Epiphany (feeling)
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| - | In [[spirituality]] including [[religion]], '''visions''' comprise [[inspiration]]al renderings, generally of a [[future]] state and/or of a [[mythology|myth]]ical being, and are believed (by followers of certain religions) to come from a [[deity]], sometimes directly or indirectly via [[prophet]]s, and serve to inspire or prod believers as part of a [[revelation]] or an [[Epiphany (feeling)|epiphany]]. Many mystics take the word ''vision'' to be synonymous with [[apparition]]. | + | An '''epiphany''' is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a [[Philosophy|philosophical]] or [[Literal and figurative language|literal]] sense to signify that the claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or [[numinous]] foundational [[frame of reference]]. |
| - | For religious visions as a literary form, see [[apocalyptic literature]]. | + | The word's secular usage may owe some of its popularity to [[James Joyce]], who expounded on its meaning in the fragment ''[[Stephen Hero]]'' and the novel ''[[Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man]]'' (1916). Referring to those times in his life when something became manifest, a deep realisation, he would then attempt to write this epiphanic realisation in a fragment. Joyce also used epiphany as a literary device within each short story of his collection ''[[Dubliners]]'' (1914) as his protagonists came to sudden recognitions that changed their view of themselves or their social condition and often sparking a reversal or change of heart. |
| - | Religious visions are generally categorized as [[miracle]]s. Like [[speaking in tongues]] and unlike [[resurrection|raising the dead]], visions can be readily forged. | + | For the philosopher [[Emmanuel Lévinas]], epiphany or a manifestation of the divine is seen in another's face (see [[face-to-face]]). |
| - | In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], in addition to the religious visions mentioned above, the term vision (''[[theoria]]'') can refer to the experience of the [[Essence-Energies distinction|"Energies"]] of God, as the result of the purified ''[[nous]]''. | + | To this day in traditional and pre-modern cultures, [[initiation|initiation rites]] and [[mystery religion]]s have served as vehicles of epiphany, as well as the arts. The [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[Greek drama|dramatists]] and [[Greek poetry|poets]], would, in the ideal, induct the audience into states of ''[[catharsis]]'' or ''[[kenosis]]'', respectively. In modern times an epiphany lies behind the title of [[William Burroughs]]' ''[[Naked Lunch]]'', a drug-influenced state, as Burroughs explained, “a frozen moment when everyone sees what is at the end of the fork.” Both the [[Dadaist]] [[Marcel Duchamp]] and the [[Pop Art]]ist [[Andy Warhol]] would invert expectations by presenting [[Fountain (Duchamp)|commonplace object]]s or graphics as works of [[fine art]], simply by presenting them in a way no one had thought to do before; the result was intended to induce an epiphany of "what art is" or is not. |
| - | Artistic [[inspiration]] may provide a special category of the ecstatic vision: traditionally in such cases the semi-divine [[Muse]]s may transmit the visioning to their loyal followers. | + | Epiphanies of sudden comprehension have also made possible forward leaps in [[technology]] and the [[science]]s. Famous epiphanies include [[Archimedes]]' realisation of how to estimate the volume of a given mass, which inspired him to shout "[[Eureka (word)|Eureka]]!" ("I have found it!"). The biographies of many mathematicians and scientists include an epiphanic episode early in the career, the ramifications of which were worked out in detail over the following years. For example, [[Albert Einstein]] was struck as a young child by being given a compass, and realising that some unseen force in space was making it move. An example of a flash of [[holistic]] understanding in a prepared mind was [[Charles Darwin]]'s "hunch" (about natural selection) during [[The Voyage of the Beagle]]. |
| - | Visions generally have more clarity than [[dream]]s, but traditionally fewer psychological connotations. The psychological mechanism to engender visionary perception and [[trance]] phenomena is focussed intention and attention. | + | The word "''[[zen]]''" is sometimes used as a verb in the same sense as epiphany, to mean acquiring a sudden comprehension. Zen is similar to [[grok]]king, but not done over time. The Zen term ''[[kensho]]'' would more accurately describe this moment, referring as ''kensho'' does, to the feeling attendant on realising, for example, the answer to the question set by a ''[[koan]]''. |
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| - | [[Entheogen]]s (such as [[peyote]]) have traditionally assisted in the generation of visions among diverse cultures, as well as in modern western culture. | + | |
