I remember the very first time. The first time I saw- in person- what was called the Wailing Wall. Back then, one traveled a narrow path to get to two stacks of trash and debris. You walked between the stacks and all of a sudden- there it was. The Wall.
It wasn’t as tall as it is now – only because they’ve excavated down a few courses of bricks. And, these are massive bricks. And, the plaza was about 1/3 the size it is now, too.
But that sight took my breath away. It was one of my first adult experiences of awe.
When I saw my first double and triple rainbows- wow. Not that a single rainbow is not awe-inspiring. As a matter of fract, I have a picture of a complete rainbow that appeared in the sky over Cambridge and Boston (MA) on the day I took my qualifiers (PhD entrance exams). I knew I was ok. The rainbow was my sign from Hashem.
The first time I flew over the US and saw the Plains, the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada. Likewise.
Hearing Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. Bobby Kennedy’s speech in Indianaoplis on the day MLK was killed.
The first time I saw and held my children.
These feelings of awe are emotional responses to something really, really big. It changes the way we see and feel about the world. Drs. J.E. Stellar (now at Toronto), N. John-Henderson, C.L. Anderson, A.M. Gordon, G.D. Galen, and Dacher Keltner (head researcher, all at UC Irvine at the time) reported (Emotion) that these positive emotions, these feelings of awe lower our levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 or IL-6).
The emotion of awe is clearly related to lowering the levels of inflammation, thereby promoting our health. IL-6 and other cytokines direct our inflammatory system to bring resources against infection, disease, and trauma. Yet, high levels of these compounds (sustained levels) also mean the subject is more likely to suffer from type-2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis- maybe even Alzheimer’s disease and/or clinical depression.
In this new Keltner study, some 119 students (undergrads) answered how often they experienced awe. Those with the most common experiences of awe had the lowest IL-6 levels in their saliva. It may be that this is yet another way to insure depression can be managed- by finding “awe-ful” experiences to counteract the subject’s feelings of depression. We also know that experiencing awe generally makes us more humble, more generous, and augments our ability to feel empathy.
Perhaps, then, experiencing awe may be just as effective in promoting good health as eating healthily and getting sufficient sleep.
But, here’s my question. Maybe those of us with lower levels of IL-6 are more able to experience awe. After all, not all my friends feel the same way when they see those rainbows. Maybe we are just genetically wired to be able to experience awe?
If so, I am sure glad I am one of them. How about you?
The double rainbow I went under the day I went back to college for the first day the last time I went made me know that Hashem was blessing this endeavor and that I would prevail. I did and got my BA in Communications/English. That was so totally awesome. I didn’t know there were such things.
I didn’t know there could be triples. Wow.
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I thought I answered this a while ago. I guess I screwed up and didn’t hit approve. That’s what happens when daily life overwhelms. So sorry, Ann.
I’m glad to see rainbows play such a grand part in your life, too. My kids and I all have rainbow motifs (ok, we are older now) permeating our lives…
Such ephemeral beauty always invokes the Supreme Being.
I saw a post today about the changing of guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. My grandfather fought in World War II, heavy fighting in Poland and then retired out as a street cop. He really left me thinking. And now I live according to those things he taught me. And every time I’m reminded, I live in awe. Special and important moments for me. Thank you for asking.