epiphany
Lightning-bolt realization
A sudden realization is often called an epiphany when it is sparked by an event or when it is especially helpful or important.
The most common epiphanies are personal, religious, or spiritual; that which is realized is of interest only to the person himself: After years in therapy, he experienced an epiphany about his motivations.
Epiphany, when capitalized, is a day in the Christian calendar relating to the birth of Jesus.
Grasping what's true
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- ahaExclamation of realization
- breakthroughSudden important advance
clarity · recognition · discovery · awakening · illumination · cognition · perception · comprehension
Exceeding usual boundaries
- numinousSpiritually awesome, beyond ordinary
- spiritualRelating to the soul
- visionAbility to see
- raptureOverwhelming ecstatic feeling
ecstasy · bliss · oneness · satori · nirvana · illumination · enlightenment · sublime
Source of creative impulse
- museThink deeply about
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- visionAbility to see
- sparkTiny fiery particle
genius · innovation · artistic · imagination · conception · originality · brainstorm · ideation
realization
Grasping what's true
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- ahaExclamation of realization
breakthrough · clarity · recognition · discovery · awakening · illumination · cognition · perception · comprehension · discernment
transcendent
Exceeding usual boundaries
rapture · ecstasy · bliss · oneness · satori · nirvana · illumination · enlightenment · sublime · ineffable
inspiration
Source of creative impulse
- museThink deeply about
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- visionAbility to see
spark · genius · innovation · artistic · imagination · conception · originality · brainstorm · ideation · invention
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- coming-of-agecoming-of-age, bildungsroman, growing up, maturation, youth
- wisdomwisdom, sagacity, sapience, discernment, insight
- philosophy termstruth, reason, knowledge, wisdom, logic
- faith storiesconversion story, personal testimony, spiritual journey, salvation story, conversion experience
- creativityimagination, creativity, brainstorming, unique voice, inspiration
epiphanyconfusion
Mental disorientation or bewilderment
bewilderment · perplexity · incomprehension · bafflement · mystification