Awe in the Heavens

The recent solar eclipse over North America on April 8, 2024, drew unsurpassed curiosity from many Americans. Estimates indicate that approximately 30 million individuals lived in the “path of totality” and millions more within driving distance. Some even took in the spectacle by air. Some characterized this rare celestial event as “magical.” Others were moved to tears, or simply described it as “indescribable.” The collective sense of awe was one for the ages.

A precise definition of “awe” does not come easily. In a landmark 2003 paper, Keltner and Haidt characterized awe as a “moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion” with two key aspects. Perceived vastness describes the direct experience of an event, locale, or other stimulus on a grand scale—the Aurora Borealis, or the view from the top of Mount Everest. A second essential aspect of awe is a need for accommodation—simply put, experiences that trigger awe defy explanation by one’s usual mindset and schemas. They require a frame of reference that goes beyond oneself and summon a mental effort at realignment between what an individual has witnessed and their usual understanding of how the world works.

Experiences of Awe Enhance Mental and Physical Health

The experience of awe has well-known psychological effects. Studies indicate that individuals who experience frequent states of awe report lower levels of daily life stress and more positive life satisfaction compared to those who do not. States of awe increase prosocial behavior, a diminished sense of self, and a greater sense of connectedness with others.

Awe has a physiological signature that benefits both physical and mental health. The experience of awe correlates with decreased chronic inflammation and sympathetic arousal, as well as increases in vagal tone and release of oxytocin. The latter is known to play a role in the establishment of human bonding and may serve as the mechanism for increased social connectedness that occurs during experiences of awe. Downstream effects include lower incidence of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Finding Awe in Everyday Life

What experiences precipitate awe? Keltner and Haidt’s nomenclature makes nature an obvious trigger. Nature is inherently vast and picturesque landscapes commonly induce awe and transformative experiences. High states of spirituality, as occur when engaged in collective rituals, also elicit awe.

Astronomical and space events provide perhaps the most moving and poignant examples of awe. The “overview effect”—the view of Earth from space—is especially dramatic in this regard. Astronauts who have witnessed Earthrise report that the view elicits intense emotions and strong feelings of identification with humanity.

Most of us will never view Earth from space. But can a solar eclipse provoke awe? History suggests the answer is yes. A study in Psychological Science in 2022 examining online social media content of over 2 million users following a 2017 total solar eclipse revealed that individuals residing in the eclipse’s path used more collective and prosocial language and expressed less self-focused commentary when compared to individuals outside the path.

Of course, the shift from self-focus to a collective focus inspired by awe may be overwhelming for some. Worthlessness, reductionism, and a perceived threat to self-concept may be triggered in some individuals by experiences that may trigger awe in others. Although some generalizations can be made, acknowledging the unique impact of awe across individuals remains important.

Experiences of awe are all around us. Seeking these out has both psychological and physiological benefits. In a universe of seemingly infinite size, the perfect alignment offered by a solar eclipse reminds us that we can seek the same congruence of self and harmony to support our well-being—and that of others—here on Earth.