2.  Transcendentalism in the 19th Century was more than a trend in American literature. It was a philosophical movement, but it owed its development as much to democracy as to European philosophers.  Transcendentalism centered on the divinity of each individual; but this divinity could be self- discovered only if the person had the independence of mind to do so.

3.  There were experiences that could be acquired through "intuitions of the mind;" he referred to the "native spontaneity of the human mind."  In his essay, "Nature," Emerson explained how every idea has its source in natural phenomena, and that the attentive person can "see" those ideas in nature. Intuition allowed the transcendentalist to disregard external authority and to rely, instead, on direct experience. "Nature,"

4.  The universe is one great entity, "composed of Nature and the Soul.... Nature is the symbol of the spirit" (Nature).

5.  Transcendentalism gives credence to the unlimited potential of human ability to connect with both the natural and spiritual world.  The chief aim is to become fully aware not only of what our senses record, but also to recognize the ability of our inner voice—our intuition—to wisely and correctly interpret the sensory input.

6.  that individualism stems from listening to one's "inner voice;" and that one's life is guided by one's intuition; societal leadership is not necessary nor desirable.

7.  According to the transcendentalists, everyone had the power to "transcend" the seeming confusion and chaos of the world and understand nature's signs. Everything on earth has the divine "spark" within and thus is all part of a whole. This philosophy led to an optimistic emphasis on individualism.

8.  One aspect of individualism is the value of the individual over society. To "transcend" society one must first be able to look past and beyond it. One must follow his instincts and not conform to what society dictates. Although society will influence an individual towards conformity, it is important to remain true to one's self and to one's identity. Secondly, individualism includes being self-reliant.

9.  http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalis m/ideas/studentdef.html