A Phenomenological-Hermeneutical and Sufism Study of the Artistic Creative Process of Three Soul Travelers of the Qudusiyah Sufi Order

Abstract

This study is grounded in the growing concern over the separation between artistic creativity and spiritual experience in contemporary scholarship. While imagination is often treated as a cognitive or aesthetic function, its deeper existential and transcendent dimensions remain underexplored. The objective of this research is to examine how artistic creation is shaped by imaginal experiences within the spiritual journeys of three artists affiliated with the Qudusiyah Sufi Order. The study employed a qualitative phenomenological-hermeneutical approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation of artistic works produced by three informants representing visual art, music, and poetry. Purposive sampling was used to select participants with direct experience in both artistic practice and Sufi spiritual training. Data validity was ensured through triangulation, member checking, and interpretative consistency, while data analysis was conducted using thematic interpretation supported by NVivo software. The findings revealed that artistic creation is not merely a technical or imaginative act but a lived experience shaped by spiritual discipline, self-effacement (fana), and imaginal encounters. These experiences manifested differently across artistic forms but consistently reflected a transformation of inner consciousness that influenced creative expression. The discussion highlights how imaginal experiences serve as a bridge between spiritual practice and artistic production. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that artistic creativity within the Qudusiyah Sufi context is deeply rooted in transcendent experience, offering a more integrated understanding of art, spirituality, and human consciousness in contemporary creative practice.