Revisiting the Spiral: How Spiritual Growth Evolves

The Journey of Spiritual Development: Stages, Waystations, or a Spiral

How does spirituality grow and change over a lifetime? Many spiritual traditions recognize that belief, meaning-making, and relationship with the sacred evolve in ways that reflect both personal and cultural development. Various models of faith development offer insights into these transformations, helping us understand where we are on our journeys and how we might accompany others with compassion.

Skye, United Kingdom. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons CC0

Fowler’s Stages of Faith

James Fowler’s Stages of Faith (1981) remains a foundational work in the field. Drawing from psychological models like Piaget’s cognitive development and Kohlberg’s moral development, Fowler outlines a progression of faith that applies across traditions. His model highlights how faith evolves—not just in terms of religious belief but as a way of making sense of the world. (See also this post on the roots of Spiritual Direction: http://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-roots-of-spiritual-direction-desert.html)

1. Primal Faith (Infancy) – A pre-verbal, intuitive sense of trust or mistrust in the universe, shaped by early caregiving.

2. Intuitive-Projective Faith (Early Childhood) – Faith is shaped by imagination, stories, and experiences, often influenced by caregivers and authority figures.

3. Mythic-Literal Faith (Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence) – Beliefs are taken literally; morality is understood in terms of rewards and punishments.

4. Synthetic-Conventional Faith (Adolescence to Early Adulthood) – Faith is influenced by peer groups and authority figures, with a need for belonging and conformity.

5. Individuative-Reflective Faith (Early Adulthood and Beyond) – A questioning stage where personal beliefs are examined critically and may diverge from childhood teachings.

6. Conjunctive Faith (Mid-Life and Beyond) – Recognition of paradox, deeper appreciation of mystery, and openness to multiple perspectives.

7. Universalizing Faith (Rare) – A transformative stage marked by radical selflessness, justice, and deep interconnectedness with the sacred.

Wilber’s Stages of Spiritual Development

Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory expands on faith development by integrating psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. His model emphasizes that each stage transcends and includes the previous, creating a more holistic view of spiritual growth:

1. Egocentric (Pre-Rational) – Faith is self-focused, often magical or mythic in nature.

2. Ethnocentric (Mythic-Literal) – Faith aligns with a specific group, tradition, or doctrine.

3. Worldcentric (Rational-Reflective) – Faith becomes more individualized and critical, often incorporating science and philosophy.

4. Cosmocentric (Transpersonal/Integral) – Faith embraces paradox, interconnection, and the sacred beyond dogma.

Wilber warns against the pre/trans fallacy, where early magical thinking is mistaken for deep mystical insight or vice versa. Genuine spiritual growth honors previous understandings, weaving them into a more expansive view rather than discarding them. (See also this post on the pre/trans fallacy: http://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2017/09/thats-primitive-sorting.html "That's Primitive!" – A reflection on Wilber’s stages and misconceptions about faith development.)

Integral Spiral of Developmental Waves by Stephen Lark CC2.0

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Spiritual Growth

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides another useful framework for understanding spiritual growth. His model suggests that human needs are arranged in a pyramid, with basic survival needs at the base and self-actualization at the top:

1. Physiological Needs – Food, water, shelter, and basic survival.

2. Safety Needs – Stability, security, and freedom from harm.

3. Belonging and Love – Connection, relationships, and community.

4. Esteem Needs – Self-respect, confidence, and recognition.

5. Self-Actualization – Personal growth, creativity, and fulfillment.

6. Transcendence (added later by Maslow) – Spiritual connection and a sense of oneness beyond the self.

Spiritual companions must recognize that faith development can occur at any level of Maslow’s hierarchy. However, spiritual growth is often easier and more accessible when fundamental needs are met. Someone struggling with food insecurity or safety concerns may still engage in deep spiritual experiences, but they may also need support in addressing basic needs before they can fully explore broader existential questions. Recognizing this dynamic helps spiritual companions offer support that integrates both practical care and deeper meaning-making.

Other Models of Spiritual Growth

There is no one right way, and different models may be more or less supportive for different people at different times. Here's some other roadmaps for your spiritual journey:

• M. Scott Peck describes a journey from ego-driven chaos to institutional belonging, then to individual searching, and ultimately to deep, universal spirituality.

• Chopra Center’s Seven Stages outline transformation from innocence to awakening, service, and enlightenment.

• Unitarian Universalist (UU) Perspectives present faith development as an ongoing, fluid process rather than a linear path.

• Ram Dass charts a shift from ego-centered consciousness to an awareness of interconnection and divine love, often cultivated through service and devotion.

