major mystics, as well as from western psychology, to build a cogent philosophy for today's mystics, which has helped me, as well as some friends of mine.  The link to it is below.  Perhaps you have read it already.

Jhana, the Joyful Home of the Way (Di.t.thadhammasukhavihaaraa). Understanding the meditative absorption states (jhanas) and their associated phenomena (phala) within the Buddhist canon.

I've read this essay before, and I've just read again. Thank-you. You have proven, supported by the suttas, how everything points to jhana as a solution to overcome the fetters, the seven deadly sins, the hindrances, the aggregates, etc.  Everyone should read this.

Yes, that is my job description.  It is through cultivating the religious experience that we have the necessary transformation of character to be free of the addictions/sins/fetter.

[Michel]

Jhananda:

... The hard part for most is negotiating the Dark Night of the Soul, because it takes great courage to face one's demons

You tremble, my dear old body, but you would tremble even more if you knew where I was taking you. - Henri, vicomte de Turenne

Jhananda

I am not sure if you have read William James' Varieties of Religious Experience; however, the backstory behind it, and the work of his graduate student Edwin Diller Starbuck, is they were working under a model that the religious experience is nothing more than "religious psychosis."  Therefore, since I have religious experiences, then by the definition of the DMS IV, I am psychotic, with manic episodes, and hallucinations.

The eminence of a great scientist, is measured by the length of time they obstruct progress in their field. - author unknown

[Jhanananda]

I like these lines from Maguire's "Believer:

...if only

 I’d seen the light of a thousand suns
 Rising high above the sea
 And I’d held the hand of a holy man
 If only I believed
 Believer

Yes, I like those lines as well.

For me 'the light of a thousand suns' is the Pali Canon, which shows the path one must follow to the religious experience. And 'the hand of a holy man' are all of the wise mystics.

No religious literature is that "the light of a thousand suns." However, the experience of seeing a burst of light and feeling the full power of the kundalini as a religious experience is defined as "the light of a thousand suns" in numerous places in Indic literature.  I do not think it is described in the Pali Canon that way, unless it is the light spoken of in DN6.  I have had this experience several times.  I believe it is the 8th samadhi as defined in MN-26, but it is nowhere near as poetic.

Domain of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, Nevasannanasannnayatana
"Then again (Puna ca paraü) seekers of Buddhahood (bhikkhave bhikkhu), completely (Sabbaso) passing beyond (samatikkama) the domain of no evil (àkiñcaññàyatanaü) near to (upasampajja) limitless (anantaü) volition (viññàõanti) one traverses (viharati) the domain of neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññànàsaññàyatanaü). It is said (vuccati) this seeker of Buddhahood (bhikkhave bhikkhu) has blinded ('andhamakàsi) Mara (màraü). Trackless (apadaü) he has destroyed (vadhitvà) Mara's vision (màracakkhuü). He has disappeared from (adassanaü) and surpassed (gato) the Evil One (pàpimato).

Nonetheless, I would agree that the Noble Eightfold Path, as described in the Pali Canon, is an excellent, and even one of the best, descriptions of the contemplative life; however, sadly, I have not met a single Buddhist priest who seems to understand or follow the Noble Eightfold Path.

[Michel]

Quote from: Michel on Today at 09:19:09 AM
For me 'the light of a thousand suns' is the Pali Canon, which shows the path one must follow to the religious experience. And 'the hand of a holy man' are all of the wise mystics.

Jhananda:

No religious literature is that "the light of a thousand suns." However, the experience of seeing a burst of light and feeling the full power of the kundalini as a religious experience is defined as "the light of a thousand suns" in numerous places in Indic literature.

Interesting.I got it completely wrong. I've never had a religious experience as you describe above. I should not comment on such experiences until I have one myself. So this is why you think Maguire is possibly a mystic?

[Jhanananda]

Interesting.I got it completely wrong. I've never had a religious experience as you describe above. I should not comment on such experiences until I have one myself.

God is indescribable radiance and power.

If the light of a thousand suns
should suddenly burst forth in the sky
it would be like the light
of that exalted one.
http://www.pantheism.net/paul/history/gita.htm

So this is why you think Maguire is possibly a mystic?

At this point we should define the term 'mystic.'  A mystic is someone who is successful at cultivating religious experiences.  There are 8 stages of the religious experience, and there are various fruit there of.  So, a person who has consistent access to the first religious experience (first jhana) is a stage one mystic, and so forth.

Emily Maguire's lyrics and history show that she has at least some random religious experiences, which might have been misinterpreted by the psychiatric community as psychosis.  So, at this point I would say, until she learns to control the experience, then she is a "natural mystic," which means she exists on the fringe between a mystic and a normal.  This would also be true for Lucinda Williams, and other singer-song-writers with exceptional talent and genius, and who's writing indicates a surreal or altered state, as is indicated by the songs Woke Up - Emily Maguire and What If? .