Death exposure as a conduit to spiritual awakening: An intuitive inquiry into the lived experience of daughters bereaved during adolescence

This qualitative study explored through an intuitive inquiry method and a thematic content analysis 3 topics: (a) the lived experience of bereaved women whose mothers died during their adolescence; (b) the viable, ongoing connection between these women and their beloved deceased mothers; and (c) the experience of death exposure as a conduit for spiritual awakening. Data collected were provided by the researcher and by 6 women, aged 25 to 48 years, who were bereaved when they were aged 14 to 19 years. Screening was used to identify interested participants who experienced the death of their mothers as: (a) a painful experience, (b) a mutually shared loving relationship with the mother before she died, and (c) a perception of an ongoing connection between herself and her deceased mother. One's experience of connection with disembodied spirit as a way to relieve sorrow, develop spiritually, and live peacefully was explored. Spiritual presence, defined in this research as the spiritual essence of deceased loved ones, and intuition as a connective conduit, were also aspects of this study.