This study was designed to explore transpersonal crises and to gain a fuller understanding of the experiences people have before, during and after a Spiritual Emergency. Qualitative research was done with ten subjects, five females and five males. Data consisted of in-depth interviews and written documents which yielded new insights about Spiritual Emergencies. The findings include: a rich description of a Spiritual Emergency, including listings of precipitating factors; feelings and emotions during the experience; how the experience was integrated into the individual subject's life; and what was or was not helpful during the Spiritual Emergency. The author provides a model reflective of the literature and current data. The Model is a visual interpretation of the inner processes of a Spiritual Emergency. Precipitating events create pain. This pain is manifested through emotional and physical ailments. The pain also creates fear and anxiety and pushes one into crisis. The crisis leads to a turning point at which one follows a path for growth, psychopathological phenomena, which may include any and all addictions or behaviors as ways to suppress and repress the anxiety, or a recommitment to former way of being. If one continues on the path for growth, one will experience despair. This despair is extremely painful and creates still another crisis and turning point which leads to a surrender to a higher force for help, psychopathological phenomena, or a recommitment to former ways. When one surrenders, one lets go of the old sense of self or there is a death of the "old" self so that a rebirth or a "new" self can emerge. Integration of the Spiritual Emergency takes many forms. New truths surface and there is a value re-orientation. One experiences increased clarity and awareness of life and a new or deepened connection with the cosmos. One becomes more inner-directed. There is a trusting of one's path. There is a desire to help others, to be in touch with nature, and to experience improved health. There is also an increased desire for further spiritual development and growth. By studying Spiritual Emergencies, we learn better about how to identify Spiritual Emergencies and how to help a person through them toward growth and a healthier, happier life.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-1156 |
| Date | 01 January 1986 |
| Creators | HOOD, BONNIE LEE |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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