Inspiriting relationship
Subtitle: exploring the educative significance of connecting with one's spirit
By: by Gail Elizabeth Thornton.
Published: 2006
Language: eng
Number of pages: 221
ISBN-13: 9780494218341
Subjects: Spirituality -- Study and teaching.; Holistic education.; Spiritual formation.; Alternative medicine specialists.
Description: This narrative qualitative research explores the ways in which spirituality informs and impacts the professional practices of educators. It inquires into the spiritual guidance involved in the active relationship required for the development of the holistic individual in answering the guiding research question:  What is the educative significance of connecting with one's spirit?.The three emergent themes in this qualitative inquiry explore issues of inner wisdom within the context of education through (1) the development of Spiritual Identity, (2) the Integration of self and spirit, and (3) the Inner Sustenance required to nurture this connection. This study makes contributions to the literature of field of holistic education, transformative learning, and to professional practices in teacher education development.In this text, the term spirit is used to recognize those experiences where a deeper and richer learning is encountered. An experience of spirit is the state of mindfulness where there is no separation between self and other, nature and organism.By inquiring into the professional lives and practices of three leading educationalists this research has broached the central thesis question involving the significance of spirituality in education by examining key areas of interest, including the connection with spirit, knowing one's inner wisdom, and the educative experience of personal transformation.The research participants are outside of formal school models. Each individual was selected for his/her curriculum focussed on connecting with spirit as personal development. For each participant the curriculum areas involved: connecting with spirit as areas of spiritual healing and its manifestations in different forms (bodywork, alternative therapies, mediumship, sacred space); the practice of spiritual healing in the personal and professional life of the educator; and curriculum choices of visualization, intuition, contemplative practices including meditation and mindfulness.This study inquires into the professional practices of three leading spiritual educators (those that explicitly teach meditation, contemplative and spiritual healing practices) and their encouragement of developing this connection with spirit within the learner. Areas of exploration include both the individual and educative experiences of connecting with spirit that touch on the curriculum choices of these educators.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-01, Section: A, page: 0074.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2006.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 210-221).

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.