• St. Teresa of Avila Imagines the process of spiritual progress toward union with the divine as moving through rooms in a castle. (See this post on St. Teresa: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/)

• The Four Yogas of Hinduism offer distinct spiritual paths: Jnana (knowledge), Bhakti (devotion), Karma (selfless action), and Raja (meditative discipline), each leading toward enlightenment.

• Druidry’s Threefold Path (OBOD Tradition) presents spiritual development through three initiatory stages: 1. Bardic Stage – Creativity, storytelling, and connection to inspiration (Awen). 2. Ovate Stage – Deep nature connection, divination, and spiritual insight. 3. Druid Stage – Wisdom, leadership, and integrating spirituality into broader service.

• Sufism’s Stages of the Soul map the progression from the nafs al-ammara (ego-driven self) to the nafs al-mutmainna (peaceful, surrendered self) in the journey toward divine unity.

• Kabbalah’s Tree of Life provides a mystical framework for spiritual ascent through ten sefirot, representing different aspects of divine consciousness and human transformation.

• Buddhism’s Ten Oxherding Pictures depict the stages of spiritual awakening, from seeking the truth to fully embodying enlightenment in everyday life.

• Indigenous Initiatory Paths describe spiritual growth through rites of passage, vision quests, and elderhood, emphasizing relationship with land, ancestors, and community.

• The Enneagram’s Levels of Development explore movement from unhealthy fixation to self-awareness, integration, and spiritual wholeness. (See also this post on the Enneagram in Spiritual Companioning: TBA)

Try It: Exploring Stages of Faith Without Diagnosing

As spiritual companions, it’s important to approach faith development with humility and openness. While models of spiritual growth can offer helpful frameworks, it's crucial to remember that these stages are not rigid categories. They reflect the general flow of spiritual development, but each individual’s journey is unique. Avoid diagnosing or labeling a seeker as being "stuck" at a particular stage. Instead, offer a space for exploration and curiosity. 

You may want to visualize the experience as a stacking spiral. It reflects the concept of revisiting stages of spiritual growth as a new person each time. This image could help illustrate how individuals move through cycles of growth rather than following a rigid, linear path. Revisiting stages is not a regression, but a natural part of spiritual development. 

Here are some ways to guide your seeker through their own journey of faith development:

1. Invite Reflection on Their Journey – Ask open-ended questions that invite your seeker to reflect on their own experiences of spiritual growth. For example:
   
   

• "What beliefs or practices have changed for you over the years? How have these shifts shaped your understanding of the sacred?"

• "Are there moments in your life when you’ve felt a deeper connection to something beyond yourself? How would you describe those experiences?"
  
  

2. Emphasize the Fluidity of Faith – Help your seeker recognize that spiritual growth is rarely linear. They may find themselves returning to earlier stages or experiencing elements of multiple stages at once. Encourage them to embrace the fluidity of faith. You might ask:
   
   

• "Can you identify a time when you moved from a more literal understanding of faith to a more symbolic or paradoxical one? How did that shift feel?"

• "How do you balance a sense of certainty with a growing sense of mystery or uncertainty in your spiritual life?"
  
  

3. Draw Strength from All Stages – Rather than viewing a stage as something to ‘get past,’ encourage your seeker to find wisdom and growth within each stage. Every phase offers valuable lessons and insights. You might suggest:
   
   

• "If you feel drawn to a more simplistic or rule-based form of faith, how might this stage help you find grounding and clarity in your life right now?"

• "If you're grappling with complex spiritual questions or feeling more open to paradox, what tools can you use from this stage to deepen your practice?"
  
  

4. Encourage Compassionate Self-Assessment – Allow your seeker to self-assess their spiritual journey without judgment. Rather than seeing any stage as inferior, help them view it as part of a larger whole. You could offer prompts like:
   
   

• "What are the gifts of the stage you're in now? How can you honor where you are while remaining open to change?"

• "When you look back at previous stages, what insights or strengths did they offer that are still relevant in your life today?"
  
  

By encouraging your seeker to explore the stages of faith without feeling pressured to fit neatly into a particular box, you allow for a richer, more compassionate understanding of their spiritual growth. Each stage offers its own wisdom, and together they weave the tapestry of a lifelong spiritual journey.

Stages as a Tool for Compassion

Understanding these models helps us avoid judgment of ourselves or others. Someone at a mythic-literal stage may find comfort in clear rules, while another at a conjunctive stage embraces paradox. Growth is not a hierarchy but a journey of deepening wisdom. (see also this post on the heart of spiritual companioning: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-heart-of-spiritual-direction.html)

Where do you see yourself in these stages? How has your faith evolved over time? Share your reflections below.

