Page 161 [161]
OCR
SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES IN ÁDVENTURE THERAPY in Fredrickson and Andersons study," participants reported that a different environment, the constant feeling of awe, and a slight sense of vulnerability were spiritually inspiring. Both studies suggest that being in an unfamiliar, untamed natural environment in a community can easily lead to meaningful, spiritual experiences. Some aspects of the experience differed between genders: men stressed the importance of peacefulness more and did not prefer the same-gender group so much as women did. A year later, Heintzman" led another investigation of men in a group which was homogenous from the following three perspectives: they lived in the same area, they were members of the same Church, and they participated in canoe or wilderness trips at least once a year. Subjects experienced elevated level of spirituality, which enabled them to forge lasting “spiritual friendships” according to the follow-up interviews, which were done 7-8 months later. Men reported that the wilderness reminded them continually of God’s creation and created a stunning atmosphere, which, together with a sense of remoteness, facilitated the spiritual experience. As was found to be the case in previous studies, communication with one another (especially communication concerning religious beliefs) was a key determinant of this experience. This group of men also felt that being in a same-gender group further contributed to spiritual intimacy. In summary, experiences in the wilderness may have a potential for evoking spirituality, and this process is facilitated by remoteness, unfamiliarity, and the feeling of awe in the observer. On the other hand, spirituality, or the capability of giving deeper meanings to the experiences, can also influence appreciation of nature-related experiences. This second statement can be paralleled with a study conducted with 190 subjects from Australia,’ according to which spirituality is a strong mediator between experiences in nature and psychological well-being. Kamatsis and Francis suggest that spirituality is a path through which the positive effects of nature and the wilderness can influence well-being. Still, it remains unclear whether it is nature that leads to spirituality or spiritual openness which supports a sense of connection with nature. Remarkable findings were described by Riley and Hendee, who have been studying one type of vision quest program for a 10-year period. Vision quests Fredrickson and Anderson, A qualitative exploration of the wilderness experience, 21-39. Paul Heintzman, Men’s wilderness experience and spirituality: further explorations, In: Proceedings of the 2007 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium (2007), 55-59. Ilias Kamatsis and Andrew J.P. Francis, Spirituality mediates the relationship between engagement with nature and psychological wellbeing, Journal of Environmental Psychology 36 (2013), 136-143. Marilyn F. Riley and John C. Hendee, Wilderness vision quest clients: motivations and reported benefit from an urban-based program 1988 to 1997, In: USDA Forest Service Proceedings 2000, 128-135. Daréczi-Sepsi-Vassänyi_Initiation_155x240.indb 159 6 2020.06.15. 11:04:18
