the imperative of beauty, awe, and wonder

Hosted By: Ida Covi, MA is an ecopsychologist and the CEO of iRewild Institute. She is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence from Pacifica Graduate Institute, CA.

25 minutes

TRANSCRIPT

How can we embody the transcendent beauty of nature, which surpasses the confines of the visible world and journeys through the landscapes of our souls? How is this even relevant or echoing into the fabric of our modern-day world?

We sometimes experience moments in life when time seems to stand still—moments when we find ourselves spellbound, and eventually lead us to a profound transformation. These instances can be cosmic in magnitude, as echoed by the overwhelming awe we experience when gazing at the Andromeda Galaxy through a simple pair of binoculars, coupled with the realization that there exist two trillion galaxies within the observable Universe. Or, these moments may also be inwardly profound, such as when we hear a piece of poetry or music that seems to burrow itself into the deepest depths of our being. We remember these moments because they move our hearts and bring us to tears, they evoke experiences that lie beyond words. These moments echo within us for eternity, . . .they transform us.

We move beyond our ordinary everyday sense of self into a more timeless, wholistic, transcendent dimension. We co-mingle in a reality in which there is no separation between the physical and the spiritual, between mind and matter, or between self and an-other. When the world is filtered solely, through our thoughts, instead of our hearts, it prevents us from truly understanding the genuine nature of an-Other. We’ve reduced them into a limited concept shaped by our own beliefs.

While all of our senses may be stimulated in an aesthetic experience, Renowned psychologist, James Hillman affirmed what the ancients recognized long ago – that the heart is the organ that perceives and feels the aesthetic impact of the experience — it begins in the heart and the mind follows.[1] Currently, scientific evidence reveals that the heart seems to gather information from sources beyond our conscious awareness, a significant 1.5 seconds ahead of the brain.[2]

Now, speaking of matters of the heart, we often find ourselves pondering? Is there anything more beautiful than being in love? The journey of discovering and nurturing love is truly enchanting, as it has the remarkable power to deeply transform us. Through love's embrace, we uncover layers of our true essence, connecting with ourselves and others in ways that are both profound and meaningful. It's a force that knows no bounds, igniting our spirits and guiding us towards greater understanding and fulfillment.

However, when discussing love, it would be incomplete not to acknowledge Cupid and Psyche. In the ancient Greek myth, Psyche goes on a quest to find her lover, despite encountering tremendous challenges.

The myth has been interpreted on many levels. Examining tales of heroes on a quest for love help us to understand the power of love. I want to explore a particular type of love. Possibly, even more elusive and more important than romance—the love associated with one’s own breath of life.

In the myth of Cupid and Psyche, we encounter a story that symbolizes the marriage between love and the soul. Cupid, or Eros, represents a profound love that inspires the pursuit of wisdom. To the ancients, the concept of "wisdom" encompassed a multifaceted understanding that went beyond mere intellectual knowledge. Wisdom was regarded as a profound insight into the fundamental truths of existence. Meanwhile, the mortal princess Psyche, embodies the Greek concept for soul, her name meant “breath of life,” and she was linked closely to the inner human world.

Together, Psyche and Cupid’s love and ultimate union gives birth to beauty. Through their story, we come to understand that by bringing forth the beauty of our soul through wisdom, we unearth the deepest realms of human existence. In some versions of their myth, their child is named, Joy, symbolizing how the gift of beauty brings forth boundless joy.

Perhaps, when Psyche seeks out Cupid, it is because the mind alone is not whole without the heart—the experiences that make us feel alive. Experiences, like seeing the aurora borealis stream across the Northern skies. These experiences make our pulse race faster . . . and our heart . . . beat harder. While the mind holds its own beauty, it cannot thrive without the heart.

Beauty frequently fills our hearts and minds with the profound emotion of awe. The feeling of ‘awe’ sneaks up on us like love. In these moments, we find ourselves surrendering to the ecstatic outpouring of life before us. As we bask in the beauty that surrounds us, awe becomes the instant when our ego humbly relinquishes control to the enchantment of wonder.

So, why is beauty, awe, and wonder Important?

We all know that maintaining our physical wellbeing requires the intake of food. However, beyond the physical realm, there exists a spiritual essence within us that yearns for a superior diet to achieve its highest development, and this nourishment is found in the heartfelt act of perceiving beauty.

One of history’s most influential philosophers, Immanuel Kant discussed that beauty—beauty for nothing more than for beauty’s sake, liberates our spirit, mind, and senses. Within this freedom we ask questions that evoke a profound sense of wonder about the unknown, the mysterious, and the divine, leading to a complete transcendence.

Beauty appreciated for its own sake is unlike the allure of things that often seek to ignite longing. Consider the difference between encountering someone attractive who stirs up desire within you or walking into a shoe store where beautiful shoes seem to beckon with a silent plea, "Buy me!" The beauty of the shoes is all about getting you to spend money. On the other hand, when you look at a beautiful flower, it doesn't ask for anything from you, it exists in its own right, offering its splendor freely without expectation or ulterior motive. It's just there, beautiful, without any strings attached. This shows how beauty can serve different purposes, and a flower's beauty is just pure and simple.

