Spiritual Experience
The spiritual evaluation of a specific experience, might include a consideration of whether that experience was associated with an atmosphere of love and light or of emptiness and darkness. At these levels, standard psychiatric ways of analysis have very little use. A specific content of awareness may be subjected legitimately to psychological scrutiny regarding its symbolic significance and psychodynamic precursors, but the quality of awareness in which it occurred must be dealt with from a more specifically spiritual perspective. This kind of sensitivity is not fully “teachable.” It grows in large part out of one’s personal interior experience in silence and prayer, and is refined through discernments in one’s own spiritual direction. Further, it is manifested as part of the charism of spiritual guidance. This again underscores the necessity of being in direction oneself before offering it to others.
May MD, Gerald G. . Care of Mind/Care of Spirit.
