The Essential Spirituality Guide for Personal Growth and Understanding
Written by Kirsti Formoso, MSc. Transpersonal Psychology, BSc. Psychology
The spiritual path can be luminous, confusing, and deeply personal all at once. It isn’t about adopting a fixed belief system. It’s a process of remembering what has always been true within us. It's a journey of waking up from the dream of Maya and orienting ourselves towards that which is unchanging, all-encompassing, and unconditional love.
SPIRITUALITY GUIDE
This spirituality guide offers a grounded approach for those seeking clarity, connection, and understanding on their path. Spirituality, at its essence, is not being able to do the Scorpion pose for ten minutes but about how we relate to life itself, to nature, to others, and to the still awareness at our core. It's about how we express our spirituality on a daily basis.
Perhaps you’re beginning your spiritual journey and experiencing subtle shifts in perception, moments of grace, or deep uncertainty, and wanting to understand what’s happening to you. Or maybe you've had a life-changing spiritual experience and are seeking to integrate this profound experience into your everyday life.
Either way, this guide will help you navigate your unfolding with both psychological depth and spiritual sensitivity. Spirituality is a personal and unique journey that encompasses various practices and beliefs to connect with a higher power, the natural world, and our own sense of purpose - it is the most important thing about us and deeply influences our lives.
UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL CONCEPTS
Spirituality begins as a longing to understand life more deeply — to move beyond surface experiences and touch the sacredness that lives at the heart of all things. Spiritual concepts provide language and frameworks for this exploration, but they are only signposts pointing toward something that can ultimately be known only through experience.
In the West, our spiritual concepts are eclectic. As human beings, we've been seeking deeper meaning and connection since the beginning of time. Much like our food, our spiritual understanding is a fusion of multiple traditions, cultures and religions.
From Eastern traditions, we've adopted terms like nirvana, maya, karma, and chakras. We've re-integrated pre-Christian pagan concepts like the Divine Feminine and Goddess archetypes, and many celebrate or reflect on the elemental forces, solstices and equinoxes. Within Western spirituality, you'll also find more modern concepts such as shadow work, the higher self, and manifestation.
Because our spiritual language is eclectic and that which we are searching is ineffable, you'll find numerous concepts and terms like the higher self, universal consciousness, cosmic consciousness, point toward a deeper intelligence that lives through all things. Connecting with this dimension brings comfort and inner guidance, especially during uncertainty.
There are countless concepts to get your head around, and while this is nourishing and supportive in some ways, it can also serve the egoic desires. The important thing to remember is that spiritual concepts, tools, and practices are all there to point to something far more profound and fundamental. They are part of the journey, but they are not the destination. So don't think you've arrived before you have. Something far more magnificent lies beyond all these concepts and practices for you to awaken to.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and breathwork are among the most effective ways to cultivate the direct experience of the divine, source, consciousness itself, or whatever you like to call it. When you sit in stillness and observe your thoughts without judgment, awareness begins to expand. Over time, this awareness reveals the patterns that shape your reactions and beliefs, allowing you to live with greater freedom and clarity.
As our spiritual awareness grows through our spiritual practices, it reminds us that we are part of something vast, creative, and benevolent. But when we're just starting out, it can seem like a long way off. Meditation is hard, the voice inside puts up a fight and makes a ton of excuses to get out of it. Find a practice that works for you, that's sustainable, and dont' beat yourself up when you fall of the wagon, it's not important, its just a tool to help you remember who you truly are.
At a psychological level, spirituality encourages self-reflection and introspection. This means turning inward to understand your motivations, emotions, and shadows with honesty and compassion. True spiritual growth happens not by bypassing the human experience, but by meeting it with awareness and allowing old layers of conditioning to soften. We do this through inner work, and though it's a challenging path, inner work leads to a healthy spiritual awakening.
THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Spirituality is not static; it is a dynamic and lifelong journey. As you explore different teachings and traditions — perhaps blending yoga, prayer, or contemplative inquiry — you begin to discover what truly resonates with you. This openness keeps the journey alive and authentic.
Books, online resources, or spiritual mentors can provide insight and support along the way. Yet the deepest understanding comes from direct experience. The quiet, unmistakable knowing that arises from your own awareness. When spirituality moves from concept to lived reality, life itself becomes the teacher, and every moment offers a doorway into presence.
Sometimes the journey will feel slow, like we're hitting a wall and wasting our time. At other times, it will be a rollercoaster of revelations, rapidly changing your perception of reality and opening you to that which you have been seeking for so long.
SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES
Inevitably, you'll have many spiritual experiences along the way. No doubt you already did. Something, called you to this journey. For many people, it's an EHE, something that defies reason and logic, and yet was so profound or tangible that you can't forget it. Maybe your spiritual experience is something you have kept to yourself for fear of ridicule, and yet, even though you do not talk about it, you can not forget it.