The mere presence of beauty, existing purely for the sake of being beautiful, has a profound effect on our spirit, mind, and senses. It transcends the confines of utility or purpose, offering a sense of liberation and expansiveness to our innermost selves. When we encounter such beauty, whether it's in art, nature, or human expression, it has the power to uplift our spirits, broaden our minds, and awaken our senses to the richness and wonder of the world around us. It serves as a reminder of the inherent value of beauty itself and its ability to nourish and rejuvenate our entire being.

James Hillman saw beauty as “inherent and essential to soul” so that “beauty appears wherever soul appears....Beauty is a [necessity for life]; it is the way in which the gods touch our senses, reach the heart, and attract us into life.”[1]

The soul is nourished through our eyes, thoughts, and other senses. Dedicating ourselves to embracing the beauty around us leads to the cultivation of inner grace. Beauty is a catalyst for love.

The Divine Beauty, found in nature and all living beings, offers us a chance to perceive external beauty. Acknowledging and embracing this external beauty serves as a catalyst for the blossoming of love. Bathing in the radiance of love “ignited” by the beauty of nature transports us into a borderland where the divine and our human essence co-mingle with each other.

From the ethereal realm where nature's beauty ignites love within us, we’re going to transition to pondering beauty's innate longing to reunite with its own essence.

What does that mean?

As our eyes fix upon the profound beauty that nature unfolds before us, our soul becomes a receptacle of beauty, initiating a deep metamorphosis within ourselves that extends to the very core of our being. This life-changing experience not only enriches our own lives but also becomes a source of beauty that radiates outward, touching the lives of the people and world around us. In this intimate connection with nature's beauty, we experience a transformative journey, unraveling the layers of our existence, unveiling new dimensions of self-awareness, and bringing forth a newfound beauty that extends its grace to those who share in our lives.

Recall the days of childhood when wonder filled our hearts – it was as natural as breathing. Sadly, it's a common observation that wonder tends to diminish with age — though it doesn't necessarily have to. How did we change? And, how can we rekindle our sense of wonder?

Expressing beauty, kindness, trust, and care becomes challenging in a cultural atmosphere overshadowed by fear, dread, grief, and tragedy. With each passing day, the relentless news stories detailing unending wars, social injustices, and the intensifying climate crisis, coupled with our own individual challenges, leave us feeling profoundly inundated, causing our sensory networks to tire, shut down, and become emotionally indifferent. Eventually, whether by choice or unconsciously, we build energetic walls around ourselves for protection.

When this happens, we detach ourselves, creating distance between our own essence and that of our natural world and its life-giving benefits. While temporary numbness may offer a brief respite and serve a purpose, over time it proves detrimental, preventing us from fully immersing ourselves in the deepest realms of human existence. We inadvertently numb ourselves not only to tragedies in the world but also to the beauty that surrounds us.

The more we see, the more we evolve. It marks the distinction between just existing versus a profound love for life. Beauty serves as a catalyst, awakening us to fully engage in the richness of life.

We live in a world of rapidly changing tasks. But, when we focus our attention on nourishing our soul’s beauty, on nature’s rousing beauty, when we are in the here and now, everything becomes miraculous. We’re intertwined—existing in a timeless moment with the sacred.

The Indian philosopher of non-dualism, Nisargadatta Maharaj, famously stated, "the other world is this world, rightly seen." [3] Our aim is to create a nurturing environment for ourselves and others, fostering a childlike sense of wonder about the possibilities that lie ahead. To re-engage, to re-awaken the mind from the rigidity of the familiar. This process involves rekindling our curiosity and breaking free from the constraints of what we’ve been accustomed to.

However, this journey begins with love, a love that silently pulsates within the depths of the heart. If you think about it, from the moment of our birth, we enter the world as complete beings, yet, the nurturing and development of our hearts is an ongoing process that spans a lifetime. Each passing moment and every experience, serves as the raw material for the evolution of our hearts and souls, allowing them to unfold, expand, and deepen, often in ways that are unforeseen and surprising. 

It is in these instances, these awe–inspiring moments when our hearts are filled with so much beauty and wonder–moments that tattoo themselves onto our psyche–we align with the divine love and energy that created the universe. It’s a feeling that transcends the confines of language because it is rooted in the realm of our soul. Such experiences awaken our senses, breathing life into our existence, and shape the very essence of our hearts.

So, how do we hold onto that connection to the beautiful?

It’s essential not to take anything for granted. Therefore, we need to adjust our criteria for experiencing wonder and embrace the readily available, commonly overlooked opportunities. The power to create aesthetic moments lies within our reach at any time; beauty isn't exclusive to expansive landscapes.