Beloved, you are whole, holy, and worthy,

Rev. Amy

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For Further Exploration

General Faith Development Models

• James Fowler, Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning (1981) – The classic study on faith as a developmental process across traditions. Overview at Boston University’s Center for Practical Theology: https://www.bu.edu/cpt/

• Ken Wilber, Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World (2006) – A transpersonal approach to spiritual evolution. Integral Life, a resource for Wilber’s work: https://integrallife.com/

• M. Scott Peck, The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace (1987) – A psychological and spiritual perspective on faith growth and personal transformation.
  
  

Psychology & Spiritual Growth

• Abraham Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being (1968) – Expands his Hierarchy of Needs to include self-actualization and transcendence. Discussion from the Journal of Humanistic Psychology: https://www.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/journal-of-humanistic-psychology

• Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (2011) – A Christian contemplative perspective on spiritual development in mid-life and beyond. Center for Action and Contemplation: https://cac.org/
  
  

Multi-Faith and Non-Dogmatic Approaches

• **Unitarian Universalist Association, Faithful Journeys: UU Faith Development – A fluid, non-dogmatic model of faith as an evolving journey. https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry

• Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching (1998) – Buddhist perspectives on growth, suffering, and awakening. Plum Village: https://plumvillage.org/

• Ram Dass, Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita (2004) – A guide to spiritual development inspired by Hindu traditions. https://www.ramdass.org/

  myjewishlearning.com has a solid overview article on Kabbalah origins that explains the sefirot as ten emanations representing an intermediate stage between God and creation, rooted in the Zohar. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/kabbalah-origins-of-a-spiritual-adventure/

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Mystical & Esoteric Perspectives

• The Enneagram Institute, The Wisdom of the Enneagram (1999) – A framework for understanding psychological and spiritual development through the Enneagram. https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/

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  matthewponak.com (Dec 2025), thoughtful, accessible article called “The Ten Sefirot Explained” that describes the sefirot as “stages of upward spiritual experience along a seeker’s path — though not necessarily in a linear order.” This one is notably honest about the non-linear nature of the sefirot, which matters (see flag below). https://matthewponak.com/2025/12/03/the-ten-sefirot-explained-a-clear-guide-to-the-kabbalistic-tree-of-life/

• OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids), Druid Mysteries: Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century (2002) – A structured approach to spiritual growth within modern Druidry. https://druidry.org/

This Heart of Sacred Tending series is ©2026 Amy Beltaine, all rights reserved. You may freely reprint any blog post, website, or print resource. Simply include the following attribution, and if you print online, make the link at the end live:

Article ©2026 Amy Beltaine, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. This article and hundreds of others, along with other free resources are available at http://www.AmyBeltaine.info

Shrines, Altars, and Sacred Space

Spaces hold meaning. Whether intentional or not, our environments shape us, and we shape them. Shrines and altars are among the most tangible ways people create sacred space, but sacredness isn’t always built—it is recognized. For many, all places are already sacred, and our work is to notice, honor, and respect that.

From elaborate temples to a candle on a windowsill, altars and shrines help us focus, remember, and connect. They hold history, longing, and devotion. But sacred space isn’t just about physical places; it can also be created within ourselves, in relationships, and even over digital connections.

This post explores how we engage with sacred spaces—whether through ritual, daily mindfulness, or by realizing we’ve already made one.

Entrance to Ifa shrine and sacred grove of Osun, Nigeria, 

Photo by Olaniyan Olushola

Recognizing the Sacred in Everyday Spaces

Thomas Moore, in Care of the Soul, suggests we can “read” our spaces like a book—liber mundi. What do the objects we gather say about us? What do we honor without even realizing it?

Many of us already keep altars without calling them that. A shelf of family photos. A collection of meaningful objects. My mother had such a shelf—part family archive, part childhood shrine. A well-loved storybook, a stuffed bear, and a carved wooden horse, each passed down through generations. These weren’t just keepsakes; they were a record of love and lineage, a quiet altar to continuity and care.

Recognizing sacredness in our daily lives is deeply personal, but many traditions have long-established ways of marking sacred space.

