Cultivating Shared Sacred Moments: Awe and Wonder in Clinical Care

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Spirituality is an evolving dimension of human life involving the pursuit of meaning, purpose, and transcendence, while religion seeks significance through established institutions.
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Sacred moments are brief experiences of transcendence, boundlessness, ultimacy, deep interconnectedness, and spiritual emotions in clinical encounters.
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Sacred moments occur across cultures, but their descriptions and interpretations vary; Japanese participants described experiences such as deep connection and fate.
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Sacred moments are associated with reduced stress, better mental health, greater purpose, and stronger clinician-patient relationships.
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Story sharing, formal education, senior physician modeling, and interprofessional engagement with spiritual care professionals may help clinicians discuss sacred moments with cultural humility.

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