‘Mountain top experiences’ and the Psalms of Ascents (Ps 120-134)

Mountains are not only appreciated for their natural beauty but notably also for their inspirational and elevating effect on the mind, ‘mountain top experiences.’ To illuminate the last-mentioned, insights from Attention Restoration Theory (ART; developed by environmental psychologists Stephen and Rachel Kaplan) have been utilised, as well as insights from Dark Green Religion (DGR; Bron Taylor). It is especially the ART human:nature relational properties of ‘fascination’ (awe) and ‘extent’ (order, mystery), complemented by the DGR notions of ‘interconnectedness’ and ‘sacredness’ (intrinsic worth), that explained the cultural constructs of mountains as the centre(s) of the world, sources of life, sites of identity, symbols of power, seats for deities and places of inspiration/transformation/renewal. The Psalms of Ascents collection (šîrê hamma‘ălôt; Ps 120-134) provided an exemplary (ancient) expression of a ‘mountain top experience’ for a group of post-exilic Israelites in search of their identity. Apart from a few explicit references to mountains in the collection, the overall focus is on an ‘ascent’ to Jerusalem, to Mount Zion and the temple where Yahweh chose to reside. This was the centre of the (then Israelite) world, where earth and heaven meet. The rather insipid Mount Zion became larger than life, where pilgrims experienced security, solace, blessing, unity and a transcendence to ‘a greater reality’ in the presence of their deity.