Intention for the New Moon
By Anna Biela, Ph.D, MFA, Alumna OCAD
May 16, 2026 Wroc[love] 22:11 pm
Awakening in the Holy Spirit: Charisms, Encounter, and Meaning
Introduction
A small group of ordinary people gathered at a retreat. There was no plan, no strategy, and no intention to start a movement. They were simply searching for something real—beyond routine and beyond tradition alone. They wanted to experience God in a living way.
They prayed: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
What followed was described not as an idea or theory, but as an experience of presence—peace, tears, joy, and a sense of closeness to God. This moment became known as the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
Personal Experience of Encounter
I entered into something connected to this path without fully understanding it. It began with a visit to an exorcist who invited me, and from that day the experience started.
Since then, there has been a strong inner process of reflection, emotion, and spiritual searching. This includes tears, questions, and a desire to understand what is happening internally in relation to God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus.
Alongside this, there is a process of examining personal life and choices, including recognizing areas that require change and freedom.
Question of Meaning and Direction
A central question emerges from this experience: how to bring this spiritual awareness into the world of art.
The reflection is focused on whether art can remain only a commercial product or whether it can return to something more alive, meaningful, and transformative. The idea is that if life is understood as spiritually alive, then creative expression should also reflect that reality.
This raises a broader question about the role of creativity, authenticity, and purpose in artistic work.
Charisms (Gifts of the Holy Spirit)
Charisms are understood in Christianity as gifts of the Holy Spirit given not for personal status, but for the benefit of others and for the building of community.
The main charisms include:
Wisdom – understanding situations in the light of God
Knowledge – insight that supports discernment
Faith – deep trust in God in difficult situations
Healing – prayer for physical, emotional, or spiritual restoration
Prophecy – words that encourage, correct, or guide
Discernment of spirits – recognizing the source of spiritual influence
Tongues – prayer in a language not understood by the mind
Interpretation of tongues – understanding or explaining such prayer
In this understanding, charisms are not personal abilities but expressions of divine action through a person.
Conclusion
The Charismatic Renewal began as a historical event in 1967, but for many people it becomes a personal experience that raises questions about life, direction, and meaning.
It also leads to reflection on how inner transformation relates to outer expression, including art, creativity, and daily life.
The central question remains open: how does one respond when life is experienced as spiritually awakened and internally transformed.