Hardly a single characteristic of the grief process—such as withdrawal, yearning and searching, depression and despair, 'finding', union, gaining a 'new identity', return to normal social life—does not have a parallel in the mystical process. While mysticism cannot be equated with grief, it might provide a framework within which unresolved grief, especially that deriving from childhood loss, can be worked through and overcome. In some cases, presumably, grief might lead to mysticism. A hypothetical model is provided, using illustrations from creative literature, of the process by which this transformation might take place. However, mysticism, like other forms of creativity, transcends its origins. It becomes part of a system of religious faith with meaning and value of its own.