In today’s technologically savvy world we are inclined to talk about the “aha!” moment—as the indication that, oh, yes, that explains it, I understand it, I get it. But it is the “wow!” moments that have the power to awaken us to something bigger, something unexplainable, something beyond what we know or expect. Those “wow!” moments are the spontaneous oral expressions of what we call “wonder.”
The word “wonder” is both a noun and a verb. As a noun it is defined as “the emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, astounding, or marvelous” (American Heritage Dictionary); as a verb, it means “to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel,” as well as “to think or speculate curiously” (www.dictionary.com).
As children we had many “wow!” moments over discoveries that filled us with wonder. As adults in today’s world, with busy lives dictated by technological advancements and scientific explanations for most everything, we tend to be numb to the sense of wonder we had as children. We are more likely to use “wonder” as a speculative verb (“I wonder what time it is…”)—except for those amazing moments when “wow!” still bursts through our been-there-done-that-seen-that routines.
Looking at something with wonder is like witnessing a miracle. That sense of awe, of marvel—of wonder—opens us to an awareness of a different truth. The roots of wonder are in the recognition of something extraordinary that feels like a miracle.
Wonder and its connection to spirituality is the subject of my study. I intend to show that when we cultivate the thrill of wonder in our daily lives, we connect and integrate our inner self with the universal world. My research has shown that only a handful of authors have, to date, explored the metaphysical complexity of wonder. Indeed, from the start I was challenged, for there are few books dealing with the sense of wonder; there are no shelves in bookstores or libraries reserved for this subject, nor are there websites that deal with the spiritual nature of wonder. In order to define the perimeters of my search, I began with a deeper contemplation of what I believe to be the essence of wonder.
I feel like I was born to wonder—about ideas, facts, events, people, and mostly about myself. But I also enjoy the conscious experience, the marvel of wonder—that feeling of being treated to a glimpse of another world: the immensity of a starry night, the miracle of conception, the secret of a seed blooming, the power of an ocean wave. My study focuses on this feeling of awe and attempts to offer some understanding of what unknown matter is beyond wonder, I intend to put a spotlight on it and bring it to center stage, instead of allowing it to dangle in a no-land between different realms of knowledge.
As often is the case, simple things we take for granted are most difficult to explain. For millions of years humans looked in awe at the sunrise and sunset and wondered how they happened. Curious people invoked religious and scientific reasons to explain how this daily phenomena occurred; their conclusions astonished and changed the world. They began with a simple “I wonder” that led to elaborate intellectual efforts to uncover hidden facts of the universe. Or maybe of many universes?
I see “wonder” as the result of a complex momentum that is unleashed in an apparently unruly manner and has the constant capacity to astonish. It is a wakeup call from any routine, providing many clues with specific meanings that can teach us about things we have been overlooking or have never seen. When we feel wonder, we rarely think of “coincidence”, and scientific theories and verifiable facts have little impact on our experience of it. Indeed, when we see a rainbow, a falling star, a burst of fireworks, or a humming bird, it is not science that comes to mind.
While philosophy and religion are open to the miracle of wonder, science is reluctant to go into the “wonder territory” and stops at its border because wonder is not a measurable thing. However, the more we learn, the more we want to know. Actually, even within science itself, there can be vast amounts of wonder, often called scientific mystery. Clearly, wonder touches everyone in so ever-so-many ways—including scientists who often run out of rational arguments to explain it. As humans we can understand only so much; we need spirituality to make us complete. Because wonder is an integral part of human inner growth, when we experience it, we expand our consciousness and make an instant connection with the spiritual world. Wonder and spirituality are in a continuous spiral—one leading and blending into the other.
My study explores responses to cardinal questions about how to experience and interpret wonder, what makes wonder happen, its material and spiritual sources, its emotive and inspirational impact. My goal is to advance an understanding of wonder, its many layers, complex meanings, effects, and its spiritual power, and thereby to stimulate receptivity to experiencing and expressing it.
It is no wonder that “wonder” is one of the keywords of the study of metaphysics. I hope my study of the subject encourages others to further research this intriguing link to spiritual awareness.