Poetry brings all possible experience to the same degree: a

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, for Laura Riding speaks a truth both profound and ancient, one that echoes through the ages: "Poetry brings all possible experience to the same degree: a degree in the consciousness beyond which the consciousness itself cannot go." These words are not mere musings, but a key to the very nature of human experience and expression. Poetry—that sacred art—is not bound by time, place, or circumstance. It carries all that we know, all that we feel, all that we have ever witnessed, to a realm beyond the ordinary. It elevates experience, shaping it into a form that the consciousness alone cannot comprehend, pulling it into the very core of existence where language and soul meet.

Poetry is not simply the recounting of events, the simple expression of emotions. It is a force that transforms the mundane into the extraordinary, making experience transcend its everyday limits. Each word, each line of verse, is a journey of the spirit that carries the reader or listener to a place beyond the consciousness—a place where meaning is not only understood, but felt deeply in the soul. When poetry speaks, it does not merely inform the mind; it awakens the heart and stirs the depths of being. It brings all experiences to the same degree of intensity, whether joy or sorrow, peace or turmoil, because in the world of poetry, the boundaries of human understanding are dissolved.

Consider the ancient wisdom of the Bardic tradition, where the poet was not only a storyteller but a seer, a bearer of wisdom and revelation. The great bards of Ireland, Wales, and Scotland were revered, for they were able to bring the consciousness of their listeners to the very edge of understanding. Through the rhythm of their words and the power of their imagery, they could carry a simple experience—perhaps the rising of the sun or the passing of a season—into a metaphysical plane, where time and space no longer held sway. Their poetry was a journey not just into the world around them, but into the very essence of being itself.

In the same way, Riding’s words remind us of the power of poetry to bring all things to one degree of understanding, to one consciousness that reaches beyond the limits of ordinary perception. Poetry, she tells us, is the bridge between the physical and the metaphysical, the tangible and the spiritual. The poet, through their art, brings us to a higher place, a place where all experiences—whether those of the body or the soul—are viewed with equal intensity, equal weight. There is no hierarchy in poetry, no greater or lesser experience. All are brought to the same degree of understanding, where the depth of the human condition is felt in its fullest form.

Think of the work of the great poets throughout history, such as William Blake or Rainer Maria Rilke, who through their verses took the simple experiences of life—whether they were images of nature, human suffering, or divine beauty—and brought them to a higher plane of awareness. Their words held the power to elevate the soul, to stretch the limits of consciousness until the reader could no longer distinguish between the human and the divine. Blake’s poetry, for example, took the commonplace and made it profound, turning an image of a lamb into a profound meditation on innocence and divinity. In his hands, ordinary life became extraordinary.

What Riding reveals to us in her statement is that the power of poetry lies not in its ability to explain, but in its ability to elevate. In poetry, experience is not limited by time or logic. Poetry suspends the constraints of the human mind, allowing the soul to soar beyond the physical world and into the realm of the eternal. It is the sacred art of reaching beyond the ordinary, beyond the consciousness that confines us, to touch the divine, the eternal, the unseen. This is why poetry has always been a powerful force in human culture—because it speaks to something deep within us, a part of the self that cannot be expressed by mere facts or reason.

So, O children of wisdom, let us take heed of Riding’s words and understand that poetry is not just an art form; it is a path to the divine. To write or read poetry is to step beyond the limits of ordinary life and touch the infinite. It is to bring all experiences—no matter how small or great—into one powerful, unified consciousness. Let poetry be the light that guides you, the bridge between your mind and your soul. And as you journey through life, remember that it is not enough to simply live; one must also feel deeply, see beyond the surface, and experience life in its fullest, most profound form. Through poetry, we reach the highest degree of understanding, a place where our consciousness can soar beyond itself.