Using Stories to Explore the Everyday Place of Spirit Agency

MacKian, Sara (2025). Using Stories to Explore the Everyday Place of Spirit Agency. In: Woodhead, Linda; Cadman, Louisa and Graham, Nicole eds. Messy Methods in Researching Religion. UK: Oxford University Press (In press).

Abstract

A geographer by training, my research is driven by a curiosity for how people relate to health, illness, and wellbeing. Inspired by the idea that the world is more mysterious and enchanted than we habitually think, I use social science and art combined to explore the relationship between the real and the imaginary, the body and the spirit, this world and the otherworldly.

My recent research projects have explored alternative spiritualities in the UK. This has led to a particular challenge in terms of how to include otherworldly agencies in academic outputs. This chapter explores how my own health challenges inspired me to adopt storytelling as a device to allow a more creative approach to my research and its impacts.

Viewing alternatives

Item Actions

Export

About