Sacred Space in Daily Life

Beyond formal altars or shrines, our daily environments shape our spiritual lives:

Photo: Flickr user R, Creative Commons

• Home as Sacred Space – How does your living space reflect and nourish your spirit? What objects hold meaning? What do you honor—intentionally or unintentionally?
• Work as Sacred Space – How can intentionality transform a workspace into a place of purpose? What objects, sounds, or rituals help you center yourself?
• Sacred Space and Social Justice – How does space impact belonging and justice? Consider community shrines, street altars, or movements reclaiming sacred land. St. Joseph’s Day altars in New Orleans, on March 19th, commemorate the relief St. Joseph provided during a famine, so they serve as acts of communal gratitude and feeding the hungry.

Sacred space is not only about what we build but how we interact with the spaces around us. What makes a space feel holy? Who defines that, and how is it maintained?

The Many Forms of Sacred Space

Sacred spaces take many forms across traditions, from formal places of worship to personal and everyday spaces imbued with meaning.

• Altars – Organized areas for worship, ritual, or devotion. Examples include Christian church altars, Hindu puja tables, and Wiccan elemental altars.
  Many of us have an altar without realizing it—a shelf of cherished family photos, a well-tended corner of houseplants, or a table where we place meaningful objects.

• Shrines – Designated places honoring deities, ancestors, saints, or sacred stories. These include Shinto household shrines and Mexican ancestor altars.
  If you've ever been in a Chinese restaurant, you've likely seen an ancestor shrine tucked on a shelf or mounted on the wall.

• Natural Sacred Spaces – Groves, mountains, springs, and other natural sites imbued with spiritual significance. These include pilgrimage sites like Lourdes and sacred forests in Animist traditions.
  Sacred groves and fairy circles remind us that nature holds spiritual power. A photographer with a macro lens can reveal the sacred in the lichen on a city statue, just as yarn bombers transform everyday urban spaces into places of beauty and reflection.

• Personal and Community Spaces – Meditation corners, labyrinths, or locations marked by ritual, such as prayer rooms, walking labyrinths, or public shrines for social justice movements.
  Churches and temples are not the only sacred communal spaces. Community centers, hospitals, and even homes reflect the sacred in their welcome of human experience.

Jean Lall, psychotherapist and co-author of The Imaginal Cosmos, speaks of “the soul of housework,” reminding us that tending our physical spaces can be a contemplative act. The way we arrange our homes, workplaces, and sacred spaces reflects not just our spiritual needs but our relationship to the wider world.

See also this post on Communal Ritual in Nature: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/02/communal-outdoor-practice-for-spiritual.html 

Holding Sacred Space for Others

In spiritual companioning, hospitality is more than welcoming someone—it’s creating an environment where they feel safe to bring their whole selves. Whether in person or over a digital connection, holding sacred space requires intentionality. (See also this post on Spiritual Companioning: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-heart-of-spiritual-direction.html)

Some ways to cultivate this:

• Physical Space: Thoughtful lighting, meaningful objects, a cup of tea.
• Digital Space: A few moments of centering before a call, a chosen background, a grounding question.
• Personal Presence: A deep breath, an open posture, an invitation to speak from the heart.

Sacred space isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence.

In-Person Hospitality – Create a reflective environment with:

• Comfortable seating, soft lighting, and meaningful sounds.
• Thoughtful attention to sensory experiences—scents, temperature, accessibility.
• Offer gentle rituals of welcome—tea, lighting a candle, a moment of shared silence.

Digital Sacred Space

We use digital spaces as sacred spaces through tools like CaringBridge or even ancestor altars online through Ancestry.com. We can hold birthday parties, therapy, memorial services, and rituals on Zoom.

Here are some tools for supporting making digital space sacred:

• Before a virtual gathering, take a moment to center yourself and your space.
• Invite participants to engage with intention: a moment of silence, a grounding exercise, or naming an object of meaning.
• Ensure visual and auditory elements support presence (clear audio, a non-distracting background).
• Acknowledge the sacredness of time and connection—closing with gratitude or a simple ritual of ending.

Whether in person or through a screen, sacred hospitality is about presence—attuning to the moment, honoring the people present, and making space for something deeper to emerge.

Sacred Presence for Grounding and Trauma Work

Pagan Altar, Creative Commons

For those carrying stress or trauma, sacred space can be built within. Visualization, sensory engagement, and intentional ritual can bring stability and calm.

Creating sacred space can also be a personal practice for grounding, especially in trauma work. Some use altars, some create ritual actions, and some—like me—build inner sacred space.

When I need to recenter, I imagine my SacredPresence space: a hammock where I can hear the sea, feel the breeze and warmth, and smell coconut oil. A small physical anchor—coconut-scented lotion—helps bring that space into the present moment.

Try It: I am Sacred

• Draw a Self Portrait with the theme: I am a Sacred Space/Altar/Shrine.

