A ‘screaming abyss’ is an apt metaphor for the psychological phenomenon of peak experiences—moments of spiritual ecstasy and self-transcendence beyond the boundaries of normal consciousness. It is a process of dissolution, or death, of the individual self, characterized by a sense of cosmic insight and access to a greater, collective intelligence. It is an ecstatic state of being free from the constraints of the individual ego, while still maintaining awareness and cognitive clarity. With the self-imposed isolation that comes with the dissolution of the ego, this state of altered consciousness can often feel like a ‘screaming abyss’, marked by the edges of terror, joy, and awe.

See also: flow state, peak experience, altered state, non-ordinary state, ecstasis