Energy Therapies: Focus on Spirituality

Research QuestionHow are spiritual experiences described by participants of an energy based healing session?Theoretical FrameworkA taxonomy of spiritual experiences (TSE), developed from previous research, provided a linguistic tool to explore and describe spiritual experiences.MethodologyA secondary qualitative analysis was conducted on a subset of existing data.ContextOriginal data was from accounts of spiritual experiences from participants in Healing Touch classes.Sample Selection and Data CollectionA purposive sample of accounts of spiritual experiences that occurred during giving or receiving an energy based healing session (n=56) was drawn from the existing data base of spiritual experience accounts.Analysis and InterpretationA top down deductive analysis using the TSE as a coding schema was applied to this sample. Comparisons were made between this subset who described their spiritual experience specifically occurring during a healing session and the original dataset of more general descriptions of a spiritual experience. Comparisons were also made between this subset and the original data as well as between giving and receiving a healing.Main ResultsThe components of the taxonomy were well represented and richly described as occurring during a healing session. Notable similarities between giving and receiving a healing were apparent in the descriptions of sensate experiences, ecstasy, and experiences of encounters with disincarnate guides. Healing activities are a rich context for spiritual experiences. The taxonomy provides a useful linguistic and cognitive structure for exploring spiritual experiences.