Practicing Awe
Awe happens when our human form is present with the magnificence of existence. The easiest path to awe is fully experiencing something that reminds us of our insignificance in the grandeur of the physical world – mountains, oceans, and starry nights all can bring us to scale, comprehending the relative insignificance of our existence compared to the expanse of nature. Awe simultaneously brings our ego into check and connects us to all that is. By observing with awe, the observer joins with the observed. Our brain left unchecked inflates our problems, putting them under the microscope of analysis in an attempt to solve the puzzle they represent. Attending to something bigger than ourselves brings perspective, deflating the issue to its proper size in the greater fabric of our lives.
Awe has the effect of opening us to wider possibilities, to seeing potential instead of barriers. Awe lifts the fog from the landscape of potential lying under the surface of our lived lives.
As our connection to Consciousness deepens and our love for the creative world broadens, we develop the capacity for awe in everyday life. I practice awe with my camera, venturing forth in search of beauty, finding it in the intricate patterns of structure of the natural world. My pictures rarely capture the direct experience of the beauty I discover, but they provide a link back to the sense of awe I experience in being fully present with the observed. Practicing awe starts with setting our intention to allow ourselves to be 100% present in the experience. Next we widen our perceptual field to take in a broader expanse of information than we normally do when we are in our goal-driven mind. Then we allow our consciousness to guide us toward some part of the perceptual field and fully immerse ourselves in it, becoming 100% present. Awe ensues. Whether opening to the expanse of the universe or focusing down into the intricate details of the universe, the world is fully embraced in all its beauty. Practicing awe gently leads to surrender.
This is part 4 of a 6-part series. I would love your feedback and comments. How are you practicing awe in your life today? You can either post comments below or email me at tom@thomascapshew.com.
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May your path be filled with health, joy, clarity, and Love! Tom