Possible causes

The phenomenon of spiritual crisis appears to be on the increase. There are possibly two main reasons for this. Some people think that there is a shift in consciousness taking place globally. It is possible that more and more people may experience spiritual crisis as a result of this.

The other reason is that many in the West today are practising s piritual techniques which in the past were taught only by highly experienced spiritual teachers in safe and supportive environments s uch as monasteries. This has been described by some as a DIY approach to spirituality or a 'pick and mix' approach.

There are many possible different triggers for spiritual crisis. The following are some of the more common ones: ·

• the intense use of spiritual practices such as, for example, prayer or meditation
• yoga, tai chi, and other similar techniques, particularly if practiced intensely
• extreme stress, physical or emotional shock or trauma
• childbirth or intense lovemaking

Spiritual crisis can, however, also happen seemingly at random with no obvious trigger.