Try it: A Place of Peace

What sensory cues bring you to a place of peace? How might you carry that with you?

A simple practice:

1. Recall a “happy place” that feels safe and nourishing. This could be a real or imagined location.
2. Engage the senses—what do you see, hear, smell, or feel there?
3. Use a physical anchor (a scent, a texture, a sound) to help access that space in daily life.

Over time, these small rituals build a bridge between the inner and outer sacred space.

Rituals of Blessing: Honoring Space with Intention

Throughout history, people have marked their living spaces with blessings, recognizing the home as a place of refuge and transformation. House blessings can take many forms:

• Christian traditions: Sprinkling holy water and reciting prayers for protection and peace.
• Jewish mezuzah: Affixing a small case with sacred verses to the doorway as a reminder of presence and covenant.
• Pagan and folk traditions: Smudging with herbs like sage or sweetgrass, anointing doorways, or setting protective symbols.
• Personal rituals: Walking through a new space with a candle, music, or spoken intentions to claim it as a place of safety and renewal.

Sacred spaces shift with time. Seasons, life transitions, or grief shape our spaces. House blessings, seasonal altars, and travel shrines mark transitions and intentions. Some traditions bless a home with fire and smoke, others with water and salt, and some with simple words of welcome.

Try It: A simple blessing

1. Stand at the entrance of a space, pause, and set an intention.
2. Move through each room, offering a word, a breath, or a gesture of welcome.
3. Conclude by lighting a candle or placing a meaningful object as an anchor of presence.

Try It: Practices for Engaging Sacred Space

1. Mapping the Sacred in Your Life

• Identify the sacred spaces in your home, workplace, or community.
• Reflect: How do these spaces affect your energy, focus, or sense of belonging?
• Journal or sketch a “map” of these spaces, noting what makes them feel sacred.

2. Creating a Personal Altar or Shrine

• Choose a theme: gratitude, ancestors, healing, spiritual growth.
• Gather meaningful objects: photos, candles, natural items, sacred symbols.
• Arrange with intention, allowing for ongoing change and adaptation.
• Spend time with your altar—lighting a candle, meditating, or simply pausing in awareness.

3. Recognizing Sacredness in the Everyday

• As you move through your day, notice where you feel most at peace, most connected, or most aware.
• How does the arrangement of objects, light, and sound influence your experience?
• What small changes could make your spaces more reflective of your spiritual values?

Sacred space isn’t just something we build—it’s something we notice. Noticing sacredness daily fosters deeper presence. Whether through an altar, a ritual, or the quiet recognition of an unintentional shrine, we are always in relationship with the spaces around us. And in holding space for ourselves and others, we engage in a deeply human, deeply sacred act: honoring presence.

Beloved, you are whole, holy, and worthy,

Rev Amy

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Further Reading

Books & Articles

• Moore, Thomas. Care of the Soul. A reflection on the soulfulness of everyday life, including how our spaces shape our inner world.
• Lall, Jean & Safron Rossi. The Imaginal Cosmos: Astrology, Divination and the Sacred. Explores the relationship between daily tasks, space, and spiritual practice.
• Fox, Selena. “Life Journey Altar” (https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/rituals/life-journey-altar) – A guide to creating an altar that reflects life’s journey and transformation.

Quotes & Insights

• “Magic is the art of changing consciousness at will.” — Dion Fortune
• “Housework is a path of contemplation.” — Jean Lall
• “When you come, come softly… Be mindful of the dreams. This is a sacred place.” — Jane Yolen

Online Resources

• Heather Plett: What It Means to Hold Space (https://heatherplett.com/2015/03/hold-space/)

• "How to Hold Space for Someone (& Truly HELP Them)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNJRgZ-M7WA

• TEDxUbud-Rodolfo Young-“The Art of Holding Space”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eTWew9zbAs

• Barna Group: Designing Worship Spaces with Millennials in Mind (https://www.barna.com/research/designing-worship-spaces-with-millennials-in-mind) – Insights into how spiritual spaces communicate meaning.
• Feng Shui and Bedroom Design (http://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/bedrooms/feng-shui-your-bedroom) – Applying principles of sacred space to personal environments.
• Sacral Architecture (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacral_architecture) 

This Heart of Spiritual Direction series is ©2025 Amy Beltaine, all rights reserved. You may freely reprint any blog post, website, or print resource. Simply include the following attribution, and if you print online, make the link at the end live:

Article ©2025 Amy Beltaine, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. This article and hundreds of others, along with other free resources are available at http://www.AmyBeltaine.info