The Lost Road of Everyday Mysticism
A return to the roots of the contemplative life through sacred art, texts, and places
Granada, our doorway into the
poetic mysticism of Spain
Meet Sander
Sander Oosterom is a writer, teacher, and contemplative working at the intersection of mysticism and the arts.​
Drawing on his doctorate in the philosophy of art from Cornell University and his years as a professor of art history, he leads retreats throughout Europe and online.
His work begins from the conviction that contemporary spirituality has become increasingly detached from ordinary life, often emphasizing the pursuit of experience over the cultivation of attention, discipline, and presence within daily existence. In response, he explores forms of contemplative practice rooted in culture, place, ritual, and everyday life.
Central to his work is the recovery of the Western contemplative traditions (Jewish, Christian, and Islamic) as living paths for contemporary seekers, many of whom remain unaware that such traditions remain embedded within their own cultural and spiritual inheritance. Sacred art, architecture, literature, and landscape are therefore approached not as ends in themselves, but as expressions of a living contemplative tradition.
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Based part of the year in solitude on an island off the coast of Istanbul, he divides his time between writing, teaching, and the development of a research and retreat center in Turkey dedicated to the study and practice of mysticism across traditions.
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