When something makes us feel in awe we are reminded that there are things bigger than us. It’s often triggered by something beautiful. Dr Dacher Keltner has researched and written extensively on this subject, and listening to a podcast, I finally realised that I have been chasing awe my whole adult life. The trips around the world, camping, hiking, island-hopping, it was all in search of ‘that’ feeling, the peace, calm, stillness and joy that has descended over me in nature, unexpectedly, while contemplating a particular view, sunset or sky.

When we moved into a new rental house in 2019 I didn’t know how I would ever leave the view. Mountains, forests and a valley, different every day, different every time of day and seasonal change. But then we had to move out. We viewed a house to buy, and although we knew it would have good views (its half way up a mountain), 20 years of neglect meant we couldn’t really see it. I was unconvinced, but Chris loved it, so we bought. A few months later, we had the garden cleared. And there it was. THE view.

I know not everyone will see it how I do. But it gives me calm, peace and space. It makes me pause and reflect. It brings me awe.

Psychologists have found that feeling awe leads adults and children to act more kindly. We’re more likely to share and be generous in an awe-inspired state. Awe also produces a calming effect on our nervous system, similar to the benefits gained through breathing exercises. This in turn promotes a state that ‘promotes calm social engagement’. Awe is good for your health and your psychological well-being. Dr Keltner proposes that it’s an emotion, and research into experiences of awe from people all over the world has defined awe as our response to things which are powerful, mysterious, vast. Things which fill us with wonder, and it is suggested there are eight categories of ‘awe-inspiring’ experience, including nature, music, the kindness of others, birth and death, and collective experience (beautifully described as ‘collective effervescence’, the power and joy we feel such as when we move as a crowd to all-encompassing music, roar in unison at a sporting event or participate in a religious or symbolic ritual).

Another wonder of awe is that it is more accessible than we think, when we start ‘practising’. We can look for it, makes space for it, notice it more readily. It may find you through a heart-breaking, visceral or life-changing event, or through peace and serenity, but somehow, however you find it, it is something truly ‘wonder’-ful.

The Circle Space is surrounded by nature, with that view that still brings me peace. It has born witness to my heartbreak and joy. I hope it provides the backdrop you need to find what you need from our Circles.