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K6vi—FoGARASsy—MIRNICS—MERSDORF—VASS INTRODUCTION Many positive human experiences have been characterized as transcendent, including mysticism,’ ecstasy,” peak experience,** and states of flow.® These experiences share several key characteristics: absorbing moments of extreme happiness; overcoming the limits of everyday life; a sense of union with the universe or some other power or entity; immersion in the present moment; a sense of timelessness; loss of sense-of-self. Fredrickson and Anderson‘ note that these types of powerful or “transcendent” experiences are often experienced in natural outdoor settings, and are usually the result of intense physical and or emotional challenges. There are numerous descriptions of transcendent experiences in nature. Zaehner’ defines nature mysticism (pantheism) as the feeling of union with the natural world or “nature” as a whole. In a qualitative study based on women’s journal accounts of canoe and canyon tours, Fredrickson and Anderson® identified socially relevant and wilderness-related determinants that contribute to meaningful, spiritual experiences in nature. Group trust, emotional support, sharing common life changes, and being in a non-competitive atmosphere were found to be the socially relevant factors, and direct contact with nature, periods of solitude, and physical challenges were elements related to wilderness experience. Their results suggested that positive social environment and wilderness together would lead most effectively to spiritual experiences in nature. Heintzman? tested these findings on a male group, using a qualitative setting. Like Fredrickson and Anderson, Heintzman also found that, for male subjects, being alone, sharing thoughts and experiences with others, being supportive, and getting support were also important. As was the case William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature, New York, Collier Books, 1902/1961. Marghanita Laski, Ecstasy: A Study of Some Secular and Religious Experiences, London, The Cressett Press, 1961. Abraham H. Maslow, Religions, Values, and Peak Experiences, New York, Penguin Books, 1976. 4 Abraham H. Maslow, Toward A Psychology of Being, Princeton, D. Nostrand, 1982. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: the psychology of optimal experience. New York, Harper & Row, 1990. Laura M. Fredrickson and Dorothy H. Anderson, A qualitative exploration of the wilderness experience as a source of spiritual inspiration, Journal of Environmental Psychology 19 (1999), 21-39. ” Robert C. Zaehner, Mysticism: Sacred and Profane, Oxford University Press, 1961. Laura M. Fredrickson and Dorothy H. Anderson, A qualitative exploration of the wilderness experience as a source of spiritual inspiration, Journal of Environmental Psychology 19 (1999), 21-39. Paul Heintzman, Men’s wilderness experience and spirituality: a qualitative study, In: Proceedings of the 2006 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium (2006), 216-225. Daréczi-Sepsi-Vassänyi_Initiation_155x240.indb 158 ® 2020. 06.15. 11:04:18
