Singing and Participatory Spirituality

Abstract

The author describes and examines participatory knowing, participatory spirituality, and psycho-spiritual growth and transformation as experienced by a group of accomplished singers through their singing and the process of learning to sing. In so doing, his study brings rich contemporary research narrative as evidence of the key elements of the participatory revisioning of transpersonal theory. In this article the author reports parts of the results and conclusions of an intuitive inquiry that explored the peak experiences, plateau experiences, and consequent transpersonal growth of nine classically trained singers, including the researcher, and one advanced practitioner of sacred chant. All participants had had significant transpersonal experiences through singing, as they engaged in a participatory, connected, and often passionate knowing that involved not only the opening of the mind, but also of the body, heart, and soul in relationship with a community and connection with their environment.