Spirituality and Mental Health

Perhaps Spirituality cannot be inserted linearly in a discussion of mental health that is strictly cognitive? What do I mean? I mean that in terms most commonly understood by those trained in mental health today, Spirituality is thought of in the abstract.... like much within the field today. We are, as it were, dealing with apples and oranges when we "think" of mental health, and then we want to consider Spirituality, which, other than the term itself, is entirely experiential within one's Consciousness. One can "think" (juggle abstract words) about something one has not experienced, however, one cannot discuss with experiential understanding that which one has not experienced, can we agree on this concept? If so, then we are left with the delimma that one must first experience his own Spirituality before discussing it as an experiential reality.... otherwise, one is blowing smoke, right?

• What is spirituality by Claire Salisbury, 5/12/98