Joan Didion has written a book called, "The Year of Magical Thinking." I haven't read the book, just an excerpt, and articles and reviews, but since it's about death and grief, it has great resonance for me in light of recent events in my life. What I find interesting is how, "magical thinking," and a "super-rationalist" or "realistic" views of the universe leads to much of the same philosophy regarding how to live life now. Whether we believe in other realities, other worlds beyond this one OR NOT, this from Didion, seems to be simple, essential wisdom.
"You are obligated to do things you think are futile...it's like living. Life ends in death, but you live it. I'm not telling you to make the world better, because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package, I'm just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. No do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that's what there is to do and get it while you can and good luck at it."
Whether we believe there is anything besides the moment or not, there is transcendance in seizing that moment NOW!