It beckons you on your own spiritual journey in this secular world, calling you into self-discovery, deeper connection, and spiritual direction. For once, the door is open, there is no turning back. And each spiritual experience leads to the next. Research into EHEs in the 1990s by Rhea White suggests that the more spiritual experiences you have, the more you will have.
Throughout my life, I've had countless spiritual experiences of various kinds. Each one is instrumental in my understanding of spirituality. I remember once writing in my journal, "Enlightenment is a series of revelations." And I still believe this to be true for me. I also wonder if it is these spiritual and awakening experiences that have kept me on my spiritual path.
Each one opening me and preparing me energetically, ready for the next. They culminated in a mystical experience that lasted over year. It was the most profound shift and transformation I've ever had. I'm a completely different person than before. My brain was literally rewired.
During this time, living in an altered state of consciousness, I could witness the pull of the egoic program sucking me back into the Maya. But I could flip at will back into universal consciousness, where divine wisdom, unconditional love, and effortless joy accompanied me.
I am in such awe and gratitude for this blessing and what it has done for me. But I am reminded that something that comes and goes, is just an experience. Not something to dwell on.
If you’re navigating awakening or mystical experiences and would like a grounded space to explore them, I offer one-to-one mentoring sessions. These sessions weave together psychology, mindfulness, and spiritual wisdom — helping you integrate and live from your deeper awareness.
Learn more ➜
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Spiritual experiences are like massive injections of spiritual growth if we integrate them and learn from them. The spiritual path is one of growth, development, and evolution. A transcendence of the egoic self and a flowering or blossoming into our true self. This flowering is a natural instinct. It is inevitable whether we do it proactively or not.
Research in nursing has shown that as people age, self-transcendence becomes more salient. It is our destiny and natural instinct as we get older to transcend the egoic self. What's more, a meta-analysis suggests that it is this self-transcendence that gives us meaning in life and resilience in old age, protecting us against depression.
The spiritual path is a path to self-transcendence. Every day is an opportunity to grow spiritually. No matter what you are doing, life provides the material for spiritual growth. That's why it doesn't matter if you can't meditate every day, it's not the only path. Don't be disheartened.
NAVIGATING THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
Once the first spark of spirituality has been lit, the question becomes: how do I live this in daily life? Navigating the spiritual life means learning to integrate awareness, compassion, and inner truth into the small moments — the conversations, the emotions, the pauses between thoughts. It is not always easy, but it is profoundly worthwhile.
Many people begin their journey filled with enthusiasm, yet soon encounter obstacles: self-doubt, emotional turbulence, or the feeling of being “stuck” on the path. These moments are not signs of failure — they are signs of deep transformation. Spiritual growth often asks us to shed old identities and comfort zones, which can feel disorienting before it becomes liberating.
Mindfulness meditation is a simple but powerful anchor during these times. Even five minutes a day of conscious breathing or silent observation can help regulate the nervous system, reduce stress and anxiety, and re-connect you with the stillness beneath the surface of thought. Over time, this practice cultivates resilience and clarity.
Other spiritual practices, such as prayer, journaling, or walking in nature, can also serve as touchstones of presence. These practices help you process emotions, find perspective, and open the heart to gratitude and grace.
A supportive community is another helpful part of navigating the path. Whether through an online group, a meditation circle, or simply a trusted friend who understands, being witnessed and supported reminds you that you are not alone in your evolution. A sense of belonging nourishes the soul and keeps your practice grounded in everyday life.
Perhaps most importantly, the spiritual life is about remaining open — open to guidance, synchronicities, and new ways of seeing. When you release rigid expectations about what awakening “should” look like, you allow your path to unfold naturally. Every experience, joyful or challenging, becomes part of your spiritual education.
Living spiritually is not about escaping life, but meeting it with full awareness. When you approach your day with curiosity, compassion, and presence, ordinary life becomes a sacred journey of remembering who you really are. The path of awakening is rarely linear. It includes peaks of insight and valleys of confusion. Mindfulness meditation, even a few minutes each day, can help you meet both joy and discomfort with presence.
Simple practices such as journaling, prayer, or breath awareness bring clarity and balance. When practiced regularly, they cultivate a calm nervous system and emotional resilience — vital for authentic growth.
FINDING YOUR SPIRITUAL PATH
Every spiritual path is unique. What awakens one person’s heart may not resonate for another — and that’s the beauty of it. The spiritual journey isn’t about finding the way; it’s about discovering your way. Your path unfolds through intuition, lived experience, and a willingness to stay true to what feels most authentic to you.
Exploring different spiritual traditions and practices — from meditation, yoga, or breathwork to journaling or prayer — can help you uncover what nourishes your connection to the sacred. The key is not to adopt practices because they seem impressive or popular, but because they genuinely bring you home to yourself. There is no right way and there are some surprising ways - check out my article, The Most Surprising Spiritual Hobbies for Spiritual Growth and Non-dual Experiences.
