Context

The Overview Effect has been described by astronauts as a profound insight that occurs when they view the Earth from space. It is a feeling of awe, unity, and interconnectedness that transcends boundaries of ethnicity, nationality, and culture. This phenomenon has been credited with changing the way astronauts view the world and inspiring them to work towards the betterment of humanity and the planet.

Surprisingly enough, a similar experience can be encountered during a total solar eclipse, where the sky goes dark and the sun‘s corona is revealed in all its glory. The awe-inspiring beauty of the event, coupled with the temporary darkness, creates a sense of self-transcendence and connectedness with the universe for many. This experience has been described as life-changing by those who have witnessed it, and has inspired many to reflect on their place in the world and the impact they have on the planet and its inhabitants.

The connection between the Overview Effect and the experience of a total solar eclipse is rooted in the idea of self-transcendence, where individuals are able to step outside of their own self-perception and experience a sense of unity with something greater. This shift in perspective can have a profound impact on individuals, inspiring feelings of wonder, gratitude, and a desire to contribute to the well-being of the world.

Reason for this is that experiencing such large phenomena often triggers strong awe. Awe is provoked by a strong (visual) stimulus that exceeds the individual‘s frame of reference; at the same time, the brain tries to process the stimulus.

Research suggests [1] that the area of the brain responsible for spatial perception is less active during the experience of awe. As a result, people perceive themselves both psychologically and physically less in these moments and thus feel like a small part of a larger whole - one study [2] even demonstrated that people who had just felt strong awe estimated their own body size to be smaller than it actually was. 

The same effect has been detected in brain scans of praying Franciscan nuns and meditating Buddhist monks [3], but can also occur in many other scenarios - for example, engaging with art, being in the presence of an extremely powerful figure or gazing at a vast landscape can also provoke awe.

While the Overview Effect has attracted increasing public interest in recent years, the psychological effects of observing a total solar eclipse remain largely unexplored. It was not until the end of 2022 that the first study [4] was published that was able to prove these significant effects also in mass psychological terms in the context of a total solar eclipse. Accordingly, the last total solar eclipse in the United States in 2017 led to increased expression of a collective sense of identification and increased prosocial behaviour in the area of the core shadow path - in other words, where a total solar eclipse occurred - compared to regions where the solar eclipse could only be observed as a partial solar eclipse.

Hence, both the Overview Effect and the experience of a total solar eclipse are powerful, awe-inspiring events that have the potential to change the way individuals view the world. These experiences encourage individuals to reflect on their place in the universe and to recognize their interconnectedness with all living beings. Through this understanding, individuals are inspired to work towards creating a better world for all.

On  July 16, 2186, calculations indicate that the longest total solar eclipse between the Neolithic period and the year 6000 AD will occur - a time span of more than 10,000 years, the beginning of which predates the invention of the wheel. Considering that the aforementioned ‚regular‘ 2017 solar eclipse in the US has already been observed by more than 215 million Americans, nearly 88 percent of the country‘s adult population, one quickly realises the possible magnitude of the event [5]. The total solar eclipse of 2186 therefore has a potential that few events will have had up to this point - through the presumably worldwide anticipation and participation in the spectacle, it could create a worldwide collective impulse through which people on this planet would feel connected to each other, across all barriers. 

This project therefore discusses the total solar eclipse of 16 July 2186 and in this context explores the concepts of awe, self-transcendence and the interconnectedness of all life.

Press

Interview on Ignant

References

for further references not stated in this text, please get in contact

[1] Urgesi, Cosimo; Salvatore M. Aglioti, Miran Skrap und Franco Fabbro (2010): The Spiritual Brain: Selective Cortical Lesions Modulate Human Self-Transcendence, in: Neuron, Vol. 65, Nr. 3, S. 309-319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2010.01.026

[2] van Elk, Michiel; Annika Karinen, Eva Specker, Eftychia Stamkou und Matthijs Baas (2016): ‘Standing in Awe’: The Effects of Awe on Body Perception and the Relation with Absorption, in: Collabra, Vol. 2, Nr. 1, S. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.36

[3] Newman, Andrew und Mark R. Waldman (2010): How God Changes Your Brain. Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist, 1. Edition, New York City: Ballantine Books

[4] Goldy, Sean; Nickolas Jones und Paul Piff (2022): The Social Effects of an Awesome Solar Eclipse, in: Psychological Science, Bd. 33, Nr. 9, S. 1452-1462. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976221085501

[5] Bromwich, Jonah (2017): 215 Million Americans Watched the Solar Eclipse, Study Finds https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/science/solar-eclipse-record-numbers.html