I had one of those moments of thought were you feel 'enlightened', or that you are suddenly very aware of your place. I don't even know what it was but I just know it was very odd. I'm not very good at articulating thoughts.

All I did was look out my window up in the sky, it's a very sunny bright afternoon. And I seen and heard a plane engine that was coming in to land, but still really high up in the sky. Then a large flock of birds flew accorss the plane and then out of sight.

What is strange about that? Not much, but just the fact I could look out of my window and see all this activity of life and human intelligence. The sunlight which makes it all possible, and the rock we are all clinging on to which takes us around the sun. All too aware of the fact that there are countless other worlds with life getting on with things in a similar manner, totally unaware of why or how they exist.

I think I and most other people sometimes think too much within the confines of their own life. Which is totally understandable as they must work in order to get by. I am like this too, but that moment of apparent clarity, just made me think... :m:

I think I know exactly what you're talking about, it used to happen to me all the time.
You just look at your hand or something and get a weird "what the fuck?" feeling, where you realise you're a strange creature living on a planet and it's all too real and creepy. Almost unfamiliar.
I've also had it come on from looking at birds, and petting dogs.
Things you take for granted and then in an instant you don't and they spin you out.

It hasn't happened to me for ages though. You can't reach that state just by thinking about it, it tends to hit you and you physically feel something and everything looks hauntingly clear.

I've never been able to explain it to anyone, never even tried. But I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same thing.

Not sure why it doesn't happen to me anymore, I probably used up my life's quota of moments of clarity when I was a druggo.

Happens to me a lot in Nature, but also stuff like this: i was surfing the net and came upon this site (you can find it if you google 'scientific pantheism').....what i see in my monitor is sometimes different than a normal computer, but what i saw at paul harrison's web homepage was an image of real hubble images of spiral galaxies in a chocklate bacground
i was amazed ...and then my imagination had me thinking that i am oin one of those galaxies (which we ARE-- the Milky Way)...and how almost nothing my body would be in comparisn with the tiny spiral galaxy image i'm lookin at, and yet i knew that i AM insignificant yet all of that also...and this insight put me on a high all day

Max Ehrmann


Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

I love that piece. It just says it all and especially as I get older, more and more it seems to make so much sense.
Just lately I've been looking at the world around me, and seeing things as they are. Not just how they've always seemed.
Look up!
that would be my advice, Most people I know don't look up enough, there's lots to see above your head. :)

I get like that sometimes. Where you look out the window and think. "Wow. The sky is soo blue. And those clouds, imagine what's happening up there on a molecular level. And I wonder what those people in those houses are doing, if they have dreams, what are they thinking about? I wonder what someone over in japan is doing? And why does this book smell so good. "
It usually happens when something big happens, or nothing at all.

Ahem. A lot of people find that the drug of their choice helps make those moments occur more frequently. I doubt that very many alcohol and caffeine junkies have had the experience, but it's common enough to be legendary with marijuana, LSD, and some of the more exotic natural psychedelics.

It can do it in a particular context that's near and dear to the person. Discovering a whole new level to a piece of music, poetry, or other art. Finding something new that you and your dog like to do together. Seeing one of your trees or something else in your garden in a new light.

Unlike the event you described, these things were usually recoverable. After sobering up, people found that whatever they got in touch with was still there.

Reality is for people who can't take drugs. :)