Negativity—gaps, failures, and limits—offers a powerful lens for studying mysticism. This essay argues that a negative hermeneutics, centered on the continuous 'unsaying' and 'subverting' of traditional faith expressions, illuminates the dynamics of mystical practice and theology. The concept of travail of the negative connects practical and theoretical negativity in mystical texts. This approach encourages theology to take negation seriously as a fundamental feature, contributing to broader theological discourse by reframing how mystical experiences are interpreted.
A negative hermeneutics—one that begins with gaps, failures, and limits—offers a productive framework for studying mysticism. The concept of 'travail of the negative' highlights how mystical expressions continuously 'unsay' and 'subvert' traditional faith and religious practice. This approach connects practical and theoretical negativity in mystical theology, urging theology to take negation seriously as a fundamental characteristic. The essay argues that such a perspective enriches broader theological discourse by centering the dynamic of negation rather than positive affirmations.