CONVERTING THE CYNICS
When did spirituality become so cool... and credible?
I’m what you might call a serial eye-roller. My pupils soar skywards every time I see a Snapchat filter, witness a couple on the Tube searching for treasure in each other’s tonsils or my other half fails to proofread his Whatsapp messages (grammar’s not just for fun, kids). Until a few months ago, anything to do with what I disparagingly termed the ‘hippy-dippy’ life – healers, crystals, horoscopes – had the same effect. That was until, on an otherwise straight-laced fitness retreat, I was offered a reiki session, which opened my emotional floodgates and pinpointed experiences from my past that I hadn’t shared with a living soul. Suddenly, the idea of the spiritual didn’t seem quite so ridiculous. I began chatting to friends who, without a Jesus sandal or daisy chain in sight, follow their horoscopes with the sort of zeal I save for House of Cards, and colleagues who turn to tarot readings to make their life decisions. It was when I found myself buying a rose quartz crystal to carry on first dates (it’s linked to love and relationships and, hey, it delivered) that I knew I was converted. And I’m not the only cynic to finally dip their toe into the pool of spirituality. But it’s not all spirits in the sky. Recent neurological research from Thomas Jefferson University in the US found that embracing your spiritual side can have a real impact on your mental health. Could this new wave of ‘woo-woo’ actually redefine the way we approach self-care and mental wellbeing?
BRAIN POWER
Quantifying the positive effect of thinking spiritually seems impossible (how many crystals can you fit in a petri dish?), but recent research suggests not. The Thomas Jefferson team, led by Professor Andrew Newberg, studied participants before and after a spiritual retreat (which involved silent contemplation, prayer and guidance sessions with a spiritual director) and had them report on their perceived physical and mental health, as well as carrying out brain scans. ‘Using CT imaging to measure the transportation of dopamine and serotonin – hormones directly involved in the reward and emotional systems of the brain – we discovered significant
differences in the concentration of receptors for both, which implied an individual’s brain becomes more sensitive to these hormones after partaking in spiritual practices,’ explains Professor Newberg. In plain English? They were more wired to pump those feel-good hormones around their bodies. ‘In addition, the participants showed marked improvements in their perceived physical health and energy, ’ he adds. ‘The results made it clear that all of these practices can have a potent effect on the human brain.’ Furthermore, a robust analysis of 23 scientific trials, published in 2015, showed real improvements in depression and anxiety using a variety of different spiritual and meditative practices, and even pointed to the need for further investigation into whether spirituality should be used as a complementary treatment in mainstream healthcare.
LESS HIPPY, MORE HAPPY
Perhaps it’s not all that surprising that even diehard cynics are now buying into the power of spiritual therapies for mental and physical health, considering that some of the world’s foremost medical institutions are leading the charge. Medstar Georgetown University Hospital offers reiki as part of its therapies, Cleveland Clinic in Ohio provides energy healing and the University of Arizona has invested $1 million to boost practitioner training in natural and spiritual healing techniques. And the high street is following suit, with salons and spas integrating spiritual practices into cosmetic beauty therapies. Pop into any Lush Spa and you can forego the conventional facials and body massages for treatments incorporating palm reading and tuning forks. A London-based search of Treatwell – the largest hair and beauty bookings website – throws up 33 venues offering energy therapy, seven providing shamanic healing and a whopping 127 that list reiki as a treatment.
THE MORE THE MERRIER
For those who considered themselves devoted to the spiritual cause way before the masses descended, this shift is to be celebrated. ‘The more people who openly investigate and explore the different practices available to them, the better,’ says Dr Rebecca Campbell, spiritual mentor and author of Rise Sister Rise. ‘As more people talk about their experiences and are interested in listening to their spirits and letting them guide their lives, the acceptance and information available grows.’ But isn’t there a concern that, as more and more people show an interest in spiritual practices, their impact and the associated positive effects could get diluted? Take yoga; a discipline rooted in the philosophies of ancient India that got the full Western world treatment back in the 1980s, arguably transforming it into one of the most mainstream money-making trends of modern fitness. Cynical, me? I did warn you… Despite fears around the commercialisation of certain spiritual practices – an energy healing session lasting 60 minutes could easily set you back more than £100 – Dr Campbell doesn’t believe there’s reason to worry that we’ll lose sight of what spirituality is really about, even if we choose to cherry-pick the elements we fancy. ‘The entire concept of connecting to your spiritual sense is to be led by your own intuition, so it stands to reason that different modalities and practices will resonate with different people,’ she explains. ‘If someone likes pop music but doesn’t listen to heavy metal, have they lost the powerful effect of music? I don’t think so.’
NERVOUS ENERGY
So a growing number of us are feeling more calm, more connected and more likely to pick up a crystal on the way home from drinks than a kebab. Happy. Days. But what about those who haven’t yet jumped on the bandwagon, or still battle images of fringing, beards and sandals when the conversation turns to ‘good energy’? Well, Professor Newberg recommends fighting your natural instincts and dipping a toe into enough practices so you end up finding one that works for you. ‘Our data supports the theory that everyone can benefit from spirituality,’ he says, ‘but it’s important that you discover the right fit because the more you believe in what you’re doing, the stronger its positive effects.’ Think of it like physical fitness; 15 minutes of precise moves with good form will deliver far better gains than a half-hearted 45 minutes on the treadmill. ‘There are so many elements that fit under the umbrella of spirituality – meditation, chanting, crystal rituals and even dietary approaches – that all do something to the brain. Until we figure out which are most important, embracing the ideals of the one that speaks to you the most is a good move.’ Right on.
‘CONNECTING WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL SIDE IS LED BY YOUR OWN INTUITION’