Wonder and the sublime
Altered states
idea
The small pleasures in life can produce moments of rapture
Rapture is a delight that turns us both towards the object of attention and towards oneself, resulting in a sense of freedom
by Christopher Hamilton
Wonder and the sublime
idea
Bronze Age people looked to the skyscape to navigate their lives
Long before stargazing helped humans navigate the Earth, the skyscape gave Bronze Age people mystery and wonder
by Kata Karáth
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
Wonder and the sublime
film
The search for life beyond Earth is peculiar, from a parrot’s perspective
Directed by Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla
Wonder and the sublime
idea
To benefit from wonder, make sure you’ve got the genuine kind
Why the life-long disposition towards wonder – not the momentary experience of awe – is the way to knowledge and discovery
by Lisa Sideris
Love
idea
Why it can be sublime to love someone who doesn’t love you back
Unrequited love might be bitter and painful, but it is also the ultimate expression of your humanity. Don’t fight it
by Alexandra Gustafson
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
Poetry
film
Irish hills, folk music and David Whyte’s poetry form a fleeting, meditative moment
Directed by Andrew Hinton
Poetry
idea
The meaning of cowardly dogs and other puzzles of Arabic poetry
In classical Arabic poetry, beauty and wonder lie in the logical unravelling of a metaphor, rather than plot or character
by Lara Harb
Wonder and the sublime
idea
Is the sublime a hopelessly old-fashioned Euro-Romantic ideal?
The sublime is not only for the Romantics, nor just about gender or overcoming nature. It’s in the thrills-and-chills of emotion
by Robert Clewis
Thinking and intelligence
guide
How to foster ‘shoshin’
It’s easy for the mind to become closed to new ideas. Cultivating a beginner’s mind helps us rediscover the joy of learning
by Christian Jarrett
Wonder and the sublime
film
Journey into the deep history of the cosmos via the Mauna Loa volcano
Directed by Lance Page