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| - | Some could consider visions to be a manifestation of the 'aha' (lightbulb going off) type of learning associated with [[Picture thinking]] or Visual Spatial thinking. | + | |
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| - | ==Examples of visions== | + | |
| - | * Vision of God in the [[Book of Ezekiel]] | + | |
| - | * vision of a heavenly figure "like a [[son of man]]" in [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | + | |
| - | * [[Jesus|Jesus']] vision of the dove when baptized in the [[Book of Mark]] | + | |
| - | * [[Paul the Apostle|Paul's]] vision of [[Christ]] (a part of [[Acts of the Apostles]]) | + | |
| - | * the apocalypse in [[Book of Revelations|Revelation]] | + | |
| - | * the [[theoria]] (vision of God) by which Jesus' disciples discerned the [[trinity]] (in the [[Eastern Orthodox]] tradition) | + | |
| - | * visions of the afterlife in the martyr accounts of [[Perpetua and Felicity]] | + | |
| - | * [[Constantine I and Christianity#Constantine.27s vision|Constantine's vision]] of Christ's sign | + | |
| - | * [[Emanuel Swedenborg|Emanuel Swedenborg's]] visions, which formed the basis of a newly revealed doctrine | + | |
| - | * [[Jakob Böhme|Jakob Böhme's]] vision, revealed when he observed the beauty of a beam of sunlight in a pewter dish | + | |
| - | * [[Joseph Smith, Jr.|Joseph Smith's]] [[First Vision]] | + | |
| - | * [[Lehi (Book of Mormon prophet)|Lehi's]] [[tree of life vision|vision of the tree of life]] | + | |
| - | * [[Angels of Mons]] | + | |
| - | * [[Marian apparitions]] | + | |
| - | * [[Nat Turner]] | + | |
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Kashf]] | + | {{wiktionary|epiphany}} |
| - | * [[Theophany]] | + | *[[Lateral thinking]] |
| - | * [[Darshana]] | + | *''[[Gnosis]]'' |
| - | * [[Shamanism]] | + | *[[Anagnorisis]] |
| - | * [[Vision quest]] | + | |
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| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 00:29, 22 January 2009
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An epiphany is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or numinous foundational frame of reference.
The word's secular usage may owe some of its popularity to James Joyce, who expounded on its meaning in the fragment Stephen Hero and the novel Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). Referring to those times in his life when something became manifest, a deep realisation, he would then attempt to write this epiphanic realisation in a fragment. Joyce also used epiphany as a literary device within each short story of his collection Dubliners (1914) as his protagonists came to sudden recognitions that changed their view of themselves or their social condition and often sparking a reversal or change of heart.
For the philosopher Emmanuel Lévinas, epiphany or a manifestation of the divine is seen in another's face (see face-to-face).
To this day in traditional and pre-modern cultures, initiation rites and mystery religions have served as vehicles of epiphany, as well as the arts. The Greek dramatists and poets, would, in the ideal, induct the audience into states of catharsis or kenosis, respectively. In modern times an epiphany lies behind the title of William Burroughs' Naked Lunch, a drug-influenced state, as Burroughs explained, “a frozen moment when everyone sees what is at the end of the fork.” Both the Dadaist Marcel Duchamp and the Pop Artist Andy Warhol would invert expectations by presenting commonplace objects or graphics as works of fine art, simply by presenting them in a way no one had thought to do before; the result was intended to induce an epiphany of "what art is" or is not.
Epiphanies of sudden comprehension have also made possible forward leaps in technology and the sciences. Famous epiphanies include Archimedes' realisation of how to estimate the volume of a given mass, which inspired him to shout "Eureka!" ("I have found it!"). The biographies of many mathematicians and scientists include an epiphanic episode early in the career, the ramifications of which were worked out in detail over the following years. For example, Albert Einstein was struck as a young child by being given a compass, and realising that some unseen force in space was making it move. An example of a flash of holistic understanding in a prepared mind was Charles Darwin's "hunch" (about natural selection) during The Voyage of the Beagle.
The word "zen" is sometimes used as a verb in the same sense as epiphany, to mean acquiring a sudden comprehension. Zen is similar to grokking, but not done over time. The Zen term kensho would more accurately describe this moment, referring as kensho does, to the feeling attendant on realising, for example, the answer to the question set by a koan.
See also
