Spirituality in Science
The spirituality of animals, nature, and their connection to human health are no longer merely abstract themes, they are fields that have been widely studied in scientific research.
It is important to remember that spirituality is not the same as religion; it is essentially the search for meaning, connection, and purpose in life.
By integrating this perspective into the care of animals and the environment, we open new paths toward a deeper understanding of healing and health in its broadest sense.
References on Animal and Nature Spirituality
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ALDERTON, D. Animal Grief: How Animals Mourn. Veloce Publishing Ltd, 2011. <https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=gbm881KUlvMC>.
ALINEJAD, N. et al. Spiritual well-being, resilience, and health-promoting lifestyle among older adult hypertensive patients: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatrics, v. 25, n. 265, Apr. 2025 <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12877-025-05877-x#citeas>.
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BAKER, S.; MORRISON, R. Environmental Spirituality: Grounding our Response to Climate Change. European Journal of Science and Theology, v. 4, n. 2, p. 35-50, June 2008. <http://www.ejst.tuiasi.ro/Files/14/035-50Baker&Morrison.pdf>.
BRIEFER, E. F. Vocal expression of emotions in mammals: mechanisms of production and evidence. Journal of Zoology, v. 288, n. 1, p. 1-20. Sep. 2012. <https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00920.x>.
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CAPRA, F. The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism. Shambhala, 2010. <https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Physics-Exploration-Parallels-Mysticism/dp/1590308352>.
CARVALHO, I. C. M.; STEIL, C. A. A sacralização da natureza e a ‘naturalização’ do sagrado: aportes teóricos para a compreensão dos entrecruzamentos entre saúde, ecologia e espiritualidade. Ambiente & Sociedade, v. 11, n. 2, 2008. <https://www.scielo.br/j/asoc/a/pTPF5DVZQ8qWnGPf4pWBYGg/abstract/?lang=pt>.
CHEN, C. et al. Mediating Effect of Perceived Professional Benefit on the Relationship Between Spiritual Health and Spiritual Care Competence Among New Nurses> A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Nursing Management. 2025. <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/jonm/8832454>.
CHUKWUKA, E. The evolution of ancient healing practices: From shamanism to Hippocratic medicine: A review. Medicine, v. 103, n. 28, July 2024. <https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2024/07120/the_evolution_of_ancient_healing_practices__from.15.aspx>.
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FRY, L. W. et al. The relevance of Spiritual Leadership to public health: values, meaning and purpose. Frontiers in Public Health, v. 13, Jan. 2026. <https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1632959/full>.
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GIACONNE, T.; MANNINO, A. M.; RAGAZZOLA, F. Integral Health in Messina Strait: marine ecosystems, historical collections and human well-being. Mundo Saúde, v. 50, 2026. <https://revistamundodasaude.emnuvens.com.br/mundodasaude/article/view/1910/1853>.
GOLDWORTHY, B. Totem Animal Messages: Channelled Messages from the Animal Kingdom. Balboa Press, 2013. <https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=KgVSxG3HEOYC>.
GOSWAMI, A. Physics of the Soul: The Quantum Book of Living, Dying, Reincarnation, and Immortality. Hampton Roads Publishing, 2001. <https://www.amazon.com/Physics-Soul-Quantum-Reincarnation-Immortality-ebook/dp/B0028N60U6>.
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HANH, T. N. The Heart Of Buddha's Teaching. Rider & Co, 1999. <https://www.amazon.com.br/Heart-Buddhas-Teaching-Thich-Nhat/dp/0712670033>.
HIRATA, E. Spirituality, Religion, and One Health: Exploring the Connections Between Spiritual and Religious Belief Systems and their Contribution to Human, Animal, and Environmental Wellbeing. 2021. Master's Dissertation, University of Edinburgh. <https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-gifford-hirata/overlay/1635467188184/single-media-viewer/?profileId=ACoAABaPW_EB5ax2rQ7P7oRYUhmF3owCVkHTQnA>.
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KING, B. How Animals Grieve. University of Chicago Press, 2014. <https://www.amazon.com/How-Animals-Grieve-Barbara-King/dp/022615520X>.
