The experiences and beliefs of my mystics are very different. there isn't much written about the experiences of john the baptist, however Zoroaster recorded many hymns in the Gathas which are by all accounts direct recording of Mystical experiences he had. Sheldrake described mysticism as a direct direct line of communication with the divine. by Shledrake's definition both John the baptist and Zoroaster definitely be mystics.
John the baptist only has one written Mystical experience recorded in the bible. in John 1: 29-34 it says“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”. Here John sees a spirit from descending upon Jesus Christ and he bares witness that Jesus is the son of god and messiah of Israel.
as far as practices John practiced meager living. I is said in the bible that he lived on locust and honey, which means he forged for his meals. John also practiced baptism for the remission of sin, meaning he called upon and preached to people to confess their sins and transgressions in order to rededicate themselves to gods will.
Zoroaster had several Mystic experiences, which make up the Gathas. the first was while attending a religious festival he waded into a river to retrieve the cleanest water, and while walking back to the shore he saw a figure who revealed himself to be a spirit named Vohu Manah the spirit of good intentions who takes Zoroaster on a spiritual journey revealing that eternal struggle between good and evil and the supremacy of one god named Ahura Mazda. its this first revelation that forms the basis of Zoroastrianism.
for practices Zoroastrians believe that fire is the literal presence of Ahura Mazda. They worship fire alters at temples by reciting prayers in the ancient Avestan language. its important to note that this form of worship is inherently mystical because they believe that they are literally in the presence of god having conversation.
there is over lap in their beliefs because both where monotheistic, and some scholars have claimed that Zoroastrianism directly influenced the development of Judaism and Christianity, and others also take it as a matter of fact to be the first monotheistic religion. I personally do not believe from my research that there is enough evidence o make these claims Author Mary Boyce claims that base on linguistics that the Gathas could not have been written past the date 1000 BC, because of how antiquated the dialect is. most historians that claim a 1200 - 1000 BC date for Zoroaster's life use this as their basis. linguistics is a very unsteady foundation to claim a historical fact like this. author M. L. West in 'The Hymns of Zoroaster' claims that figures in the Gathas bear unmistakable similarities with historical figures from the Persian empire placing the date closer to 600 BC. from this evidence it I don't think anyone could make such claims confidently.
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