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Transcendent experience

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Painting of hunters with dogs walking through a snowy village; people skate on a frozen lake in the background, and a small group warms by a fire.

Philosophy of art

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When art transports us, where do we actually go?

Artworks have the capacity to transport us into other worlds. But where exactly do we go when we are immersed in art?

by Harri Mäcklin

A dramatic seascape painting depicts a violent storm with waves crashing against the coast, a wrecked ship submerged, and dark clouds overhead.

Transcendent experience

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Your consciousness has been completely transformed. Now what?

Awakening experiences are spiritual states often believed to unlock life’s mysteries – but sacred knowledge comes at a cost

by Kevin Berryman

Traditional Chinese painting of two figures crossing a bridge in a serene landscape with trees and mountains, signed with two red seals.

Transcendent experience

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To experience Zen-like awakening, try going the headless way

Try to point to your true self as you’d point to a brick wall, and other experiments in Zen-like awakening

by Brentyn J Ramm

Silhouette of a person riding a horse up a rocky hill during sunset, with rolling hills in the distance.

Spirituality and religion

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Why religion without belief can still make perfect sense

Meet the practising agnostic and the religious fictionalist: people for whom religion can work well without sure belief

by Philip Goff

Blurry photo of a large orange and red circle, with dark silhouettes of trees against a sunset or sunrise sky.

Drugs and psychedelics

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Psychedelics show religion isn’t the only route to spirituality

Secular people can have profound psychedelic experiences. What does that say about spirituality and the naturalistic worldview?

by Chris Letheby

A person walking on a fallen tree trunk in a dense, lush forest with tall trees and abundant greenery.

Transcendent experience

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Do you find the 21st century overstimulating? Try ‘longstorming’

As the treadmill of life speeds up, sublime outdoor spaces help us tap into timescales that are longer, slower, planetary

by Vincent Ialenti

Thermal image showing a person standing next to a pole on a street at night, with bright orange and red hues indicating heat.

Altered states

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A spiritual emergency can be wild. This is how to ride the wave

Ecstasy can be messy. But there is a way to ride the wild wave of a spiritual emergency to greater wholeness and growth

by Jules Evans

Two people stands on a rocky cliff edge under a cloudy sky, overlooking a vast countryside with rolling hills and fields.

Nature and the environment

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Why awesome natural beauty drops the jaw and lifts the spirit

Experiencing awe in nature can transform our sense of connectedness to other people and help maintain a spiritual vitality

by T Ryan Byerly

A Black woman singing passionately into a microphone, wearing ornate jewellery and a sparkling outfit against a dark background.

Music

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The jazz singer’s mind shows us how to improvise through life itself

Be more jazz: by letting go and embodying the present, you can learn to transform the mundane into the transcendent

by Melissa Forbes

Blurred silhouette of a person looking out a window at bright, sunlit trees and landscape outside.

The self

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The question therapy doesn’t answer: who are we really, really?

Therapy is a valuable tool for self-understanding. But spiritual practices can unlock a more expansive view of the self

by Eric Jannazzo

Black-and-white photo of a child standing in front of a large aquarium, watching big fish swim by.

Transcendent experience

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To thrive, children need to experience awe – and you can help

Alongside love, sleep and play, awe is precious for children. There are small, everyday ways to make it a part of their lives

by Artemisia O’bi & Fan Yang

A hand holds a small, black-and-white school photograph of a smiling young girl with pigtails wearing a polka-dot dress.

Change and self-development

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What can we learn from those who have a moral change of heart?

Stories of sharp adjustments in moral perspective show the potential of unusual experiences to open people’s minds

by Joshua May