Mystical Experiences :: essays research papers

Mystical or Spiritual experiences occur everyday in so many ways for so many different people. Some people tend to encounter these experiences through religious rituals or even just on thoughts of life itself. Whatever the thoughts or feelings may be, everybody has such an experience sometime during their life. Could the feelings that some may have be reactions in the brain or acts of God to help us realize our faith, and discover new mysteries that may lie ahead of us? Hearing many stories of different individuals can give us new insight into the beliefs of others and of ours as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My first interview involved my grandmother, Elizabeth Barajas. She stated that she has had many spiritual experiences in life. She was brought up in a catholic educational system throughout her whole life and was raised by a very strict mother that had a firm and strong belief in God and faith. My grandmother chose to talk to me about my great grandmother, her mom, Esther P. Kelly. My great grandmother always attended church and would pray constantly during the day and night. My grandma was always curious as to why her mother was always praying. All through out childhood she would just watch my great grandma pray and do other religious acts of worship. When she became an adult she was finally able to ask my great grandma why it was that she prayed so much and how it came to be. My great grandmother answered by saying that she knows God can hear her prayers. She then said that while she prays she can no longer hear any outside interference or anybody else speak. Sh e said it feels as if she is in a secluded dark place all by herself and that she has conversations with God. She said that sometimes she doesn’t even feel the touch of my grandma when she needed something. My great grandma also attended mass just about every day and she loved to sing along with the choir. According to my great grandma, she feels a chill down her spine when she sings and she feels a sort of heavenly and peaceful presence around her. She said that she would get so caught up in the moment that she would forget all about her personal problems and the problems that awaited her outside the church doors. For some reason, my great grandmother had spiritual experiences or feelings whenever she was involved with her beliefs and rituals.