Spirituality
Spiritual and religious people can understand unusual experiences as part of their spirituality. For the purposes of looking at some of the spiritual perspectives of unusual experiences, the term ‘spirituality’ is used here in its broadest sense, to incorporate both religious and non-religious perspectives. Due to the vast range of religions this page won’t go into detail about each individually but will look at some of the common themes.
Awe and wonder
This is probably the most common experience people have related to spirituality. The sense of being inspired by beauty from a higher perspective, which can also be frightening.
Some of the experiences that may generate this state are listed below:
- Feeling the magnitude of the universe.
- Seeing incredibly beautiful scenery or architecture.
- Feeling connected to everything, a sense of oneness with all.
- Having a profound unusual experience.
- Feeling the presence of a deity.
- Learning and talking about spirituality.
- Noticing significant changes to ones self-awareness or consciousness.
Spiritual awakening
Spiritual awakening is often marked by a series of profound experiences and it can last for many years. People go through some intense realisations about themselves and the world around them. This typically includes thinking about some of the deepest questions that we, as human beings, can ponder.
Sometimes an awakening can involve unusual experiences, including hearing voices or having visions, which can be disorienting and distressing but typically resolve quickly and have meaningful content.
Synchronicity
This term, coined by Carl Jung, relates to experiences that appear to be coincidental at face value but take on a more sophisticated meaning when thought about in a broader context. This type of coincidence occurs between events in the world and a person’s mental content.
Examples of this type of phenomenon include thinking of someone a few seconds before they ring you, having a question on your mind that is answered without directly asking anyone or incidentally ‘being in the right place at the right time’.
In some cases this meaningful coincidence can become overwhelming and widespread. It may then be seen as an unusual experience.
Spiritual possession
This type of spiritual experience can be felt as a divine and transcendental experience or a rather horrific and insidious one.
The indwelling of the holy spirit is one example of a positive spiritual possession experience whereby the person feels the presence of a higher power within them that may speak to and guide them.
There is also the idea of demonic possession which is often unpleasant for the person and those around them. They may feel their thoughts, behaviours and actions are not their own and go to great lengths to be free of the demon.
Feeling compelled or controlled by an external spiritual entity can also be considered an unusual experience.
Spiritual guidance
Some individuals benefit from having a spirit guide or a spirit animal. A spirit guide is a corporeal, disembodied entity that acts to provide spiritual guidance or protection to a person, for example offering advice about a big life choice like whether to take a job offer.
A spirit animal serves a similar purpose to a spirit guide but takes the form of an animal. They also tend to share characteristics with the person they are guiding and can be called on for support in times of hardship or for a specific journey the person is undertaking.
These two ways of communicating with spirits and being guided by them may be considered an unusual experience.
Mediumship
A psychic medium acts as an intermediary between the spiritual world and the physical world. They can transmit messages in a number of ways, including:
- Using tarot cards to divinate the future.
- Using a crystal ball to ‘see’ into the past or future.
- Using techniques to communicate with spirits.
- Communicating with spirits through clairaudience.
- Being temporarily possessed by a spirit to enable direct communication.
As such, mediums typically have unusual experiences including hearing voices and having visions. They also maintain their beliefs which may be seen as unusual.
Shamanism
Shamans are often highly regarded within their community as individuals who commune with the spirit world and provide guidance or healing to their tribe. Shamanism typically has four pillars; connecting with nature, healing self and community, spiritual practice and pilgrimage. Shamans use natural herbal remedies, trance states, drums, ritual objects and a sacred space to perform their healing duties. They may transition between the physical and spirit worlds frequently and with a high degree of control.
Shamans are typically chosen, or have a calling to the life, and it takes years to train to have this degree of connection with the spirit world. Often individuals who are chosen, or called, will have had unusual experiences.
Consider more:
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