The perceived link between dreams and the spiritual life: An exploratory qualitative survey

IF 0.7 0 RELIGION

Journal for the Study of Spirituality Pub Date : 2023-01-02 DOI:10.1080/20440243.2023.2189213

O. Robinson, Maria Cristina Vasile

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite recent gains in the understanding of dreams and their meaning, the topic of dreams in relation to spirituality has remained largely unexplored. This study investigates the perceived relationship between dreams and the spiritual life in a multi-national sample. It explores the proposition that dreams contain spiritual messages or realisations, and/or whether experiences of apparently paranormal phenomena in dreams inform a spiritual worldview. A sample of 118 people took part in an online survey in which they responded to closed-ended and open-ended questions about dreams, learning, personal development and spirituality. Ninety-eight out of 118 participants (83%) reported having dreams that informed their spiritual life in some way. Thematic analysis revealed four themes within the domain of dreams and spirituality: 1. Bringing the unconscious into the conscious for healing and insight; 2. Accessing spiritual knowledge via intuition and feeling; 3. Spiritual Messages via encounters with other beings in dreams; and 4. Spiritual messages as precognitive information about upcoming events. The findings have implications for an understanding of the formative role of dreams in the spiritual life. Limitations and future implications of this study are also discussed.

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梦与精神生活之间的感知联系：一项探索性的定性调查

摘要尽管最近人们对梦及其意义的理解有所进步，但梦与精神的关系在很大程度上仍未被探索。本研究在一个跨国样本中调查了梦与精神生活之间的感知关系。它探讨了梦包含精神信息或实现的命题，和/或梦中明显超自然现象的经历是否影响了精神世界观。118人参加了一项在线调查，他们回答了关于梦想、学习、个人发展和精神的封闭式和开放式问题。118名参与者中有98人（83%）报告说，他们的梦在某种程度上影响了他们的精神生活。主题分析揭示了梦和精神领域的四个主题：1。将无意识带入意识，以获得疗愈和洞察力；2.通过直觉和感觉获得精神知识；3.通过在梦中与其他生命相遇来传递精神信息；和4。作为即将发生的事件的预知信息的精神信息。这些发现对理解梦在精神生活中的形成作用具有启示意义。还讨论了这项研究的局限性和未来的意义。

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来源期刊

Journal for the Study of Spirituality RELIGION-

CiteScore

2.50

自引率

7.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： Journal for the Study of Spirituality is a peer-reviewed journal which creates a unique interdisciplinary, inter-professional and cross-cultural forum where researchers, scholars and others engaged in the study and practices of spirituality can share and debate the research, knowledge, wisdom and insight associated with spirituality and contemporary spirituality studies. The British Association for the Study of Spirituality (BASS) organises a biennial international conference and welcomes enquiries about membership from those interested in the study of spirituality in the UK and worldwide. The journal is concerned with what spirituality means, and how it is expressed, in individuals’ lives and communities and in professional practice settings; and with the impact and implications of spirituality in, and on, social policy, organizational practices and personal and professional development. The journal recognises that spirituality and spiritual values can be expressed and studied in secular contexts, including in scientific and professional practice settings, as well as within faith and wisdom traditions. Thus, Journal for the Study of Spirituality particularly welcomes contributions that: identify new agendas for research into spirituality within and across subject disciplines and professions; explore different epistemological and methodological approaches to the study of spirituality; introduce comparative perspectives and insights drawn from different cultures and/or professional practice settings; aim to apply and develop sustained reflection, investigation and critique in relation to spirituality and spiritual practices; critically examine the values and presuppositions underpinning different forms of spirituality and spiritual practices; incorporate different forms of writing and expressions of spirituality.