In our everyday lives, there are often overlooked treasures of beauty waiting to be noticed—such as the delicate ripples in a pond, the interplay of light and shadow in a field beneath drifting clouds, the melodic babble of a stream, the gentle dance of leaves in the breeze, the intricate patterns on a butterfly's wings, and the warmth conveyed in a shared smile between friends. These simple yet profound experiences, woven into our daily existence, are as extraordinary as the monumental wonders.

To tap into these moments, all it takes is an “intentional” pause, just for a moment, to perceive them with a heart-conscious awareness. It's crucial to recognize and value the simplicity of wonders in our daily lives, appreciating that the ordinary elements surrounding us can be as spectacular as the huge epic wonders.

For instance, if you take a brief moment to reflect, whether you reside a-top the highest mountain peak, in a quaint and timeless fishing village, or within the confines of densely populated urban city filled with concrete; marvel at, be in awe of, and be awakened by the world of “air” that envelops you. Our connection with air is profound—starting from the very first breath we take at birth, we continuously perceive and experience it. With each inhalation, air travels through our bloodstream, reaching every cell in our body, sustaining our existence. Though invisible and unseen, it is a miraculous and extraordinarily beautiful force. Air provides us with life, offers the space for movement, and sustains all plants and beings. It is the medium through which sound travels, allowing us to hear the words of our loved ones and the songs of birds. Air creates the canvas for sunrises, sunsets, nightfall, and the first flight of a baby bird. I extend a heartfelt invitation to each of you to embrace the profound beauty inherent in the simplicity of... Air.

When we feel that time stands still and logic is dismissed in favor of experience, then something transforms within us, revealing profound revelations and ushering in newfound perspectives that illuminate our path forward.

Now, let’s explore some creative techniques to help you ignite a renewed sense of wonder and appreciation for beauty.

One effective method that I strive to adopt is cultivating a habit of perceiving everything around me, whether it's an earthworm, a rock, mountain, or weed, as ensouled, conscious, and alive. This entails viewing the world holistically, transcending the distinctions between “in here,” “out there,” or seeing it as an “other.”

Here are a few more imaginative approaches to rediscovering beauty from a fresh angle:

o   Imagine nature’s beauty as an open invitation, a doorway to the soul of the world. View the elements in your surroundings as invitations to be noticed and embraced, nurturing a feeling of belonging and interconnectedness. They welcome you into a relationship that surpasses barriers of separation or difference.

o   I've come to understand that recognizing the unique value in everything I encounter is a practice that fosters significant transformation. When you are out and about in nature, consider each element around you as a gift, each playing a crucial role in sustaining our planet's ecosystems. Take, for instance, a swamp: it may seem murky and uninviting to some, but in reality, it serves as a vital habitat for countless species, filtering water, storing carbon, and fostering biodiversity. By viewing even seemingly mundane things through this lens, we gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the interconnected web of life and our place within it.

By integrating these ideas into your life and daily practices, my wish is for you to cultivate experiences that awaken a profound sense of beauty, awe, and wonder whenever you choose to engage with the world around you. Let these ideas serve as guiding lights, leading you to moments of enchantment and inspiration, where every sight, sound, and sensation becomes a testament to the boundless beauty of existence.

As we embrace the sublime beauty of nature, which extends beyond the limits of what we can see and reaches into the depths of our souls, prepare yourself to experience a profound metamorphosis. This transformation touches every aspect of our being, awakening our senses, expanding our awareness, and fostering a deeper connection with the world around us. Through this journey, we come to realize that the beauty of nature is not merely an external phenomenon but an essential part of our inner landscape, guiding us towards a greater sense of unity, purpose, and interconnectedness with all living beings, enriching our lives in profound ways.

In light of this, lose yourself in nature's embrace, finding moments that dance with joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude. As you attune your mind to seek these subtle treasures, witness how these delicate instances unfurl and grace your life with an ever-growing abundance of beauty and serenity.

So, I ask:

Imagine if you encountered your life experiences in such a way that the first thing you saw was beauty. Beauty before judgment; beauty before opinion; beauty before criticism; beauty before expectations; beauty before reacting. How would that change your life experience? How would that change your enjoyment of life and the ability to appreciate its many gifts?

References:

1. Hillman, James. The Thought of the Heart and Soul of the World . Woodstock, CT: Spring Publications, 1992.

2. McCraty R, Atkinson M. Electrophysiology of Intuition: Pre-stimulus Responses in Group and Individual Participants Using a Roulette Paradigm. Glob Adv Health Med. 2014 Mar;3(2):16-27. doi: 10.7453/gahmj.2014.014. PMID: 24808978; PMCID: PMC4010965. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010965/

3. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj as quoted in:

Willfranks. (2018, April 25). Effective altruism’s ultimate goal: eradicate human suffering. https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jtDTtDgczmQ33jFDd/effective-altruism-s-ultimate-goal-eradicate-human-suffering

iRewild would like to acknowledge the contributions of other writers, philosophers, and scientists for their inspiration, words, and research used in our podcasts. For a complete list of sources, please see our eBook, Rewilding The Senses: Bringing The Human Soul Back Into A Conscious Relationship With Nature.