Spirituality and transcendence
Food and drink
idea
If you don’t fancy mindfulness, then try cooking instead
When overwhelmed I schedule in a cooking day: playful, daring and full of memories. Beats any other stress-reliever for me
by Chloe Faure
Self-harm and suicide
idea
Why religious belief provides a real buffer against suicide risk
Under-recognised as a protective force against suicide, religious faith has multiple features that help to save lives
by David H Rosmarin
Change and self-development
guide
How to thrive after leaving your religion
It can be distressing, but liberating too. Use these tips from clinical practice and personal experience to emerge stronger
by Micah Rees
Dance
film
A darkly playful dance of shadows, surreal visions and transformation
Directed by Douglas Bernardt
Consciousness
idea
What happens to the brain during consciousness-ending meditation?
Psychologists are studying a form of meditation known as ‘nirodha-samāpatti’ that reportedly ceases all mental function
by Shayla Love
Sleep and dreams
idea
Five ways to take control of your dreams
Lucid dreaming lets you shape your dreamscape, whether your aims are practical or fantastical. These tips can get you started
by Christian Jarrett
Rituals and celebrations
guide
How to set yourself free with ritual
For a life of harmonious ease, find the rhythm in the everyday: make your world your temple and submit to its sacred ritual
by Alan Jay Levinovitz
Memory and nostalgia
film
Butterflies are reborn as memories of a past love in this striking visual poem
Directed by Sofia El Khyari
Death and dying
idea
Why ancient Mesopotamians buried their dead beneath the floor
In an age before photos or audio recordings, people found other ways to stay sensorially connected to their deceased
by Nicola Laneri
Rituals and celebrations
idea
More radical and practical than Stoicism – discover Shugendō
As they train for their own deaths, Japan’s mountain priests develop a form of acceptance that goes beyond the Stoics
by Tim Bunting
Wonder and the sublime
guide
How to revive your sense of wonder
That childhood urge to ask ‘how’ and ‘why’ usually fades. But we can all learn to rediscover the joys of wide-eyed discovery
by Frank Keil
Transcendent experience
film
A record-breaking distance swimmer finds sublime peace in cold water
Directed by Thomas Beug