Open AccessEarth connection
Author(s) -
Tabitha Jayne
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
consciousness, spirituality and transpersonal psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2634-2553
DOI - 10.53074/cstp.2020.7
Subject(s) - feeling , earth (classical element) , reciprocal , transpersonal , psychology of self , psychology , meaning (existential) , thematic analysis , connection (principal bundle) , social psychology , qualitative research , sociology , engineering , psychoanalysis , philosophy , mathematics , psychotherapist , social science , linguistics , structural engineering , mathematical physics
This study explored direct experiences of women’s relationships with the Earth and how this impacted their lives. Using the transpersonal research methodology of intuitive inquiry, 10 White Western women aged between 36 and 64 were interviewed. Thematic content analysis was used to identify the emerging themes within the data and create descriptive summaries. The research found that connecting to the Earth may help us (a) process difficult emotions and experience more positive ones; (b) stay present and deal with life more effectively; (c) feel in control of changes in our lives; (d) realise that we need to give back to the Earth for what it provides for us; (e) expand our sense of self to include a sense of a divine cycle of life, and; (f) feel part of the Earth as we develop a clearer sense of who we are on an individual level. A definition of Earth connection is proposed: Earth connection is a subjective sense of feeling part of the Earth. It helps an individual to gain a deeper sense of who they are within a divine cycle of life. It also promotes a sense of a reciprocal relationship between an individual and the Earth.