Come and get a Dose of ‘Awe’ at Denmark Farm
Can you recall seeing an amazing vista or a beautiful piece of art and being overcome by a feeling of awe and wonder? That feeling of awe is a complex emotion that is difficult to define, but one that challenges your mind to comprehend something beyond your everyday experience. Unlike some other emotions the impact and benefit of awe on all individuals has been largely ignored until relatively recently.
Research published in 2018 from the University of California Berkley showed that experiencing a feeling awe can lead to physiological, psychological and social effects, such as goose bumps, a feeling of well-being and an increased feeling of generosity towards others. The experience of feeling awe shifts our attention away from ourselves and makes us feel we are a part of something greater. It can challenge how we normally perceive the world around us and cause us to re-align our thoughts on how we interact with the world, for example, achieving a deeper understanding of our place in nature and the wider ecosystem. Experiencing awe can improve our mood and make us more satisfied with life, help us to think more clearly and critically, decrease the desire for materialism, and feel more connected to other people and humanity.
The good news is that a further study in 2021 from the University of California revealed that you don’t have to go to the Grand Canyon or Victoria Falls to experience the benefits of awe. A sample of older adults took part in an experiment involving taking 15 minute daily ‘awe walk’ in nature for an eight week period. The results provided evidence that the individuals demonstrated the various benefits of feeling awe that were identified in the 2018 study and mentioned above.
So, why not take a regular walk on the trails around Denmark Farm and take the time to experience a sense of awe in nature. Take a seat on the bench in Pond field and slowly take in the view, or find a spot in the woods and stand quietly for a few minutes to hear and see the nature around you, or stop by the lake to observe the dancing moves of a dragonfly. A sense of awe can be discovered in these and other places around Denmark Farm, the trails are open every day except Christmas Eve. Alternatively, join a course or a volunteer group for an in-depth experience of connecting with nature, or stay at the Ecolodge and immerse yourself in nature around the Denmark Farm reserve.
Written by Glenn Strachan (Trustee of the Shared Earth Trust)