In the focus groups and interviews, people of all spiritual and religious self-identifications shared examples of experiences they described as spiritual.

Some shared singular moments from many years ago that uniquely moved them, while others offered examples of daily encounters with the divine, with others, or with the natural world.

People described these experiences as “deeply moving,” or as “something I couldn’t explain.” They shared examples that “lifted me out of myself,” that “made me feel a sense of wonder,” or “made me feel a sense of belonging.” Themes included senses of awe, belonging, clarity, connection, discomfort, love, peace, mystery, presence, scale, self, significance, and transformation.

Spiritual experiences like the ones that follow have been shown to fuel people’s faith, propel them to act in the world in loving ways, and influence how people give of themselves to others.

Half of respondents expressed frequently feeling the presence of a higher power or divine being.

Over half of people who reported strong belief feel such a presence at least every day. Some of those who do not believe in a higher power, or doubt, still report having this experience at least once in a while.

In conversation, people recalled specific, powerful moments of sensing the divine that made a lasting impression, as well as regular, fleeting feelings of warmth or peace.

“When I was in high school, I overdosed. [...] It was very, very intense. It felt like there was like a parent in there with me in the room, helping me through it, [but] I was alone. ... It was probably the closest thing I would describe to spirituality.”

Deshawna, 21

Very spiritual / Very religious (Catholic)