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Our sense of awe can come from many places. From a spiritual, religious, or secular place; being with others or alone, in nature or in the busyness of a public space. Moments of awe and wonder can come at any time – if we’re open to them and if we allow them to squeeze into our consciousness, schedule or daily experience.
- A moment of awe can be triggered by nature, art, science, or moments of profound connection
- Often described as a sense of unity, humility, or being part of something vast and mysterious
- A moment of awe doesn’t require belief in a deity or formal doctrine, but it can! They can be anchored in specific traditions, rituals or sacred stories. Who knows what a fig tree, a fishing boat, or a garden at nighttime might elicit!?
- Regardless of how, when, or what, a moment of awe is closely tied to curiosity, openness, and reflection
Studies show that awe is strongly associated with feeling connected, to a sense of pointing us to what is important in our lives, prompting us seek meaning or make connections to our emerging selves, our dreams, our values.
Sasha Sagan, in her book “For Small Creatures Such as We” reminds us that wonder doesn’t require worship. It requires attention, curiosity, reverence for the improbable fact of our existence. Creating a ritual of awe and wonder involves the miracle of noticing and celebrating: to honor the stars, the soil, the breath in our lungs, to become aware of animals, to listen to the earth, to be humbled by the cosmos’ enormity—and uplifted by the fact that we are part of it. To create and observe a ritual of wonder is as simple as pausing to notice the steam rising from a morning cup of tea, the way sunlight filters through leaves, the sound of a child laughing, or an elder remembering, the quiet rhythm of breath, in and out…
In a world that moves fast and demands much, ritual is how we slow down and remember: We are part of something vast. We are part of something sacred. And that is enough.
Contribute your own experience below:
What is something you do every day or week that evokes wonder?
OR
What is something you want to start noticing that might be ripe for a ritual that invokes wonder?
I have had a mantra in my head the past little while. It is a common phrase that has been around for ages: “These are the good old days.” Perhaps I’ve been thinking about it because there is plenty of negativity on social media referencing how good things were “back then.” I understand that it’s human nature to do this. Lately, I’ve been putting myself in the moment, as if I am here visiting from 20 years in the future. But there is no need for me to daydream about time travel to experience this time. I am here now. This ritual has been a way for me to reframe my mindset to savour the WONDER of today, even in the midst of struggle, knowing that ‘these days’ will soon be a distant memory.
Standing out on the balcony before going to bed, breathing the air, saying goodnight to the moon, even when I can’t see her! The vastness of the sky……