THE SEARCH FOR AWE

While a chapter in one of my books summarized religions of the world,  I studied up for this feat by reading Religion for Dummies.  As such, accepting artificial intelligence sources as superior to my brain, a good part of my posting today will draw from Google AI Overview.  What is that?  Read Wikipedia.

What inspired me about Searching for Awe, was my reading today about Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of Repentance which culminates in Yom Kippur, which this year will begin at sundown on October 1, and extend to nightfall on October 2, a period of 25 hours.

This is also Hebrew year 5786, which began on the evening of 22September2025, the first day of Rosh Hashanah.  Note that when you subtract 2025 from that number, 3781 BCE is the calculated date of creation.  But understand that these numbers are more a chronological reckoning based on early interpretations.  Watch this video about the meaning and warning about the year 5786.  In essence, this is the year for Kingdom Convergence, when everything you have done will begin to make sense.

The Days of Awe are the 10 days from the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the Holiest Day of the year for fasting, prayer and forgiveness.

The "Jewish search for awe" involves recognizing and embracing the concept of yirah, the Hebrew word for awe, which is distinct from mere fear and signifies a profound, reverential encounter with the divine in the everyday world. This search culminates during the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim), the period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, when Jews engage in deep reflection, repentance, and a spiritual accounting to feel connected to God and find renewed purpose and humility within the vastness of existence.

More specifically:

In Judaism, awe (Yirat Hashem) is a foundational concept tied to reverence and wisdom. 

• The Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim): The period of the High Holy Days, which includes Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is dedicated to introspection and repentance. During this time, special prayers and the sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) inspire a sense of awe before God.
• The practice of blessings: The recital of blessings throughout the day over food, nature, and other experiences serves to remind Jews of the wonder of creation and the sacredness of everyday life.
• Jewish meditation: Practices developed within the Kabbalistic tradition include the contemplative repetition of divine names or letters and the visualization of God's attributes. These are designed to elevate consciousness and cleave the soul to God (devekut).
• Nature and Torah: Some Jewish thought encourages a two-step path to awe: first contemplating the universal rhythms of nature and then finding God's guidance within the specific path of the Torah. 

If you are not Jewish, can you find awe?

Yes, absolutely. Awe is a fundamental human experience that can be explored and sought in all religions, and by non-religious people as well. While the specific focus of awe might differ, such as God's majesty in Abrahamic religions, deities in Hinduism, or the interconnectedness of existence in Buddhism, the emotion itself transcends specific faiths. It is a perceptive aspect of spirituality that fosters humility, gratitude, and a sense of interconnectedness, making it a valuable, universal pursuit across the religious and secular spectrum

• 

  Abrahamic Religions: 

  Experiences of awe can be found in the recognition of God's power and majesty, often expressed through fear and devotion. 
• Hinduism: 

  The concept of Darshan, or a direct vision of a deity, is a highly sought-after experience of awe. 
• Buddhism: 

  Awe can be experienced through deep devotion to the Buddha and his teachings, and a realization of the vastness of existence. 
• Spiritual But Not Religious: 

  People who identify as spiritual but not religious also find awe through experiences of wonder, mystery, and feeling part of a larger purpose

• 

  Cultivates Positive Emotions: 

  Awe fosters feelings of gratitude, humility, and interconnectedness. 
• Encourages Prosocial Behaviors: 

  Research shows that awe can encourage tendencies to help others and contribute to the common good. 
• Deepens Cosmic Understanding: 

  Awe provides a sense of deeper cosmic understanding, helping individuals to see themselves as part of something larger. 
• Promotes Mental and Physical Health: 

  Awe's connection to self-transcendent experiences can reduce stress and improve overall well-being. 

On the sports front today:

M.L.B.: There’s plenty on the line in today’s regular-season finale. The Yankees and Blue Jays are tied atop the American League East, while the Mets and Reds are vying for the National League’s third wild-card spot.

About the golf Ryder Cup, Europe is embarrassing the U.S. 11.5 to 4.5.  There are 11 singles matches today, but only because Viktor Hovland of Europe had to withdraw from a neck injury.  By the rules, this pairing is split to 0.5 point for each team.  From Sports Illustrated:

Dream as big as you possibly can. Ignore everything you have seen since Friday morning. Tell yourself that these teams are evenly matched. Exactly evenly matched. Imagine that every golfer on the course has the exact same level of confidence. The U.S. needs to secure 10 of the 12 remaining points. If you flipped a coin 12 times, and you needed it to land on tails 10 times, the chances of this happening would be 1.6 percent.

As SI explains, though, because a tie is worth half a point, it's like winning 10 out of 11 coin flips, so the true chance is 0.537%, or, out of 100,000 possibilities, the USA can beat Europe 537 times.  Worse, the American fans were ugly and there seemed to be disgruntlement among competing players and caddies.

Actually, Team USA made a nice comeback today, but still lost.

Humbert was a super hurricane yesterday, pointing straight to the USA.  However, there was slight weakening today back to only a hurricane at 140 MPH, with all projections showing the track making a right turn and into the mid-Atlantic, following the trail of previous Hurricane Gabrielle.  There is, though, another tropical storm to become Hurricane Imelda right behind Humberto.  The potential merging and strengthening through the Fujhiwara Effect, though, now seems remote.

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