A transformative learning experience (TLE) is an especially meaningful encounter that leaves a lasting impact on a person's sense of competence or place in the world. The construct of TLE is presented in transactional terms as an irreducible interplay between learner and the world (including the natural world, artifacts, and other people). Indicators of TLE are grouped under the following clusters: personal meaning, competence, and relationships. Adding to conventional discourse about instructional design, the authors discuss moral, aesthetic, and mythological/archetypal considerations for creating learning encounters that could become transformative for learners. (Contains 3 footnotes and 2 figures.)