Mystical Awe

Summer of Awe Series 

I hope that you have been taking time to notice the plethora of opportunities for awe and wonder that life so freely affords us.  This Sunday we will consider the power and purpose of Mystical/Spiritual Awe.

The term mystical here simply means a direct, personal experience of the Divine. There are a plethora of these opportunities to connect. As we discussed last week, many of us feel this powerful connection while “walking in the Cathedral of nature” as Dr. Lisa Miller puts it.

In his book Awe, author Dasher Keltner explores how our spiritual life actually grows out of experiences of awe.  Keltner refers to mystical awe as “…the feelings of encountering what we call the Divine, {meaning} what we feel to be primary, true, good and omnipresent” (pg. 195).

Such experiences draw us closer to the power and presence of the Divine within and all around us. They also fulfill a deep and fundamental human need.

The awe-inspiring body of work recently published by Dr. Lisa Miller in the book entitled, The Awakened Brain shares how science has also concluded that humans are hard- wired for spirituality. Not surprisingly, their work also shows the positive trends toward overall resilience and happiness, as well as greater physical health, and mental wellbeing among people with a strong spiritual foundation.

Yet, statically speaking fewer Americans are finding that foundation in traditional religious settings. The need for spiritual connection and growth is alive and well, but the stronghold of dogma and outdated doctrine are increasingly less appealing in meeting that need.

Keltner explored the analogy set forth by Rev. Jen Bailey in her experience of ministry as one of “composting religion.”

I understood this to mean that she is doing the work of freeing religion/spirituality from its outdated and decaying foundations, particularly those rooted in racism and sexism. Doing so supports her ability to distill a message of Truth and a fullness of Spirit that nurtures deeper growth, and supports authentic connections among her membership.

Using the natural process of composting is a powerful metaphor.  In nature, this is the process by which raw material is broken down by microorganisms that consume any toxins, distilling the purest mixture of organic matter to then nourish new growth.

Keltner goes further by drawing the following intriguing comparison,   
“Mystical Awe follows {that} pattern of decay, distilling, & growth. Our own experiences of mystical awe, or spiritual experience, follow this pattern of the decay of the default self’s preconceptions about the world, which results in the distilling of some essential feeling that gives rise to growth of our own spiritual beliefs and practices” (pg. 196).

Our direct and personal experiences with the Divine grow us by expanding our limited preconceptions about the Divine, ourselves, and the world.

Mystical awe, like most things, begins with awareness!

We all have the ability to perceive what Emerson called “the benevolent life force.” That perception offers a direct connection with the vastness and mystery of that force.
That connection also unifies us with all of creation, and our perception continues to widen.

Consider for yourself:

• How do you experience mystical awe?
• What settings or practices support you in a direct and personal experience with the Divine?
• How have these experiences expanded your preconceived ideas about yourself,
  and the world?

Source Cited:

Keltner, D. (2023). Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. New York: Penguin Press.