Personal Reflection: My Spiritual Experience and Insights

This journal entry details a student's personal spiritual experience, triggered by a visit to a labyrinth and self-reflection. The student, raised Christian but having distanced themselves from the church, recounts their unexpected encounter with a deeper connection to their inner self and, by extension, a sense of the divine. The experience, prompted by a university assignment, involved meditation and introspection, leading to emotional release and a renewed perspective on their life, family, and studies. The student describes a transformation, feeling closer to God, finding meaning in material things, and experiencing a heightened sense of spirituality, which they attribute to the retreat's impact. The writing explores the student's emotional journey, the influence of the environment, and the lasting impact of the experience on their beliefs and daily life.

Running head: SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
Spiritual Experience
Name of Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
1.
Firstly, I would like to make it clear that these are my personal beliefs based on my
own experience. Around ten days ago, I experienced my first spiritual experience. Before I
start talking about my experience, I want to point that I never knew anything about spiritual
experience even though I am Christian, I had never experienced it before. What I learnt from
this experience is that it is not important to have a deep belief in God, just as long as you are
in contact with yourself and are focused in what it is that you want, and the reason behind
that. I was born in a Christian family, but I denounced the religion and the church at the age
of 14. I still have a lot of thoughts about the church however, I do not believe I am the right
person to implement such change. The spiritual experience I had made me realize how far
away I have strayed from God, and how much that affected me. This experience put a lot of
things in perspective and helped me connect to myself along with what I have studied, and
how my parents have worked so hard to be able to pay my tuition fees at this university for
my education.
In the middle ages, labyrinths were a prominent symbol present in the cathedrals in
Europe. The labyrinth is a sacred symbol that is found in many religions throughout the
world. Christians walked on floors that featured the labyrinth or they would trace their fingers
along the carved ridges of the labyrinth on the wall.
2.
There is a labyrinth that is located behind the Kearns Spiritually Center, and anyone
can access it by walking past the front of the building and then a right turn. The labyrinth is
featured in many brochures that is available at the front of the building.
I had gotten an email from the church and I had decided to go. While walking from
the parking lot till I was behind my mother’s house, I realized that it was a beautiful windy

2SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
and sunny day. We had finally arrived at the Labyrinth, my first thought was of confusing
because I was not too sure of what we were going to do, but as soon as she explained it to me,
I could feel us both experiencing a certain spiritual energy. Our professor is aware of the fact
that not all the students in the class are Christian so she had explained and given us examples
that we don’t need to pray, we just need to be in contact with our inner self. It was the perfect
moment for me to have a spiritual experience because I was experiencing a lot of anxiety
about having my family so far away from me, about me not doing as well as I wanted to in
my classes so it was important for me to have this moment of meditation and some time to
think. I decided to concentrate and start the labyrinth, but I felt myself on the verge of tears
because of everything that I was feeling in my head.
I realized that I needed this a long time ago, being locked in my room consumed me,
it left me without any energy and to be able to take that time to be able to talk with myself I
enjoyed it a lot. After touring the labyrinth the teacher said that we could do it again or we
could do what we wanted, and I made a decision to sit inside a bank, and put my headphones
on and started reflecting and thinking about how to reorganize my life, trying to take energy
from anywhere. The wind was so strong that it made me feel very calm and very good that I
did not want to get up. When I was thinking about my family, I started tearing up, but I was
careful to not let anyone see me because I like to show that I am a strong person. We closed
this trip by sitting in a circle and talking about how we felt about what we need to focus on. I
found myself tongue-tied as I felt a little embarrassed about ssharing it, however there was an
amazing feeling of liberation inside of me.
3.

3SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
I loved the fact that it was windy, and the music I was listening to was going so well
with my personality and what I was feeling at that time. I definitely believe that I have
changed for the better. I feel much closer to God, and I have started to understand the Bible
readings a lot better than I had before the retreat. Graces, where do I begin? I feel loved,
cherished, worthy, and completely in awe of God. Suddenly material things seem
meaningless to me and my heavenly life has become the most important. When I was awake
at night I became conscious of the fact that I am praying as I am awake. The retreat made me
very emotional, that the ending of the retreat brought tears to my eyes. I do not want to go
back to the same old things that I used to do before the retreat. It’s almost as if I am afraid of
losing sight of God again. This thought terrifies me because the retreat still hadn’t brought
my belief in the church, but that is why I walk with my Bible in my backpack everywhere.