As you grow, you may notice your beliefs and practices shifting. This is natural. Spiritual evolution is a process of refinement, where you release what no longer serves and open to deeper layers of truth. Listening to your inner guidance is essential here — it is your most trustworthy compass. When you learn to trust that quiet knowing, your spiritual path becomes clearer and more joyful.
Sometimes, however, the journey can feel confusing or lonely. You might question your experiences, feel uncertain about what’s real, or sense that you’re on the edge of transformation without knowing how to move forward. These thresholds are invitations for deeper inquiry and compassionate guidance.
Connecting with a trusted spiritual mentor or guide can help you integrate your experiences with clarity and grounding. Having a safe space to explore your inner world, reflect on mystical experiences, and develop spiritual practices that fit you can make the difference between feeling lost and feeling supported.
Ultimately, finding your spiritual path means returning again and again to presence — to that inner stillness where life itself becomes your teacher. From that place, every moment, every breath, becomes sacred.
If you feel called to deepen your journey with personalised support, I offer one-to-one spiritual mentoring sessions designed to help you understand your experiences and reconnect with your true nature in a grounded, heart-centred way.
THE ROLE OF FAITH TRADITION
Faith traditions can be beautiful gateways into spirituality. They offer structure, community, and shared language for connecting with the divine. Whether through Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism, or any other tradition, these lineages carry centuries of wisdom about how to live with compassion, awareness, and devotion.
Yet for many on the modern spiritual path, traditional religion can also feel limiting and even repelling. Some people resonate deeply with the rituals and teachings of their faith; others feel called to explore beyond them. In truth, spirituality is not confined to a single belief system — it is the direct experience of sacred reality that all traditions point toward.
Exploring your own faith background can be a meaningful part of self-understanding. Reflecting on the symbols, stories, and practices you grew up with can reveal deep emotional or cultural roots. I've ditched the Bible on more than one occasion, and yet all these years later, I have come to appreciate it deeply as a very powerful spiritual text. Like me, you may find that some aspects nurture your soul, while others no longer fit your lived experience. Both realisations are valuable steps in spiritual maturity.
From a transpersonal psychology perspective, faith traditions serve as maps — each highlighting certain pathways to transcendence, love, and self-realisation. But the map is not the territory. True spirituality begins when you step beyond inherited frameworks to discover what is personally real and alive for you.
Remaining open to diverse spiritual perspectives can also deepen empathy and connection. When we see that every tradition carries a fragment of universal truth, our understanding expands. We begin to recognise the same light expressed through different languages, rituals, and symbols — and that recognition itself becomes a spiritual practice.
Ultimately, the role of faith tradition is not to constrain your growth, but to support it. The most important thing is not which path you walk, but that you walk it with integrity, sincerity, curiosity, and love. Whether your spirituality is rooted in a long-standing faith or unfolds through personal exploration, what matters most is that it brings you closer to truth — and to yourself.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR WELL-BEING
Spirituality is not only a matter of insight or belief — it is something lived through daily practice. Small, intentional actions can cultivate a sense of calm, clarity, and connection that permeates every aspect of life. A growing body of research across different domains has shown that spirituality contributes to well-being.
Mindfulness and meditation are among the most accessible practices. My article, "Take A Transitional Moment For A Mindful Check-in," teaches you how to practice mindfulness without taking up any extra time in your day. Super accessible and very powerful.
By observing your thoughts and sensations without judgment, you begin to notice habitual patterns and create space for conscious choice. Even a few minutes a day can reduce stress, strengthen emotional resilience, and nurture inner peace.
Journaling, breathwork, and contemplative prayer are other ways to anchor your awareness. Writing your reflections or simply breathing with presence can reveal insights that remain hidden in the busyness of ordinary life. These practices help you integrate experiences, clarify values, and align your actions with your deeper self.
Connection to the community also supports spiritual well-being. Being part of a circle — whether a meditation group, study circle, or trusted friend network — reminds you that the spiritual path is shared. Mutual support and reflection cultivate belonging, understanding, and accountability.
Physical embodiment is another important practice. Movement, yoga, or mindful walking helps integrate awareness into the body, balancing the mind and heart with lived experience. This holistic approach recognises that body, mind, and spirit are inseparable — each nourishing the other.
If you would like support weaving these practices into your daily life, I offer one-to-one spiritual mentoring sessions. Explore mentoring ➜
I also run group online mindfulness courses. If you would like to know more about joing the next mindfulness group you can register your interest below.
LIVING AS PRESENCE
True spirituality is not about escaping the world but inhabiting it with consciousness and care. Every moment, every interaction, is an opportunity to live from the stillness within. Through mindfulness, we develop this presence, and through presence, we experience effortless joy and the miracle of life.
As you continue your journey, trust the unfolding. The longing that brought you here is the same intelligence guiding you home.
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Continue your journey with grounded spiritual knowledge and insights from a transpersonal psychologist who has been walking the path for over 30 years. What questions are arising for you now?
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