Astronauts Experience Universal Connectedness, "The Overview Effect"

The Overview Effect, something I would love to experience. I mean, every human should be entitled to this experience. I think it could help solve the small minded nature of humans. Maybe we need to focus on this experience culturally and make a mass exodus into space as a species so everyone can begin to see past their selfish desire and understand that we are all small parts of a greater whole.

Overview Institute

Edgar Mitchell
Sixth Man on the Moon


"There was a startling recognition that the nature of the universe was not as I had been taught… I not only saw the connectedness, I felt it.… I was overwhelmed with the sensation of physically and mentally extending out into the cosmos. I realized that this was a biological response of my brain attempting to reorganize and give meaning to information about the wonderful and awesome processes that I was privileged to view."

This sounds a lot like what advanced meditators speak of, advanced yoga practitioners and people who use isolation tanks.

Richard Garriott
Space Tourist


"It was like drinking from a fire hose of information... I had heard of the Overview Effect but, having done many extreme things in my life... skydiving, mountain climbing, visiting the Titanic and Antarctica, I didn't think it would greatly affect me... That is until... I got into space! My life has changed because of my space experience."

Edgar Mitchell isn't the only astronaut to experience this phenomena, many, many astronauts have reported this experience.

What can we learn from this?

Have any of you felt the experience of overwhelming connectedness during any of your spiritual practices or at any point during your life?

What was it?

When did it happen?

I have personally experiences high levels of connectedness on multiple occasions. One i cant talk about but others during meditation. Once I was meditating so deeply that my body felt like it began to fall through space underneath me and I could no longer feel the outline of my body but only the presence of my mind.

Anyway! Enjoy!

This is very interesting, I've never heard of this phenomena.

After reading about it a bit, I think it may have to do with seeing Earth from a non-limited perspective. When you're up in space and looking down at the whole Earth, you see the bigger picture. Instead of being confined to one tiny corner of the world separated from most everyone else, you are now seeing the entire world at once. Instead of being a "separate" entity, you are now one with the whole picture if you will. There are no borders or divisions, only one planet with life on it.

I know the feeling though, I've reached out across the cosmos within my mind, I am not separate from it. I believe being in space might give the same effect, that of connectedness.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

How awesome would it be to have this experience?

a reply to: onequestion

Well I see space as a fractal of the mind, except flipped. Instead of the "empty" mind being within the body, the Earth is within empty space. Mirror concepts within one another. Maybe going out into space is the same as going within the body (into the mind)? Just a thought.

a reply to: 3NL1GHT3N3D1

I agree. Thats what I see in astrology as well. The stars resemble our neural network.

As above, so below.

I also believe thats what many of the mythologies were meant to point out as well.

Ever consider the Jesus story, how it could relate to you?

Anousheh Ansari
Space Tourist


"The actual experience exceeds all expectations and is something that's hard to put to words… It sort of reduces things to a size that you think everything is manageable.... All these things that may seem big and impossible ... We can do this. Peace on Earth – No problem. It gives people that type of energy ... that type of power, and I have experienced that."

I really liked her perspective.

Honestly I believe this is what they were doing with the pyramids and other sound chambers found throughout ancient archeological sites across the globe.

Ahh .. I could write about the cosmic wilderness being so bright it appears as if on flame, eternal, all encompassing, yet to be so 'aware' it was as if to be able to hold the entire universe in the palm of my hand...

And then a time when meditation caused me to feel an intense rush of euphoria, and the anxiety of realising I was in another state of mind, did not stir me back into a normal state. I lay there aware, awake, yet absolutely at peace, content.. not even 'things' do that for me these days.

I like this thread. The idea about the universe being an inverse/mirror of the mind. On one side of the brane is our witnessed reality, the world we create via observation and interaction but is strangely elusive to us, and on the other side, the tangible universal reality. The unwitnessed state of being. Eternal and immutable.

