Virginia Woolf believed that a life is not made up only of events or accomplishments, but of brief ‘moments of being’ – small flashes of awareness that shimmer and vanish, yet leave a trace. As 2025 ends, no doubt many of us are reflecting on our own shimmering moments of the year just gone: what still glows when you think back?
When we at Aeon look across all the Essays and Videos we published in 2025, there is much worth remembering. Yet it may be the quieter instants of recognition that linger most: a sentence that unlocked a feeling not quite articulated before, an insight that reframed something once taken for granted, a question that stayed alive days or even weeks afterwards. These were moments that made the world look a little different – and we hope you shared more than a few of them along with us.
In 2026, we’re excited to bring you many more ideas that spark thought and light the imagination. For now, here are some of our highlights from 2025. We wish you all the best for the season, and hope you have a wonderful start to the new year.
– Richard Fisher, Senior Editor
