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By Root 892 0

aware that we can be conscious of ourselves—seeing ourselves daily in the mirrors of television, the Internet, and other tools of the global nervous system—and this changes everything. People in both agrarian and industrial societies are being rapidly enveloped in the communications revolution, with its capacity for a witnessing or observing consciousness. Whether we live in city, village, or farm, all humans are becoming “witnessing earthlings.” Injustice and inequities that previously flourished in the darkness of inattention and ignorance are being brought into the healing light of public awareness. With the whole world watching, various kinds of violence—economic, racial, gender, religious—are being brought before the court of world public opinion through the Internet and mass media. The world is becoming transparent and this is having a powerful corrective influence on human relations and inclining our actions in a more compassionate direction. The archetype of a witnessing species that is waking up together is an empowering metaphor as we work to envision a promising future.

A Cosmic Species

A fourth archetype at the foundation of this book is an image of ourselves as the offspring not only of a living Earth but also of a living universe; we are the progeny of a vast, evolutionary chain of life that is regenerating itself at every moment. Seeing ourselves as descendants of a living cosmos, we can develop a collective self-image as beings of cosmic dimension, participation, and purpose. Seeing ourselves as part of the seamless fabric of creation awakens a sense of connection with and compassion for the totality of life. No longer do we see ourselves as isolated beings whose identity stops with our skin; instead, we regard ourselves as interconnected beings who are immersed in a vast ocean of aliveness. Every action is felt to have ethical consequences as it reverberates throughout the interwoven field of the living universe. We can tune into this living field and sense, as a kinesthetic hum, whether our actions are in harmony with the well-being of the world. As we see ourselves as the offspring of a living universe, it awakens a new sense of identity, ethics, and potential for the future.

We can use these four archetypes to tell ourselves a new and compelling story about the human journey. We are a maturing species that is entering a rite of passage that can take us from adolescence to adulthood. We are a heroic species that has been progressively separating ourselves from nature and becoming ever more differentiated and empowered, and now we are beginning a journey of return to the living universe. We are a witnessing species that has been moving through history half awake, not fully utilizing our unique capacity for being conscious, and now—aided by the global communications revolution—we are becoming more fully awake and choosing our path more deliberately. We are a cosmic species on a journey to reclaim our participation in the living universe. In seeing ourselves as a species of both biological and cosmic dimensions, we are taken beyond the bounds of the Earth and into the spaciousness of a vastly larger journey.

Combining these four archetypes, we can summarize the promise of the future in this way: Humanity is on a heroic journey of awakening into the stunning reality that we are beings of cosmic connection and participation who are learning to live within a living universe. Our potentials as a species are as magnificent and mysterious as the living universe that permeates and sustains us.

It is important for each person to feel they are contributing to the great story of our species. Conversation is the lifeblood of a robust and healthy society. One of the most powerful things we can do to strengthen and advance our evolution is to step back from the rush of day-to-day busyness and strike up inquiring conversations with our friends, families, work associates, and others. If we bring a spirit of authentic inquiry to conversations about humanity’s future into living rooms, classrooms, and boardrooms, it