I get lost at the door of this thought process. Peek around the dining room and see things I cannot comprehend, shut the door and go back to the pub...

a reply to: onequestion

I suspect the only time your wish is going to be granted is if we are attacked by either some alien force or some incoming cosmic catastrophe.

Its a great ideal, even hinted at in the early bible but therein lies a truth. There is always vested interest in keeping a state of warfare. Jobs for the armed forces, armaments manufacturers, defence contracts you name it. There is no real thrust for peace, similarly to a real search for a cure for cancer.

a reply to: onequestion

Dream on!



Good luck on becoming an Astronaut.

I was watching a video about this with Astronauts discussing the Overview Effect. I believe it's called Continuum or similar. They discuss Earth as a living breathing entity and their experience watching lightening storms, northern lights, etc.

I suspect though, they see something else also. It's alluded to in their words if only indirectly. I have no doubt it really is a Ah Ha! moment.

I for one always feels this calm peace and a greater meaning of life when I watch the night sky, always had.
When im depressed or mad or whatever, the best thing I can do is go out and watch space. Then it all makes sense.

Thanks for the subject.
It must be so surreal to be in space, i dont doubt for a second that it changes your life.

a reply to: ypperst

We need to hear from these guys more in the media.

youtu.be...


Great video I can't post right because I'm on a mobile device but. Must watch if you can.

originally posted by: ypperst
I for one always feels this calm peace and a greater meaning of life when I watch the night sky, always had.
When im depressed or mad or whatever, the best thing I can do is go out and watch space. Then it all makes sense.

Thanks for the subject.
It must be so surreal to be in space, i dont doubt for a second that it changes your life.

Have you seen those 360 panorama videos that allow you to pan around actual footage? You are stuck in one point of view, b but you can pan around the entire scene, as the footage plays, as it captures the full 360 degree perspective as video data..

This I would love to see in space, on a space walk. To be able to look anywhere in space not constrained by the pov of the astronaut..

Like this but in space.... use your mouse to pan the video as the guys flying..

a reply to: onequestion


I bought Mitchell's book 'The way of the Explorer' a few years back - '09 maybe - and found it fascinating.
It deals with a lot of the stuff you're discussing.
I would love to meet and talk to Edgar Mitchell, I think it would be an incredible conversation.
Humans absolutely would change for the better if we could see and experience our pale blue dot.

originally posted by: onequestion
The Overview Effect, something I would love to experience. I mean, every human should be entitled to this experience. I think it could help solve the small minded nature of humans. Maybe we need to focus on this experience culturally and make a mass exodus into space as a species so everyone can begin to see past their selfish desire and understand that we are all small parts of a greater whole.

I thought I had the experience when we were kids.

I would lay down in a bench, look at the sky watching the clouds move past. Imagine we're in orbit above that blue thingy.

It inspired me to become an inventor since the age of six. Thinking of how to make space travel cheap as dirt. Still keep trying!

When was the last time you went outside and looked up and just observed the night sky.. ponder how small and insignificant you really are in the grand scheme of things.. then think about the planet we are on.

The itty bitty little blue dot.

We have much more in common than we do dividing us, perhaps when people realise that they will stop fighting over race, creed and culture.

a reply to: onequestion

I saved this thread, The Overview Effect, awhile ago because this phenomena is something that's overwhelmingly desirable and is something we all should be able to experience. Some of the quotes from the astronauts who've been through it, are incredible.

My favorite quote was this one:

The first day or so we all pointed to our countries. The third or fourth day we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day, we were aware of only one Earth. - Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud

No different then watching the Sun Rise for the first time, or stepping outside smelling the freshly cut grass....More or less sounds like they just got a sense of the sheer inconceivable size of space, and were in awe.

It called expanding ones Horizon.

a reply to: onequestion

Ever consider the Jesus story, how it could relate to you?

Yes I have, check my sig. Jesus represents what we are, the image of God.