Dennis, I am of the view that mysticism light can be consciously pursued in listening prayer modes with the understanding that the desire to pray is a response to an invitation to pray.  The desire to enter into a deeper relationship with God is a response to God's desire to deepen that relationship.  Yes, discernment is required. The difficulty I have here is that, in my experience, it is very difficult to find spiritual directors who are not so caught up with theological correctness and conformity to Church teaching that they are not open to a God who presents Self in any other way than within good, solid doctrines and dogmas.  The God I knew as a boy and with whom I have connected again in my old age is a loving, merciful, forgiving parent who, in spite of my sins and shortcomings loves me and, while accepting me as I am, calls me to be more.  The question I constantly ask is not whether or not it is theologically correct but is it loving.