What does spiritualizing mean?
Spiritualizing is the process of making something spiritual, giving it religious or transcendent significance, or developing a more spiritual character and outlook. It is commonly used as a present participle, as in “a spiritualizing experience,” and can describe the influence of meditation, ritual, art, nature, or spiritual practice on a person. The word often carries a contemplative and affirmative connotation, suggesting that ordinary activities can be transformed through deeper meaning. It can also have a more specialized philosophical or religious use, referring to the treatment of an object, place, or idea as sacred. Although related to spiritualization, spiritualizing emphasizes the active process of transformation rather than the resulting condition alone. In general usage, it is more formal than spiritual and more specific than simply inspiring or uplifting.
verb (present participle/gerund)Making something spiritual or giving it spiritual significance; also, developing a spiritual character, outlook, or awareness.
- Making something spiritual or investing it with spiritual significance.
- Developing a spiritual character, outlook, or awareness.
"The retreat offered a spiritualizing experience that helped participants reconnect with nature and their inner lives."
"Her lecture examined the spiritualizing effect of music and ritual on everyday life."
"Years of contemplative practice were spiritualizing his understanding of compassion and community."
Spiritualizing turns an ordinary experience into something understood as carrying deeper meaning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How spiritualizing is actually used
This word is usually formal or reflective in register and is common in discussions of religion, philosophy, art, ritual, and personal development. It is often used as an adjective-like participle before nouns such as experience, effect, or process.
Easily confused with spiritualizing
Spiritualise is the British spelling variant of the same verb; spiritualizing is the standard American spelling.