spiritual

Spiritual refers to matters of the spirit, soul, or non-material dimensions of existence. It describes a sense of meaning, purpose, or connection to something greater than oneself, which may be personal, communal, or transcendent. The term is often used to express personal experience, but it is also used within religious and philosophical traditions to refer to beliefs about the sacred, the divine, or ultimate reality.

The term derives from Latin spiritualis, meaning "of breath or spirit," related to spiritus meaning breath. The scope encompasses both religiously rooted beliefs and secular interpretations.

Practices commonly associated with spirituality include prayer, meditation, contemplation, ritual, music, nature experience, service to others, ethical living, and attempts to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, or inner peace. Expressions vary widely across cultures and individuals, from formal liturgies to private reflection or nature-based practices.

In religious contexts, spirituality may denote seeking closeness to the divine or realization of ultimate truth within a given tradition. In secular or pluralistic settings, it can refer to a sense of connectedness, awe, or personal growth independent of organized religion, including movements around mindfulness, humanism, or environmental ethics.

Scholars in theology, religious studies, psychology, and anthropology study spirituality as a dimension of human life, exploring its origins, practices, and effects on well-being, culture, and society. The term remains broad and sometimes contested, reflecting diverse beliefs about what constitutes the spiritual.