20 August 2026

‘Awe seems to resist precise definition and measurement, the bedrock of science.’ writes Dacher Kelmer in ‘Awe – The Transformative Power of Everyday Wonder.’ He goes on to give his definition, ‘Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world.’

He lists no less than eight wonders of life which lead to awesome experiences – moral beauty, collective effervescence, nature, music, visual design, spiritual and religious, life and death and epiphanies. For me, the natural world is a constant source of awesome emotions.

He says several things about awe. Feelings of awe are intrinsically good. Our experiences do not depend on wealth. Awe promotes the reverential treatment of nature. The point of visual art is to evoke awe. The spiritual life grows out of awe.

Experiencing awe in the world of nature is especially good for your physical and mental health. People experience greater happiness and goodwill towards others. There is a reduced likelihood of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety, cancer.

He discovered that the power of paintings in offices was evidenced in a variety of ways. They opened people’s minds to wonder. They demonstrated greater creativity, inspiration, problem-solving abilities and were open to other people’s perspectives. Sounds a good initiative for enhancing any organisation.

‘What is it that awe connects us to that is larger than oneself? That is initially invisible, but in the experience of awe becomes visible?’ asks Dacher Kelmer.’Awe enables us to see the systems underlying the wonders of life and locate ourselves in relation to them.’ Wonderful!