“Do away with the old way of living and with the old self, which are corrupted by erroneous desires; and be renewed in the spirit of your soul,” Ephesians 4:22-23

As a planetary species, humanity has arrived at a critical crossroads. The times we are living in have been described in the ancient prophecies of many spiritual traditions. We are faced with a serious choice to either ignore the harm we see and witness further and irreversible damage, or take up our mantle of stewardship with each other, the earth and our Creator with renewed courage and commitment to a whole new way of life.

A Revolution of Consciousness

We must use our collective resources wisely, on every plane, to prepare a new way. To turn the tide from materialism toward spirituality requires a renewal of not only our lifestyle and culture, but a renewal of consciousness itself within each person. Wise people know that global systems are presently functioning in a way that is far too separate from the people they are meant to serve; too focused on material life, greed, and self-interests; and inherently limiting to individual personal expansion and harmonious life on earth, which is now at risk from these dysfunctional systems.

To bring the vision of an enlightened humanity into the physical world requires co-workers who are willing to transform themselves even as they transform the earth. We must work with unconditional compassion to overthrow every conditioned thought, emotional attachment or dependency; cultivating patience, an enduring will, and the power to act responsibly on behalf of the greatest good of all. This is a time of epic transformation, not a small adjustment to the status quo.

To establish more enlightened life and restore planetary harmony, we need to free the creative nature so it may serve as a gateway for the unified consciousness. Through the process of expanding consciousness, we learn to view the world in an entirely different way. We become better able to bring forth entirely new perspectives, radical solutions, and innovative systems of human cooperation and earthly stewardship.

A Sacred Universe

The environmental crisis reminds us that through the created gifts of nature, humanity may deepen their connection to that which creates and sustains all life. To envision the universe as sacred allows us to experience the divine presence through tangible signs in nature, and contributes to making earth a sustainable home for our human family. We need to increase respect for and protect the natural world, so that through nature people can once again contemplate the mystery of the great beneficence and grace of our Creator. Reverence for the divine — as it lives and expresses in nature — motivates a greater sense of environmental responsibility.

Stewardship implies that we must care for creation according to standards that are not of our own making. It demands transcendence from selfish ways of life, and giving up ideas of separation from other peoples, cultures and nations. It is a difficult challenge, requiring a spirit of surrender, detachment and experimentation. Stewardship places responsibility upon us for the well-being of all creatures in alignment with the highest values of life.

The whole universe is the dwelling place of the Divine Creator. Earth is humanity's home, and humans do best when this creative source is fully alive within them. In the beginning, the first humans walked with the Divine One in an unspoiled paradise. Throughout history, spiritual seekers have experienced this spiritual source on mountaintops, in vast deserts, and beside waterfalls and gentle springs. In thunderstorms and earthquakes, the ancients saw the manifestations of divine power. By observing the cycle of the seasons and the courses of the stars, humans discerned signs to help them access divine wisdom and lead more successful lives.

Faced with the widespread destruction of the earth and its natural resources, people everywhere are beginning to understand that we cannot continue to use the gifts of the earth to satisfy desires of the ego for wealth or status. A new ecological awareness has emerged that challenges us to view the ecological crisis as a spiritual issue. This is an opportunity to let go of past errors and create new ways of living together that nurture the earth, even as its bounty provides nourishment to us.

Enlightened Life on Earth

We are faced now with the consequences of consuming and polluting our natural resources without any reasonable restraint. Unrestrained development does nothing to improve lives. Material growth is no longer an ideal model for our future life on earth. We must turn our focus now to human health, happiness and spiritual awakening, and turn away from the accumulation of goods. Our uncontrolled desires for convenience, technology, and objects place too much value on having and enjoying, and not enough on growing as spiritual beings.

Emerging visions of a better earth include the development of economic models with expansive standards of well-being that go beyond material productivity and the accumulation of wealth for the few. To create enlightened life requires wealthy nations to renounce their over consumption of natural resources. It also entails the proper approach to agriculture, industry and technology. The future of the earth lies in human hands, but must be guided by a vision of a higher way of life.

The call is now upon us for a real, conscious, sustained effort to join together as one and bring about radical change in all areas of human endeavor. We must bring human life back into balance with the natural world by creating new systems, social structures and enterprises. A return to eating the natural diet, which consists of organically grown plants, must ultimately replace the raising and killing of animals, an industry that is the cause of much environmental degradation. We will learn once again to grow our own pure food for our families and our neighbors, using natural methods that preserve the soil and protect and conserve the water.

By renewing our commitment to simplicity, humility and service we become enabled to truly make a difference in the world. This alone will ensure that we as a united people can survive the times of trial that will come about as the transition to enlightened life takes place. Enlightened life is based upon the principles of unity, honesty, cooperation, non-violence, forgiveness, respect and honorable beneficence. Though these principles have become foreign to many people, and are oftentimes overlooked by those heavily invested in material life, they represent a path toward creating sustainable life on earth.

Most importantly we must continually renew our connection to the divine source in whatever way we can. This is the only reality that endures. As we align with this higher wisdom, without trying to define and control it, it will lead us in to a new future of life, love and unity. As we allow this divine force to transform us from a limited being into our true unlimited potential, we gain greater insight and understanding to help us master our lives. Following this personal awakening, this new vibration will expand outward, bringing revolutionary energy to rebuild and renew families, society, culture, nations and the world.

Chavah Aima is an expert on healthy lifestyles, raw foods and enlightened life specializing in health for mind, body and spirit. An ordained minister and founder of the nonprofit Enlightened Life Sanctuary in Austin, Texas, Chavah has for years taught students from around the world ancient and esoteric secrets of healthy living. She spent 14 years studying a wide variety of Eastern and Western esoteric systems, including Hermetic Kabbalah, Rosicrucian Alchemy, Kundalini Yoga and Tantra, through a private mystery school. In 2005 she created Alchemical Yoga® to help people apply the practices of ancient spiritual systems. Her latest book is Living Light: The 21-Day Alchemical Regeneration Plan. See her public Web sites at www.enlightenedlife.org and www.alchemicalyoga.com and her blog at http://chavahaima.plumbsocial.com/ . Contact Chavah at chavah@enlightenedlife.org.