Transcendent experience

Change and self-development
idea
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

Transcendent experience
idea
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

The body and physical health
guide
How to breathe
Whether your aim is improved health, mental calm or achieving transcendence, breathing techniques can help you get there
by Martin Petrus

Transcendent experience
film
A record-breaking distance swimmer finds sublime peace in cold water
Directed by Thomas Beug

Spirituality and religion
idea
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

The self
idea
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

Wonder and the sublime
guide
How to experience more wow
Awe might seem an unobtainable luxury to many but, with the right approach, you can enjoy it daily – no mountain required
by Summer Allen

Happiness
film
There’s transcendence in skating – just ask the man they call ‘Slomo’
Directed by Josh Izenberg

Artists and art history
idea
The vibrating beingness of Seurat’s pointillist paintings
The pointillist paintings of Georges Seurat have a blurred, vibrating beingness that is a visual manifestation of emotion
by Summer Brennan

Transcendent experience
idea
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

Drugs and psychedelics
guide
How to have a safe psychedelic trip
A psychedelic experience can be deeply rewarding, but also carries real risks. Here’s how to avoid a bad trip
by Christian Jarrett

Transcendent experience
film
We soar, we plunge, we labour: here is all peak human experience
Directed by Dylan Werkman