The Power of Wonder
“You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics looks so petty.” Edgar Mitchel
Astronaut Edgar Mitchel, in viewing Earth from the perspective of the moon, experienced an expansion of consciousness, of awareness of his own relationship, and accordingly humanity’s relationship, to the vast Cosmos. He came home to Earth, a transformed human and founded the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS) in Petaluma, California. It’s mission, to scientifically explore the human mind and consciousness in relation to the Cosmos.
Today, we are experiencing profound change in our national politics and our ways of treating those who share our Earth, our human brothers and sisters, and all life forms born of the Earth and Earth dependent. We are experiencing profound change in Earth’s climate, triggering instability, natural disasters, and the very real possibility that the Earth soon will no longer be able to sustain us. If we could Uber to the moon today, and look back across space at the beauty of the sphere that is our home planet, how might we feel? Might we experience a sudden expansion of consciousness, an understanding of the interconnection and dependence of all of creation? Might our hearts burst open at the Oneness of the Cosmos, might our minds dance in wonder at it All.
To wonder, one’s mind and heart must be free. Freedom of mind and heart, is essential to the well-being of humans, individually and collectively. Freedom of heart and mind are essential to the expansion of human consciousness. The expansion of our consciousness is essential to uniting us to solve our problems today. To change and evolve we must see the whole picture, and our relationship to the whole not just our personal situation. We must wonder to see truth, to face truth…to act according to the truth we see.
As personal freedoms are threatened with the profound changes in our nation and world, may we not give up in despair, may we not choose complicity. Instead, may we wonder, may we seek new perspectives to widen and deepen our awareness of what is. May we wonder at and celebrate the magnificence of not only our planet Earth but of our own existence. May we observe the artistic beauty of the diversity in humanity and of all of life on Earth. In our wonder may we see the truth, that all of creation is interconnected, each a small part of ineffable creation.
Today personal freedoms are threatened, especially for those who are in minority populations. I find myself reflecting often these days upon freedom. I think about what can be taken from us, and what can’t. No one and nothing can take from us our hearts, our minds, our Spirits. Wonder is ours and always is ours. It is untouchable. It is eternal.
May we join in wonder. May we expand together our individual and collective human consciousness. May we see in one another our unity, our wholeness, and celebrate both our individual uniqueness and the magnificence of creation.
Let’s expand our wonder today, by looking at something we take for granted in our daily life, from a new perspective. May we sit in a different chair than we usually do and take in a new view. May we change up our route to work or the grocery store and walk, bike or drive down a new street. May we say hello to another human that crosses our path, who looks different than we do, see them, and wonder what it’s like to be them.
Let’s claim and embrace the gift of wonder that comes with this gift of human life on Mother Earth.
(In memory of Kevin, my first born, who taught me oodles about Wonder, October 10, 1986 to March 23, 2012)