åndelige

Åndelige is a Danish adjective meaning "spiritual" or "of the spirit." It describes things related to the inner life, beliefs, values, or experiences regarded as beyond the physical or material realm. The term stems from ånd, meaning spirit or breath, and the suffix -elig, which forms adjectives. In Danish, åndelige can refer to both religious and secular notions of spirituality.

In religious contexts, åndelige is used for aspects such as åndelige erfaringer (spiritual experiences), åndelige praksisser (spiritual practices), or åndelige gaver (spiritual gifts). It is not tied to a single tradition and can apply to various beliefs about meaning, purpose, and the life of the mind or soul.

In secular usage, åndelige describes values and pursuits oriented toward meaning and personal development, for example åndelige værdier (spiritual values) or åndelig søgen (spiritual quest). The related noun åndelighed covers spirituality as a broader concept and can appear in discussions of culture, ethics, or worldview.

Overall, åndelige functions as a flexible term across contexts to denote aspects of the inner life, whether framed within religious discourse or broader inquiries into meaning, morality, and human experience.