The guide to cosmic Easter Eggs
Your guide to real-world sources of awe: places, books, music, ideas, and more – things that make you go "woah" and feel more part of it all.
This is the companion to The cosmic Easter Egg theory.
A collection of real-world places, experiences, and resources that made me or somebody else go "woah".
Like, really WOAH.
Also know as: Awe.
My favourite kind of face slap.
I've already added some of my favourites.
More to come.
I can't promise what awes me will awe you.
But it’s always worth widening your horizon.
Have something you'd like to share?
Drop your discoveries in the comments!
Books | Places to visit | Music | Podcasts | Games | Films | Art | Design | Experiences | Nature | Big ideas | Sacred spaces | Life itself | Etc
If you've already written about it and I love it, I’m happy to link to your page 🚀
Thank you for helping grow the guide for all of us. ❤️
This guide aims to map out some real-world sources of awe and wonder.
It is inspired by the eight pathways identified by researcher Dacher Keltner in his book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.
Ideas
Books, podcasts, and documentaries
Books & Articles 📚
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
Awe through absurdism 👏
The Tail End - Tim Urban
Makes you think about relationships and time.
Math & Science 🔭
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + …. = -1/12
Yes. 1+2+3... and so on and so fort equals -1/12. I KNOW... 🤯
The double slit experiment
Years later, this video still blows my mind.
Documentaries & Films 🎬
My Octopus Teacher - Craig Foster (Netflix)
It will either hit you hard like it did me. Or slowly grab you.
Nature
Beautiful landscapes and experiences in nature
Landscapes 🏔️
Skagsvola, Trysil Norway
Beautiful peak with fairly accessible hiking trail. Amazing views. I went in fall, works just as well.
Experiences 🌱
Star bathing retreats
Who can sit under a clear, starry sky without feeling intensely immersed in it all?
Art & Design
Museums, Art, Installations, Design and Performances
Museums, Art & Installations 🖼️
Infinity Mirror Rooms - Yayoi Kusama
A surreal reminder of your smallness.
Performances 💃
A midsummer night's dream - Alexander Ekman
A must see if you are into dance. Actually even if you're not into dance.
Music & Games
Songs, pieces and albums. A tricky category, deeply personal!
Songs & Compositions 🎶
Somewhere over the rainbow - Eva Cassidy
She is the master of beauty in simplicity.
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Fourth Movement ("Finale") - Beethoven
A ridiculous piece, considering he was practically deaf when composing it. (Yes this is the one with Ode to joy in it)
Travel & Places
Must sees, must dos. The awe-themed travellers bucket list.
Destinations 🌎
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
Thousands of red torii gates winding up a mountain.
Architecture 🏛️
Sagrada Família, Barcelona
An unfinished, dreamlike cathedral reaching for the stars. Made me go "woah".
Just a theory.
Thank you for reading ✨
What’s your take? Let’s chat in the comments! 💬
☕️ Keep me caffeinated
So I can keep scribbling into the void, but coherently.
Because writing is 1% deep thoughts, 5% impostor syndrome, and 94% caffeine.
