Transcendence

It sometimes seems as if our emotions lie along a vertical spectrum. We feel uplifted, or lighter than air when joyful, down or heavy-hearted when sad. So it’s not surprising that experiences of lightness and elevation can evoke a transcendent feeling of joy. Watching a balloon drift or a butterfly flit, gazing up at the clouds or a cathedral’s vaulted ceiling, or peering out the window of a treehouse or airplane, we feel a shift in perspective that helps us zoom out from mundane concerns and infuse a sense of buoyancy into our daily lives.

Polka-dotted joy

Intangible color

Joyful library: Let the Great World Spin

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