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Often, when we are ready to look for higher meanings in our everyday lives or become open to spirituality for the first time or in a new way, we have a religious experience.

It is like a gift, given to us, often unexpectedly.

It is usually such a powerful and 'real' experience that we never forget it and we never doubt it. It may become the one certain thing in a changing world.

Sometimes we mistake it for THE enlightenment.

We usually realise that is not the case when we cannot, of our own volition, repeat the experience.

We find it is the beginning not the end of a spiritual journey.

To grow we have to let it go and not hang on to it.

We may have many more religious experiences or this first one may also be the only one. It is always, in some way, life and thought changing.

It comes to show us a truth. We then have to make that truth our own.

You may be surprised how many people, religious and agnostic, have religious experiences. It is very common.

If you want your religious experience recorded, there are two organisations you could contact: The Alister Hardy Society and, linked to it, the Religious Experience Research Centre.