Spiritual Emergence
with Virginia Waldron, CH, CI
The Oxford Dictionary definition of spirituality is - noun: spirituality; plural noun: spiritualities; the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.” To many spirituality means a deep inner knowing that our human lives hold a significance that is beyond the everyday world of our physical existence. Spirituality can be defined generally as an individual's search for ultimate or sacred meaning, and purpose in life and a belief in a supernatural realm or afterlife, or to make sense of one's own "inner dimension".
Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than self, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature. Opening one’s heart and/or awareness to one’s spiritual nature offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people experience on a sensory and physical level.
Whether or not we are aware of it, we are all on a path or a journey - its called a lifetime. We are the primary architects of this path, which means we created it for our own greatest and highest good. We are here to learn and awaken, spiritually, and we are doing it the best way we can, at our own pace and in our own way. Each step along our path is there as an opportunity, a chance to learn about becoming a spiritually aware being. Each stumble, each obstacle, each loss, each moment of pain and grief, of joy and love, are there because we chose to put it there, at a time when we were in a start of Divine Wisdom, so that we could make the most of our time here, on Earth.
Spiritually Emergence Experiences - SEEs
Have you ever felt as if you just no longer fit inside your own skin? Do you feel out of sync with others around you, even, or especially, the ones you are closest to? Are you having experiences that do not fit in the “normal” definitions of life or reality? Maybe you are growing out of your own ways of being and your higher mind is trying to guide you to a new consciousness, a new level of being aware and connected to everything around you.
Spiritually Emergent Experiences are experiences that cause the subject to perceive themselves and the world profoundly differently: by expanding the individual’s identity, augmenting their sensitivities, and thereby altering their values, priorities and appreciation of the purpose of life. Everyone has had such experiences, whether they are fully aware of them or not. Sometimes they are bright and shiny and obvious, like an NDE or some kind of encounter experience. Sometimes they are as soft and subtle as a dream. It is up to us to listen, to hear, and to open to the wisdom and insight of each of these experiences, as they are steps on our own path, towards our own spiritual awakening.
Spiritual Emergence Experiences (SEEs) refer to a process in which a person expands into his or her spirit Self, connecting with their spiritual path. This is also known as spiritual awakening. SEEs are most often part of the natural maturing process of soul. Generally, it comes about over many lifetimes, gently and subtly. Evolution of the soul is the prime directive of every soul’s journey. The vibrational energy begins to move to higher levels, bringing about changes in the mindset and priorities of the individual. During this process we can find ourselves a bit off balance, or confused, as the old self begins to peel off, much like a skin that is too small and too tight.
Today, many of us would not recognize a spiritual awakening even if it stood in front of us and began to yell our name. That is one of the reasons it is subtle and gentle - to give the human ego consciousness a chance to adjust and get used to the idea of this whole new vibrational energy in which it finds itself.
Spiritual emergence is also known as a spiritually transformative experience. Spiritually Transformative Experiences are moments or events that cause the subject to perceive themselves and the world profoundly differently: by expanding the individual’s identity, augmenting their sensitivities, and thereby altering their values, priorities and appreciation of the purpose of life. Everyone has had such experiences, whether they are fully aware of them or not. Sometimes they are bright and shiny and obvious, like an NDE or some kind of encounter experience. Sometimes they are as soft and subtle as a dream. It is up to us to listen, to hear, and to open to the wisdom and insight of each of these experiences, as they are steps on our own path, towards our own spiritual awakening.
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Spiritually Emergence and Transpersonal Psychology
Transpersonal Psychology is a school of psychology that studies the transpersonal, self- transcendent or spiritual aspects of the human experience. Briefly, it is concerned with the highest potential of the human experience, and the recognition, understanding, and realization of spiritual, and transcendent states of consciousness. It is the study of Human Spirituality, or Spiritual Psychology.
In Transpersonal Psychology an SEE is called a Peak Experience. Peak Experiences are intended to lead to an awakening or transformation of our perception of ourself and our connection to the world around us. These types of experiences enable us to move beyond our ego awareness of self and into a higher level of self-actualization or awareness, awakening to our divinity.
Such transpersonal or Peak experiences can guide us to transformational and transcendent realities beyond the limits of our external daily lives. Opening or awakening to these higher realities, we can become more integral and whole, connecting to our more authentic and creative selves.
Peak Experiences are about finding one’s power source - connecting with the core that is deep within each human being - recognizing one’s path and the intention of that path. These types of experiences are different from our daily life simply because they have the power of connecting us to our uniqueness, our creativity, our center. They lead to transformational and transcendent realities beyond the limits of our egos and personalities. Reflected in these realities, we can become more integral and whole, finding our more authentic and creative selves. In finding ourselves, we learn to trust impulses toward transcendent realms beyond our limited selves.
