She told me that something incredible had happened to her. She now receives ‘messages’. “You know me,” she says (I shall call her Marijke),
“I never believed in ‘entities’ and that sort of thing. But now…I don’t know…I really don’t know what to think.” Yet the tone of her voice reveals that actually she does know. She is convinced that the voice which she hears within comes from somewhere else.
“His name is Zimmer,” says Marijke (I have changed this name as well).
“Did you give him this name?” “Of course not. That’s what he calls himself.”

I am then told that Zimmer is to reveal something of great importance for the entire world through Marijke. But I have heard such things too many times before. Since the publication of my books Revelation of Fire and Nog een messias (Another Messiah), people apparently expect to find in me an enthusiastic listener for their stories about ‘strange voices from within’ (for this phenomenon is present in my books).
“Actually I experience the same thing as your ‘messiah’,” Marijke announces.
“And do you also experience doubts, just as he did?”
“Yes, of course,” she says dismissively, as though it is a ridiculous question.
Her answer, however, gives me to understand that she does not consider these doubts to be of much importance. Yet my view of the matter is diametrically opposed to hers. As far as I am concerned there is only one thing which can be stated unequivocally about mysticism. The only thing I can be sure of is that I or somebody else has experienced something unusual, something which goes beyond my usual frame of reference. And then I do my best not to forget that it is unusual for me and that it is outside my frame of reference.
Marijke also confides Zimmer’s message to me, something about love.
All very nice, but hasn’t she already heard such things before from ordinary people?
She is not very pleased with my questions. “Why do you have to be so negative?” Marijke asks, irritated.
“What do you mean, negative? I’m not negative,” I defend myself ( I still have not gotten rid of this stupid habit), “I am simply…” I search for the word and then it comes to me: realistic. This boring epithet seems almost an affront when applied to mysticism.

Yet these two words continue play together in my head and I come up with several propositions which seem appropriate to me:
Mysticism is a challenge for realistic people.
Realism is a challenge for mysticism.
Realistic people also need mysticism, but then a realistic mysticism.
Realistic people can help to make mysticism more realistic.

My conversation with Marijke ends quickly. When people are convinced of something, the doubts which others entertain are taken as a sign of personal inadequacy. And they certainly are not looking for inadequate people to whom they can convey the message which needs to be shared with the entire world, but enthusiastic supporters. Their ‘entity’ needs this kind of support as well.
I do not know how the word ‘entity’ ever became included in the realm of spiritualism and channeling. For it is in essence a concept which literally means ‘object’, something which exists apart from the observer. However, you could not apply this definition to Zimmer or other spirits, alien beings or inner guides, etc. Perhaps this word has become popular in modern mysticism because many people with an interest in spirituality need a realistic explanation for mystical phenomena? But can mysticism truly be realistic? I have not completely made up my mind on that subject. But the questions remain. The discussion continues.