Evoking the spiritual through phenomenology: using the written anecdotes of adults to access children’s expressions of spirituality

ABSTRACT As an effective tool used within the evocative method of phenomenological inquiry, this paper argues for, and details the use of the written anecdotes of adults as one means by which to access children’s expressions of spirituality. The phenomenological framework out of which the evocative method emanates is described. Two examples from the author’s recent research with adults using written anecdotes to describe occasions on which children may have been expressing aspects of their spirituality, as well as a short analysis of what was revealed through a reflection on these anecdotes, is presented. The paper makes a significant contribution in detailing methods that may enable adults who work with children in a variety of contexts to recall and reflect on children’s expressions of their spirituality.