On this website I use the word ‘spiritual’ to cover a wide variety of experiences including: mystical, psychic, paranormal, religious, peak, transcendental, exceptional, anomalous, or simply unusual, experiences.
Yet the word ‘spiritual’ is at one and the same time both frustratingly vague and simultaneously pregnant with ultimate personal meaning. Mysticism is certainly no stranger to paradox! It may help us to think of the spiritual in two aspects: as a thing and as a process, both of which have their experiential dimensions. Always aware, however, that thinking can only take us so far and no further, as experience implies much more than thought alone. It may also be helpful to understand spirituality as relationships. Relationships between self and others, self and environment , self and inner selves, and self and a greater mystery (whatever that may be!)
Spiritual or psychic experiences are often pleasant or empowering. They are very common and a natural part of being human.
However, a small number of these experiences can cause concern or be distressing. People are often afraid to talk about them because they fear that they are going mad or that others will not understand them. Sometimes unusual experiences can be pathologised unnecessarily. However, these fears and anxieties can be transformed into opportunities for personal growth and self-development.
Yet the word ‘spiritual’ is at one and the same time both frustratingly vague and simultaneously pregnant with ultimate personal meaning. Mysticism is certainly no stranger to paradox! It may help us to think of the spiritual in two aspects: as a thing and as a process, both of which have their experiential dimensions. Always aware, however, that thinking can only take us so far and no further, as experience implies much more than thought alone. It may also be helpful to understand spirituality as relationships. Relationships between self and others, self and environment , self and inner selves, and self and a greater mystery (whatever that may be!)
Spiritual or psychic experiences are often pleasant or empowering. They are very common and a natural part of being human.
However, a small number of these experiences can cause concern or be distressing. People are often afraid to talk about them because they fear that they are going mad or that others will not understand them. Sometimes unusual experiences can be pathologised unnecessarily. However, these fears and anxieties can be transformed into opportunities for personal growth and self-development.
Mission Statement
My goal is to support people concerned about, or distressed by, unusual or spiritual experiences by:
- Providing information and advice,
- Providing therapeutic support where required,
- Undertaking and reporting on high quality academic research,
- Delivering education and training about these kinds of experiences and beliefs.
- Raising awareness and bridging the complementary worlds of spirituality and mental wellbeing.
- Depathologising and normalising these kinds of experiences in contemporary society.
