| Abstract
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This study explored the experience of being deeply moved, which was defined as being profoundly affected by the beautiful or painful dimensions of life, resulting in a deeper sense of connection to oneself, others, or the sacred. The methodological approach was intuitive inquiry, a form of hermeneutics which employs cycles of interpretation in which the researcher refines his or her understanding of the topic through self-inquiry, published literature, and formal study of the experiences of others. The researcher's perspectives are articulated early in the research endeavor as a set of lenses which are modified and developed to reflect the literature review and the results of the research. This study acquired and presented subjective written accounts of the experience of being deeply moved from 14 participants---9 women and 5 men, 25-60 years of age, 7% ethnically-diverse; 50% were from California, 36% were from other states, 1 was from Israel, and 1 lived in India. Participants were encouraged to write in an embodied manner, rich in sensory and emotional detail, to convey the lived-quality of their experiences. Thirteen interpretive lenses emerged that described the psychospiritual qualities, triggers, and transformative impacts. Summarized, these included: (a) physical and emotional opening; (b) transpersonal knowing; (c) connection with the heart, including feelings of love and meaning; (d) apprehension and integration of the polarities of life; (e) gratitude; (f) awareness of the shared reality of the human condition is a vehicle for connection, meaning, and reverence for life; (g) the emergence or renewal of faith and spirituality, and (h) access to personal strengths. The relationship between psychospiritual health and the experience of being deeply moved is discussed, including clinical applications. The results of this study extend the literature on transpersonal knowing, human potential, disclosure and assimilation of exceptional human experiences, intuitive inquiry, and embodied writing.* *This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a CD as part of the dissertation). The CD requires the following system requirements: Adobe Acrobat.
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