Vertical Time

Also known as the "present moment."

This article explores the perception of time and how we can tap into the eternal nature of ourselves and reality.

Horizontal Time

• This is the usual way we perceive time: moving from past → present → future in a straight line.

• It's clock time, calendar time, aging time.

• Most of our stress and stories come from here — we replay the past, bringing it into our present, or project into the future — trying to predict or control something we can't.

Vertical Time

• Vertical time, however, is about bringing your awareness to the present moment fully — beyond the line of past and future.

• In vertical time, you are not bound by the clock. You step into a space of timelessness, presence, and connection with the Divine.

What Happens in Vertical Time

1. Transformation – the body and mind can change and repair because you’re not dragging the past or future into the present.

2. Peace - a sense of agency and freedom.

3. Intuition and inspiration come through more clearly - your mind now has the space for wisdom to drop in.

Examples of Vertical Time Moments

• Decisions — making the choice to honestly forgive someone, make a change, do something, or believe something in a new light.

• Deep listening — being so present with someone that the rest of the world fades away.

• Moments of awe — noticing the beauty and wonder around you.

• Flow states — when you’re so engaged in a task or sport that your sense of “before” and “after” disappears.

How to Access Vertical Time

• Pause and connect with your breath – even 3 breaths immediately shifts your state of being.

• Bring your focus out of the past or future and into the present moment – observe what’s true right now.

• Meditation – shifts you out of linear time and into timeless presence.

  • Try guided, short, enjoyable ones — there are plenty of resources online if you would like guidance.

  • A simple but effective meditation practice:

    • Find a place to be undisturbed for 5 minutes.

    • For 5 minutes, seated with a straight spine, comfortable, focus on your breath.

    • When (and you will ) lose focus, simply return to the breath.

    • That's it.

• Ask, "Is this true?" – often our mind creates scenarios from thin air, rooted in fear.

• Acceptance – instead of asking “Why did this happen?” or “What will happen?” just be with what is.

  • The best clarity on what action to take often comes after accepting reality for what it is now.

Why Care?

Caroline Myss (whom I learned this from) suggests that living more often in vertical time frees us from the suffering that comes from identifying only with our personal history (past) or our expectations (future). It’s about tuning into the eternal now, where all things exist, where all change or acceptance happens, and it's the location of where our soul can access power, compassion, love, transformation, or clarity.