Celtic spirituality: qualitative analysis of an experience of compassion, connection, creation, contemplation and congruence

ABSTRACT

Celtic Christian spirituality has enjoyed renewed interest at the turn of the current millennium. Existing literature focusses on its theology and culture. This study considers its impact on mental health and wellbeing. Celtic spirituality (as henceforth termed) is nowadays led by dispersed modern monastic communities, notably Iona, Corrymeela, Northumbria, St Chad or Aidan and Hilda. Interpretative phenomenological analysis within a wider holistic qualitative analysis identified a unifying theme that participants experience wholeness, integrating knowledge and lived experience. This encompassed five superordinate themes: loving others, connection with community, oneness with creation, being self in the moment and being self through life. Comparison with person-centred theory reveals significant alignment with the formative and actualising tendencies and the core conditions of congruence, empathic understanding and unconditional positive regard (UPR).

KEYWORDS:

• Celtic spirituality
• wholeness
• integration
• person-centred
• mental health

Acknowledgements

I should like to thank the participants in this project, which is derived from my PhD research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.