Understanding the Experience of Discovering a Kindred Spirit Connection: A Phenomenological Study

Preliminary existential-hermeneutic phenomenological analysis of data based on 24 protocols, and our own reflexive discussion, reveals how “kindred spirit connections” manifest in myriad elusive, evocative ways. These special connections are experienced variously from briefly felt moments of friendship to enduringly profound body-soul love connections. This paper explicates five intertwined dimensions: shared bonding; the mutual exchange and affirmation of fellowship; the destined meeting or relationship; immediate bodily-felt attraction; and the pervasive presence of love. A wide ranging literature around the theme of love is outlined and the concept of kindred spirit is briefly applied to the psychotherapy practice context. Introduction Not Love Perhaps ...A need, at times, to be together and talk, And then the finding we can walk More firmly through dark narrow places, And meet more easily nightmare faces; A need to reach out, sometimes, hand to hand, And then find Earth less like an alien land; A need for alliance to defeat The whisperers at the corner of the street... (A.S.J. Tessimond) This paper was borne out of reflections on an especially heart-warming and intellectually stimulating Human Sciences Research Conference in 2008. We (Linda and Virginia) have attended many of these conferences and noted the deep-rooted and