Energy therapies: focus on spirituality. 


Author: Engebretson J, Wardell DW.

Affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. joan.c.engebretson@uth.tmc.edu 
Conference/Journal: Explore (NY).
Date published: 2012 Nov
Other:
 Volume ID: 8   ,  Issue ID: 6   ,  Pages: 353-9   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2012.08.004   ,  Word Count: 242  
    

RESEARCH QUESTION:

How are spiritual experiences described by participants of an energy based healing session?

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK:

A taxonomy of spiritual experiences (TSE), developed from previous research, provided a linguistic tool to explore and describe spiritual experiences.

METHODOLOGY:

A secondary qualitative analysis was conducted on a subset of existing data.

CONTEXT:

Original data was from accounts of spiritual experiences from participants in Healing Touch classes. SAMPLE SELECTION AND DATA COLLECTION: A 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 INTERPRETATION: A 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 RESULTS:

The 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.

Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 23141792