The author gives one perspective on spiritual transformation in this chapter. He starts by defining spirituality and then goes on to explain the importance of spiritual transformation, which includes the link between dramatic human change and the sacred. Spiritual transformation refers to a fundamental shift in the sacred's status or character as a source of meaning in one's life, as well as a shift in the individual's approach to the holy. Spiritual change, when defined in this way, is not exceptional nor unfathomable; rather, it is an integral element of spiritual life, one of the three processes essential to spirituality. People participate in efforts to discover the holy, conserve or sustain a relationship with the sacred once it is discovered, and modify that relationship in response to internal or external trauma and transition in the search for the sacred. However, once an individual's relationship with the sacred has been transformed, the search for the sacred does not end. Following this transition, the individual's responsibility becomes one of preserving this new sacred awareness. The search for the sacred progresses in this way over the course of a person's life. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved, PsycINFO Database Record)
Before You Continue...
Do you know what is your soul number? Take this quick quiz to find out! Get a personalized numerology report, and discover how you can unlock your fullest spiritual potential. Start the quiz now!
How do you do spiritual transformation?
The spiritual journeyand the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seekalways appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.
Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?
From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.
What does a spiritual transformation feel like?
If you're going through a spiritual shift, you could find it difficult to get work done. This is due to the fact that your old techniques are no longer effective.
If you see that your tried-and-true methods aren't yielding the same results, it's a sign that you need to accept change and evolve.
You'll also notice that you're not as productive as you once were. This is because you're using all of your energy to go through your change; you're expanding cognitively, and physical tasks may take a backseat.
You have an urge to resolve old issues and problems.
You get the feeling that you need to finish one chapter of your life before going on to the next. As a result, you may find yourself looking back at troubles or conflicts that you never resolved and wanting to set things right.
What does it mean to go through a transformation?
A profound or dramatic change in form or appearance is defined as transformation. When we are called to undergo a metamorphosis, we must let go of what no longer serves us so that we can invite in what does.
Are you speaking things to your parents that you've always thought but never said? Do you have a squabble with your husband, have trouble speaking with your children, or are you often at odds with your boss?
Sure, they could just be the natural ebbs and flows of life, but you can choose to look at them through a more spiritual and symbolic lens. Look into it if you're experiencing an unusual quantity of conflict in many aspects of your life.
Where do you begin if you've been asked to make changes? Rather than being concerned about the problems that arise, attempt to become an observer. Take note of what's going on, how it makes you feel, and be willing to use conflict in all relationships as a conduit to your highest self.
How does transformation happen?
In a process known as transformation, bacteria can take up foreign DNA. It takes place following restriction digestion and ligation, and it involves the transfer of freshly created plasmids to bacteria. Bacteria are picked on antibiotic plates after transformation. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria carry plasmids, and each one forms a colony.
What does transition mean in the Bible?
This week's Acts study clarifies the difference between change and transition. Change refers to life's events, whereas transition refers to the act of adapting to those events. Before fully accepting the transformation that God was bringing about, Peter went through a period of adjustment. Tough transitions are not for the faint of heart, but when we bring our anxieties to the Lord, His peace may help us thrive in any situation.
What are the stages of spiritual awakening?
The hero's journey, an evolutionary process of growth and transformation woven into all great myths and stories, was outlined by renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell: “A genuinely heroic shift of awareness occurs when we stop worrying about ourselves and our own self-preservation.”
The primary pushing off point for any hero's quest is known as the call to adventure. The call to adventure is a break from regular life, a signal that comes from deep inside, grabs your attention, and drives you in a new direction. The spark that sets off a spiritual awakening is a call to adventure. Every life has a moment that, if grasped, will change it forever. The call to adventure is a reawakening experience, a shift in perspective that forces you to reconsider your perspective on life. A travel to a strange location, the loss of innocence, an illness, a challenge, the death of a close friend, a near-death experience, or the loss of a job are all examples of spiritual experiences. Regardless of the specifics, the experience alters your perspective and causes you to see the world through fresh eyes. You've been given the task of living an ordinary life in an extraordinary way.
At this critical juncture, Joseph Campbell advises that you must choose whether or not to accept the call to adventure. In truth, though, ignoring the call isn't an option because your soul is inviting you to change on a deeper level. If you ignore the call, the opportunity will recycle itself like a skip on a record, patiently waiting for you to embrace the call to a new existence, thanks to your unique karmic influences. Furthermore, there is no going back once a transforming and deeply waking incident has occurred. Your eyes have been opened, and no matter how much you try to reject it, you can't turn away from the image of a greater reality calling to you.
You enter a broader universe once you've answered the call to adventure. You take an active role in your spiritual development and advancement. As you begin to manage your life toward chances that enhance your knowledge, responsibility becomes the operative word. Everything feels the same and weirdly different at the same time, thanks to a tiny alteration in perspective.
How do you know you are going through a spiritual transformation?
Here are a few common spiritual transformation experiences that people have to assist depict spiritual transition in a more nuanced way:
Of all, when it comes to spiritual growth, the possibilities are unlimited. Do any of the instances above strike a chord with you? (If you have a personal tale to tell, please do so in the comments section below.)
How do you know if you are transforming?
We've been there before. We understand what you're going through. You've suddenly stopped working overtime at work in favor of getting to yoga class on time. You've also switched from tequila to wheatgrass as a shot.
The issue is that no one else appears to be doing it. You were in line when they were handing out curious minds, it appears.
You go back in time to when you were a kid. You were looking up at the night sky, wondering where you came from and why you're here, while everyone else was playing with Barbie dolls or pretending to be a Power Ranger. You posed questions to which no one could respond.
Adulthood gradually took grip. Conditioning had taken hold. Quadratic equations dampened your vivid imagination as your head was packed with facts and figures. Dreams of becoming a Danger Mouse or a dancer vanished.
That is, until curiosity called, no matter how established or content you thought you were. Your best-laid intentions went awry, and life steered you in a new direction.
No one knows why some people wake up. There are theories that it's pre-programmed into our DNA, a pre-determined destiny, and a mission that needs to be accomplished. When it hits, though, it aches because it rips everything we thought was safe from under our feet. We find ourselves awake, vulnerable, and raw, grasping the bedroom floor.
It's terrifying at first, until you realize you're in the midst of an internal revolution for the sake of your own progress. Here's how to recognize if you're going through a metamorphosis so you can replace your sense of perplexity with a sense of amazement.