Lm. Fredrickson et Dh. Anderson, A qualitative exploration of the wilderness experience as a source of spiritual inspiration, J ENVIR PSY, 19(1), 1999, pp. 21-39
On-site observations, personal field journals, and in-depth interviews were
used to examine qualitative aspects of the wilderness experience as a sour
ce of spiritual inspiration. Two groups of women kept personal journal acco
unts of their daily 'lived-experience' during one of two outdoor recreation
trips; five participants went to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
in northern Minnesota, and seven went to the Grand Canyon of northern Ariz
ona. Journal entries were content-analysed, exploring the commonalties and
idiosyncrasies found between individual accounts. Results were used to deve
lop a general interview guide. Follow-up in-depth personal interviews were
conducted within 3 weeks of the conclusion of each trip. Interviews were ta
pe-recorded and transcribed verbatim Transcripts were content-analysed, loo
king for commonalties and distinctions between the data. Participants spoke
of the expansiveness of the landscape and an awareness of the sheer powers
of nature as contributing to a meaningful wilderness experience, which the
reby acted as spiritual inspiration for most individuals. Moreover, positiv
e interpersonal interactions combined with complete immersion in a wilderne
ss setting seemed to influence one's proclivity to perceiving elements of t
he landscape as possible sources of spiritual inspiration. (C) 1999 Academi
c Press.