What is this?

Glimmer is that magical feeling of relief when the world hits just right. It cuts through the noise and provides inner peace. The term stems from the neurodiversity community and highlights how sensory sensitivities lead to rich experiences under right conditions. Everyone can experience glimmer, but many neurodivergent people are particularly drawn to the concept.

Have you ever shared your glimmers with others? There is a good chance you haven’t. In neuronormative society, the inner worlds of neurodivergent people are well-hidden. The fear of social exclusion makes you think twice about mentioning how much you like petting moss to work colleagues. The Archive of Glimmer works against this erasure. It celebrates our ability to perceive beauty in unlikely places.

What causes glimmer depends on person and situation. Maybe it’s the smell of the coffee roastery you pass on your commute. Maybe it’s the sound of rain against your window at night. Maybe it’s the sight of lichen growing over your concrete-grey neighbourhood. And it’s not guaranteed that the same experience will always lead to glimmer. Not knowing when you’ll find it is part of the magic.

How to use

Check the map to see where people have experienced glimmer. Some glimmer reports do not include their locations. They are found with the list of stories.

You can share your own glimmer experiences. Check the submission guidelines.

Notes

This is not a proper archive and I make no claims of academic rigour. I just like how the name sounds.

I advise against actively looking for glimmer content to share. If you happen to experience glimmer and then decide to record the moment, that’s fine. But if recording becomes your first intention, it might take away from the moment. I’ve learned this from a video essay on Adrienne Lenker, who is a magical fairy with powers of perception beyond my understanding (and also makes music).

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