Listen Linda

Vast things often refer to experiences, objects, or phenomena that evoke a sense of enormity, boundless, or immensity. It could be something physical like nature. An example could be a star-filled sky on a clear night. The sprawling ocean, or towering mountain ranges. They can also be metaphorical, for instance profound ideas, moments of deep connections, or even the concept of eternity.

What makes something ‘vast’ isn’t just the size; it’s how it transcends our ordinary sense of scale and perception. The moment of awe, humility, and wonder. Vast things have a funny tendency to have the power to shift our perspectives. Ever reminding us of being only just a small part of existence in a much bigger picture.

Being in the presence of vast things is referred to as ‘unselfing’ as Iris Murdoch describes it as our sense of self dissolves. We feel as if we are part of something larger than ourselves. It’s as if this encounter nudges us to loosen our grip on our own stories and opens our hearts to others’ experiences.

It makes sense that this can inspire greater kindness because it helps us see others with the same sense of wonder and connection that we feel towards vastness. And we become aware of our own shared humanity. Our own interconnectedness, perhaps even the fragility of our shared world. This is intimacy in its own rarest form. Because it’s not with others, but with life itself.