Transpersonal experiences of neo-Pagans

The purpose of my research is to highlight spiritual experiences of people who practice earth-based religious traditions. These varied traditions are frequently categorized under the heading of Paganism. The goal for this research is to see if Paganism is a viable spiritual option for people seeking to develop transpersonally, to identify if their experiences classified as transpersonal in Grof's (1988) theory of transpersonal experiences, and to explore if, and if so, how people's spiritual experiences have led to positive changes in their lives. Four people were interviewed on two separate occasions, two men and two women, age range from 41--71 years old, who reported to practice a Pagan tradition and to have had at least one transpersonal experience while practicing this traditional. Each person's stories were analyzed using narrative analysis and Anderson's (1998) method of intuitive inquiry, which allowed the use nonrational methods of analysis, such as meditation, to examine each person's story. The study demonstrated that people practicing Pagan religious traditions are able to develop into transpersonal levels, and that their experiences do lead to positive transformations in their lives and beliefs they hold about themselves and the world. This research pointed to the need for further study of the relationship of Pagan religious traditions to transpersonal psychology.