Gray, D. (2021). Freedom: An exploration into the meaning and experience of personal freedom. A qualitative heuristic inquiry [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Liverpool John Moores University.

Freedom has many definitions; therefore, it is important to define the meaning used in this research. Freedom is the individual sovereignty defined as a state of being, condition or quality. The aim of the research was to explore the personal meaning and experience of freedom. A qualitative method of heuristic inquiry (Moustakas, 1990) was chosen, using the processes, and phases of this inquiry, to explore the nature of the phenomenon of freedom. This was explored through an online platform, with recorded interviews, using a semi-structured interview protocol. There were 11 participants, who are identified as Co-researchers, these were six males and five females, of various age and social background. Through the meaning and experience of freedom, three themes emerged: limitation to freedom, inner sense of freedom, and spiritual freedom. Limitation was identified as restriction and challenges. Inner sense of freedom was an embodiment experience of connection to self. While spiritual freedom was a transpersonal experience of the higher-Self and the experience of awakening, to a spiritual Self or a connection to something greater than self. However, the findings show all themes of limitation to freedom, inner sense of freedom, and spiritual freedom, each have an experience of embodiment, as the overarching experience.