Holding Both Worlds: Where Science and Spirituality Meet

My husband spent 32 years as a paramedic in Washington, DC – right through the height of the cocaine and crack epidemic, the murder years, and into chaos itself. 

His work was filled with constant alarms, sirens, split-second decisions, and lives on the edge.

I couldn’t have imagined the things he’s witnessed, nor do I want to.

In truth, we might never have been together if he hadn’t been one of the first to arrive at the Pentagon on 9/11. Another plane heading his way and in that moment, burning fuel, building and more, he had an epiphany that his life needed to change. But that’s a story for another day.

My own career path took place in an entirely different universe: a quiet, candlelit room with the soft hush of healing music and fluffy blankets. Clients would arrive seeking help, ready to relax, ready to exhale.

Kevin says we’re so far apart, we met on the other side.

And honestly? He’s right.

He trusts medicine and his doctors with his whole being.
I trust my body’s intuition, the inner whisper that tells me what’s true long before words arrive.

By the time you read this, Kevin will have had his second hip replaced. And once again, I’m struck by how life invites us –  again and again – to hold both worlds at once.

Science and intuition.
Skill and Spirit.
Hospitals and healing hands.
The known and the mysterious.

Nature teaches this balance beautifully. A forest thrives not because of one thing, but because many forces work together: sunlight and shadow, decay and growth, roots and wings. Everything belongs, and everything collaborates.

We’re not meant to choose one way over another. We’re meant to weave them together, trusting the brilliance of medicine alongside the quiet truth that all healing is a deep but reliable mystery, and letting each one support the other.

This week, I’m holding Kevin in that beautiful marriage of worlds —his surgeon’s skill and the healing energy that moves through all things. May you, too, feel supported by both the seen and unseen forces that care for you.

Here’s a 3-minute tiny but mighty practice for weaving your two worlds:

• Pause and breathe. Sit comfortably and take three slow breaths. Notice the ground beneath you.

• Call in the two sources of support. With your next inhale, imagine drawing in outer support - the people, tools, and resources that help you. With your exhale, soften into inner support - intuition, body-knowing, Spirit.

• Let them meet. For one minute, feel these two streams blending inside you. No effort. Just awareness.

• Close with gratitude. Whisper a quiet thank-you for the best of both worlds.

You’re held by more than you know.

Finding Harmony in Opposites: A Guide to Integrating Science and Spirituality

In today's world, we're often encouraged to choose between science and spirituality, logic and instinct. It’s natural. Science people don’t love things that can’t be easily explained by science… But spiritual people also don’t often love a scientific explanation. But what if we could harness the power of both? What if we could explain the world with both?

Here are some practical tips and strategies for combining science and spirituality in a way that feels authentic and effective:

• Stay Curious

  • Approach challenges with a sense of curiosity and wonder

  • Ask questions and seek out answers from both scientific and intuitive sources

  • In each situation, try to find ways that spirituality and science can be used together to create solutions

• Trust Your Gut

  • Pay attention to your instincts and intuition

  • Use scientific tools and research to validate and support your intuition

  • Instead of letting your head stop you from being open to explanations, tune into your gut to guide you 

• Embrace Complexity

  • Recognize that life is complex and multifaceted

  • Be willing to hold contrasting ideas and perspectives at the same time

  • Be willing to combine both the science and the spiritual together for a new answer

• Seek Out Diverse Perspectives

  • Talk to people from different backgrounds and disciplines

  • Seek out diverse sources of information and inspiration

  • Head into Nature and just notice how much diversity there is and how it works together for the betterment of everything

• Practice Mindfulness

  • Cultivate a mindful and present approach to life

  • Use scientific tools and techniques to support your mindfulness practice

Bonus Tips

• Use Nature as a Teacher: Observe the natural world and learn from its rhythms and patterns

• Stay Open to Possibility: Be willing to consider new ideas and perspectives

• Trust the Process: Have faith in your own inner wisdom and the natural flow of life

• Keep educating yourself: Read about both science and spiritual information to be well-informed

• Let the world be your teacher: Go out into the world and Nature and allow yourself to be taught naturally by whatever you notice

By integrating science and spirituality, you can tap into a deeper sense of wisdom and guidance. While we often see them on conflicting sides, you’d be surprised how much each side supports the other. Experiment with these tips and see what works for you!

Reflection Questions

1. What are some areas in your life where you tend to favor science over intuition, or vice versa? How can you start to integrate both perspectives?

2. Think about a recent decision you made using either science or intuition. How might the outcome have been different if you'd used both?

3. What are some ways you can cultivate a more mindful and curious approach to life, and how might this impact your relationships with science and intuition?