PART FOUR, devoted to an evolving "new humanity," features Daniel Pinchbeck, and a host of longtime visionary writers: Jean Houston, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Meg Blackburn Losey, Joanna Macy, and James O'Dea. Their individual pieces are, for the most part, an extension of their earlier bodies of work and revolve around a number of common themes. While the wording may vary from piece to piece, their message is pretty much the same, so I am going to treat them as a group.
Their thesis can be summed up with, ".......the times they are a changin' " ........for the better.
They see humankind moving from a materialistic, masculine, empirical, Western, and exploitative orientation toward a more spiritual, feminine, intuitive, indigenous, and sustainable orientation. They see this as an evolutionary move (or "major leap") toward a higher state of consciousness for humanity -- one that is badly needed in light of the many problems that plague us today.
For Houston it is a "Jump Time," for Hubbard the emergence of "the universal human," for Losey the "awakening to a greater reality," for Macy the "Great Turning," and for O'Dea it is "humanity's pay date."
All would probably agree with Pinchbeck that the "...veil between matter and consciousness is becoming thinner and more permeable." This will lead to a greater understanding of, and sensitivity to, subtle energies, as well as an increase in psychic phenomena, expanded awareness, epiphanies, and shamanic and peak experiences.
It is a time that will see us "embedded in a larger ecology of being," more protective of our natural environment, and more in tune with, and respectful of, the wisdom of indigenous cultures. They see us "co-creating with nature," "responding to Nature's wake-up call," relying more on "grassroots initiatives," and generally transitioning from an "industrial-growth society to a life-sustaining society."
There will also be far greater emphasis on community, whether through a "more synergistic democracy," a "co-creative society," or (because of the necessity to "collaborate our way out of chaos") a "great experiment in collective healing." It will be a time during which "People...of similar harmonics come together.........awakening to their true nature."
Along the way they have cause to draw on the work of Rupert Sheldrake, Carl Jung, Chris Bache, Terence McKenna, Peter Russell.....and two of my personal favorites: Teilhard de Chardin and Sri Aurobindo.
In concluding this admittedly lengthy look at the The Mystery of 2012 it might be interesting to hear what it's editor, Tami Simon, has to say about a phenomenon that she has been tracking for over 20 years.........to wit, after all this time, she's still not sure what to think.....and that's why she put that big question mark on the cover.
In a December, 2007 interview she goes on to acknowledge that it is "one of those topics that's very hard to pin down." However, she was sure that, "The future is in our hands," and she cautions against sitting and waiting for either the "dawning of a great spiritual age...or doomsday," instead she counsels "open hearts" and "intelligent activism."
And who can argue with that?
