Spiritual and religious experiences are often thought of as something separate from the mind, as if they happen beyond thinking and interpretation. However, many philosophers and psychologists suggest the opposite: the mind plays a central role in how spiritual experiences are perceived, understood, and even made possible. As Nietzsche famously suggested, everything is open to interpretation. What we experience always passes through the mind and is shaped by what is already there — our memories, beliefs, values, expectations, and past experiences.
Rather than being opposed to spirituality, the mind may actually be the gateway to it. Thinking, imagination, and perception are not barriers to spiritual experience; they are the tools through which spiritual experiences are processed and understood. Without the mind, there would be no way to recognise, interpret, or make meaning of what we call “spiritual.”
A Mind That Is “Primed” for Experience
The mind can also be “primed” for spiritual experience. When a person enters meditation or prayer with a strong belief and expectation, they often become more open, attentive, and receptive. Trust and expectation prepare the mind to notice the more subtle impressions that might normally be ignored. In this way, our belief itself can shape our experience, not by creating illusions, but by opening awareness to new ways of perceiving.
The mind is also highly responsive to outside influences. Modern science has shown that the human nervous system works through electrochemical activity that produces electromagnetic signals. Some spiritual traditions interpret this as an “aura” — an energy field that may interact with the environment and with other people. While science and spirituality may use different language, both acknowledge that the body and mind are constantly sending and receiving signals.
How the Mind Translates Experience
Certain psychological phenomena help explain how spiritual impressions might be translated into images or messages. One example is synaesthesia, where stimulation of one sense leads to experiences in another, such as hearing sounds as colours. A well-known example is blind individuals who can “see” colours or shapes when feeling musical vibrations. During meditation or prayer, the mind may enter an altered state in which it becomes more sensitive to subtle impressions and more able to translate them into visual or symbolic imagery.
Spontaneous visual imagery (SMI)
Another common mental experience is spontaneous mental imagery (SMI), where images appear in the mind without deliberate effort. These can feel vivid, meaningful, and sometimes symbolic. Related to this is pareidolia, the tendency of the mind to form complete images from incomplete information, such as seeing faces in clouds or shapes in shadows. The mind is naturally skilled at finding patterns and meaning, even when the cues are minimal.
Schemas
Schemas also play an important role. These are mental programs built from past experiences, culture, and beliefs. They help us interpret what we see and feel, but they also shape spiritual imagery. People often describe spiritual figures using familiar human ideas: power may appear as size or strength, holiness as brightness or light, and clothing as a sign of personality or character. Objects carried by spiritual figures are also interpreted symbolically — a sword may suggest protection, armour safety, a book wisdom, and gifts of food or flowers nurturing and healing. While these images may feel spiritual, they are still filtered through personal and cultural understanding, which is why experiences can differ greatly from person to person.
Developing Spiritual Sensitivity
Many traditions suggest that certain areas of the brain are linked to spiritual awareness, often referring to the pineal gland as a centre where mental and spiritual impressions meet. Whether taken literally or symbolically, this idea reflects the belief that spiritual perception can be developed. Practices such as visualization are thought to strengthen the brain’s imagery systems, increasing the likelihood of spontaneous mental imagery, which some see as the early stages of clairvoyant experience.
In this view, spiritual abilities are not fixed talents but skills that can be trained. Just as muscles grow with exercise, sensitivity to inner imagery and subtle impressions may grow with regular practice and focused attention.
Mental Barriers to Spiritual Growth
While the mind can support spiritual development, it can also block it. Negative self-talk such as “I can’t do this” can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, closing the mind to new experiences before they even begin. Old schemas, especially those formed through strict religious or cultural conditioning, may also limit what a person allows themselves to experience. For example, if someone has been taught that communicating with “spiritual” personalities is wrong or dangerous, the subconscious mind may prevent such experiences from happening, even if the conscious mind is curious or open.
The Good News: Change Is Possible
The encouraging message is that both spiritual sensitivity and subconscious beliefs can be changed. Many people work with spiritual coaches, healers, or therapists to access deeper levels of the mind and release limiting patterns. Others use personal practices such as meditation, affirmations, intention-setting, and dream work, including learning to control or influence lucid dreams. These methods aim to create deep mental shifts that support greater openness and awareness.
Ultimately, the mind is not an enemy of spirituality but its partner. It shapes, interprets, and gives form to spiritual experience. By understanding how the mind works and learning to work with it rather than against it, people may find that spiritual growth becomes not only possible, but deeply personal and meaningful.