Indianapolis may not be the most enlightened city in the United States, but we are seeing considerable growth in that direction. It’s exactly why we decided to launch Higher Dimensions Network – to be a resource as Indy and the Midwest continues to explores enlightenment, metaphysics, holistic health, spirituality and alternative healing. Curious as to which cities are the most enlightened? Trip.com has it covered. 

These Are The 10 Most Enlightened Cities In America

It’s human nature to search for purpose in life, to try and see the bigger picture, and to identify patterns in a confusing world. This quest is never easy, but the right environment can sure make it more manageable. That’s why we decided to try to identify the most ‘enlightened’ cities in America, so whenever you start planning your journey toward a greater understanding of the universe (whether intellectual or spiritual) you’ll know where to start:

1. Berkeley
2. Santa Cruz
3. Santa Monica
4. San Francisco
5. Palo Alto
6. Pasadena
7. Seattle
8. Portland
9. West Hollywood
10. Salt Lake City

How We Did It

There are few topics as personal as enlightenment. Just about everyone defines the word differently. That being said, some words tend to come up more often than others when the talk turns to enlightenment — words like yoga, education and wellness, for example. We took a comprehensive list of cities, took the 55 best known for being centers for enlightenment, and ranked them based on these five considerations.

• Yoga studios per capita – For thousands of years yoga has helped people reach enlightenment, and, these days at least, get a good workout at the same time.
• Universities per capita – The Age of Enlightenment was all about the intellectual life, so we included cities with lots of opportunity for academic study. 
• Bookstores per capita – Failing a university, look for a good reading list. A good book allows people to see life through the eyes of another, an essential element in the search for enlightenment.
• “Alternative medicine” locations per capita – If acupuncture, cupping and therapists are easy to find, it’s likely that many citizens are on the path to personal enlightenment and well-being.
• University educated population – A person doesn’t need to be a college graduate to seek enlightenment, but a degree does suggest a basic interest in self-improvement.

To read more on each enlightened city, click here.