An exploration of mystical experiences through life histories
cIRcle (University of British Columbia) January 1, 2009 Thomas Johannes Biela 1 citation
Mystical experiences are deeply woven into the fabric of individuals' life histories, making holistic research methods essential for understanding their meaning. In a qualitative study of three people in their fifties, each with a relevant mystical experience, intensive interviews were analyzed as individual stories and a common narrative. The findings indicate that these phenomena are intimate to the lives as lived, challenging traditional approaches focused on generalization. The work suggests that counselors can benefit from a narrative, contextual approach to help clients integrate such experiences meaningfully.