KIYAK, S. The Relationship Between Fetal Health Anxiety, Spiritual Well-Being, and Perceived Social Support in High-Risk Pregnant Women in Türkiye. Journal of Religion & Health, v. 64. March 2025. <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10943-025-02288-5>.
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LINDEBLAD, B. N. I May Be Wrong: And Other Wisdoms From Life as a Forest Monk. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022. <https://www.amazon.com/May-Be-Wrong-Wisdoms-Forest-ebook/dp/B09BG2HNC5>.
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MICHAELSON, V. et al. Connections associated with a healthy spirituality: are these unrecognized intermediary determinants that shape health inequities in Canadian young people?. BMC Public Health, v. 23, p. 1-10. 2023.<https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16060-5>.
MOREIRA-ALMEIDA, A.; LUCCHETTI, G. Panorama das pesquisas em ciência, saúde e espiritualidade. Ciência e Cultura, v. 68, n. 1, p. 54-57, 2016. <http://cienciaecultura.bvs.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0009-67252016000100016>.
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NETO, E. M. C. Ecologia Espiritual e Patrimônio Biocultural. Travessias, v. 14, n. 1, p. 14-23. 2020.<ttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/347290212_Ecologia_espiritual_e_patrimonio_biocultural>.
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PIRNAZAROV, N.R. Structural Model of Spirituality as a Philosophical Phenomenon. Adam Alemi, v. 2, n. 88, p. 10-16. 2021 <https://adamalemijournal.com/index.php/aa/article/view/39/14>.
PRASAD, K. Reki for Dogs: Using Spiritual Energy to Heal and Vitalize Man's Best Friend. Simon and Schuster, 2012. <https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=a-QoBbRnEf0C>.
PRESTON, J. L.; COLEMAN, T. J.; SHIN, F. Spirituality of Science: Implications for Meaning, Well-Being, and Learning. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, v. 51, n. 4, p. 632-643. Apr. 2025. <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01461672231191356>.
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SENA, M. A. B. et al. Defining Spirituality in Healthcare: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Framework. Frontiers in Psychology, v. 12, p. 1-11. Nov. 2021. <https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.756080/full>.
SINGER, M. A. The Untethered Soul: The Journal Beyond Yourself. New Harbinger Publications, 2007. <https://www.amazon.com.br/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Yourself-English-ebook/dp/B003TU29WA>.
STEIN, D. Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats. Crossing Press, 2011. <https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=NkvM9_q8gBUC>.
STIBAL, V. ThetaHealing: Diseases and Disorders. Hay House Inc, 2011. <https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CeNh4v_bzhEC>.
STIBAL, V. ThetaHealing: Introducing an Extraordinary Energy Healing Modality. Hay House Inc, 2010. <https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=FFzeYTfQwXwC>.
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TOLLE, E. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library, 2010. <https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=sQYqRCIhFAMC>.
TU’ITAHI, S. et al. Waiora: the importance of Indigenous worldviews and spirituality to inspire and inform Planetary Health Promotion in the Anthropocene. SAGE Journals, v. 28, n. 4, p. 73-82. Dec 2021. <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17579759211062261>.
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WANG, S. et al. Tourists and ‘philosophers’: Nature as a medium to consciousness and transcendence in spiritual tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, v. 99, 2023. <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160738323000166>.
WATERS, W. F. et al. Antibiotic use by backyard food animal producers in Ecuador: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, v. 22, n. 685, p. 1-11. Apr. 2022. <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-022-13073-4>.
WIJNGAARDEN, V. Interviewing animals through animal communicators: potentials of intuitive interspecies communication for multispecies methods. Society and Animals, 32, n. 2, p. 1-12, 2023. <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368463971_Interviewing_animals_through_animal_communicators_Potentials_of_intuitive_interspecies_communication_for_multispecies_methods>.
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There are articles, dissertations, theses and reviews available in open access that investigate how spirituality influences the physical, emotional and energetic well-being of people and animals.
The list below is ordered according to the first letter of the author's surname.
Keywords used in the search: "spirituality", "animals", "nature".
Enjoy your reading!