The numinous or numinosity is a powerful inner emotion of terror or dread and fantastic awe, as in the presence of divinity. The phenomenon is also called mysterium tremendum meaning "fearful and fascinating mystery".
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In the mysterium tremendum, the numinous is felt as mysterious and awe-inspiring. The feeling creates a profound sense of reverence, humility and wonder when encountering the divine essence, as is typical in sacred experiences.
This concept is a reminder of the limitations of human intellect in grasping the full essence of the divine. Dynamic connections flow between the awe-inspiring majesty of divinity or godliness and more the intimate connection between divine and the human soul.
In 1917 theologian Rudolf Otto publishes his theories of the numinous, highlighting its enigmatic and compelling nature, in his groundbreaking work Das Heilige. The numinous, in its tremendum aspect, evokes a sense of mystery beyond human understanding.
Otto distinguishes another facet of the numinous experience, known as fascinans (“fascinating”). This aspect, akin to the "Dionysian element" conceptualized by Friedrich Nietzsche, embodies a captivating, alluring quality drawing individuals towards the divine.
Das Heilige is translated to English in 1923 as The Idea of the Holy. Although the concept of "the holy" is often seen as moral perfection, it also encompasses the unique aspect of the numinous. It's part of the transcendent journey of religion / spirituality.
An experience or feeling beyond rationality and sensory perception, the numinous is centered outside the individual. This state of mind is often associated with a profound sense of awe and mystery, transcending the boundaries of ordinary human experience.
The numinous is characterized by a deep connection to something greater than oneself, evoking feelings of reverence and spiritual significance. In this state, individuals may feel enhanced awareness of the sacred and wonder and humility in the face of the unknown.
The numinous experience can be triggered by encounters with nature, art, music, or rituals, arousing a sense of sublime and transcendent. It is a deeply personal and subjective experience that can be both unsettling and transformative.
The numinous challenges understanding of reality. It invites contemplation of the mysteries of existence, offering a glimpse into the ineffable and the beyond.
" ...The literature of religious experience abounds in references to the pains and terrors overwhelming those who have come, too suddenly, face to face with some manifestation of the mysterium tremendum.
In theological language, this fear is due to the in-compatibility between man's egotism and the divine purity, between man's self-aggravated separateness and the infinity of [the] God ... "
Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception 1954
The fascinans aspect of the numinous is its ability to enchant and enthrall, allowing individuals to explore depths of spirituality and the vast ineffable. Examining these dual aspects, one gains a deeper understanding of the numinous.
The interplay between the mysterium tremendum and the fascinans sheds light on the multifaceted nature of encounters with the divine. Individuals are free to contemplate the depths of the sacred like the rich layers of mille feuille pastry.
Otto's concept of the numinous influences many thinkers. They include Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology; and C.S. Lewis, author of Chronicles of Narnia (1950). For English Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, numinosity is central to several of his works.
In his epic poem "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," (1798) Coleridge uses narrative techniques like personification and repetition to evoke feelings of danger, awe, the supernatural or tranquility. Emotions vary depending on the mood he portrays in different parts of the text.
Numinosity and the concept of the numinous apply to a broad range of disciplines including theology, psychology, religious studies and literary analysis. Descriptions of psychedelic experiences feature perceptions of the numinous.
In Hindu mysticism, the mysterium tremendum et fascinas and vajra hold significant symbolism as representations of divine presence in human form. These concepts are central to the understanding of transcendence in Christian and Buddhist traditions.
The vajra (Tibetan: dorje) is the symbol of Vajrayana, one of three major schools of Buddhism. Vajrayana is translated as Thunderbolt Way or Diamond Way implying thunder and lightning experience of Buddhist enlightenment or bodhi.
The vajra symbolizes clarity and strength of enlightenment, representing the unbreakable nature of the awakened mind. Along with mysterium tremendum et fascinas, it's a reminder to explore spirituality with reverence and humility.
The mysterium tremendum et fascinas embodies the awe-inspiring and overwhelming aspects of the divine, evoking a sense of mystery and reverence. The vajra symbolizes the indestructible and powerful nature of divinity, signifying strength and resilience.
The balance of conflicting elements reflects the relationship between the transcendent and immanent aspects of the divine. This interplay captures the essence of spirituality, combining self-realization with universal consciousness.
The Vedanta school of Indian philosophy advocates merging of the individual self with the impersonal principle of brahman, in a unity underlying all existence. Practitioners seek to transcend limitations of the ego and recognize the interconnectedness of being.
Conversely, the bhakti tradition within Hindu mysticism emphasizes heartfelt devotion to a personal deity. As one path leads to dissolution of self into universal consciousness, the other recognizes the unique inexpressible connection between individual and divine.
Devotees cultivate a deep emotional bond with a deity, experiencing profound intimacy and love in the spiritual relationship. Individuals seek to connect with the divine in a personal and holistically experiential manner.
In Christianity, the concept of mysterium tremendum et fascinas encapsulates the profound mystery and awe-inspiring presence of God. This term signifies the simultaneous feelings of both tremendous fear and overwhelming fascination when confronted with the divine.
The mysterium tremendum et fascinas signifies the incomprehensible nature of God. Emotionally and spiritually it inspires deep reverence and contemplation on the divine's infinite depths and paradoxical closeness to humanity.
Ultimately, the mysterium tremendum et fascinas invites believers to embrace the mystery of God with a sense of wonder and humility, acknowledging the ineffable nature of the divine while seeking to deepen their spiritual connection through faith and contemplation.
Influential journalist and writer Kevin Pollan describes a transcendent experience after taking a tryptamine psychedelic:
" ... Here words fail. In truth, there were no flames, no blast, no thermonuclear storm; I'm grasping at metaphor in the hope of forming some stable and shareable concept of what was unfolding in my mind ..."
" ... In the event, there was no coherent thought, just pure and terrible sensation. Only afterward did I wonder if this is what the mystics call the mysterium tremendum - the blinding unendurable mystery (whether of God or some other Ultimate or Absolute) before which humans tremble in awe."
Pollan, Michael, How to Change Your Mind, 2018 New York: Penguin Press
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