The Awakening

*By: William Meader*

Humanity is on the verge of unprecedented crisis and change. In every
country there is a rising tide of fear as we witness our economic and social
institutions seemingly fail. To many people, the world predicament feels
hauntingly ominous and even insurmountable. Yet, it must be realized that
this is not a crisis that foretells the end. Instead, it is the antechamber
to a new beginning. For the first time in history, the *Soul of Humanity* is
awakening.

The awakening of the Soul of Humanity can initially be recognized in many
ways. For example, due to the advent of the Internet and global
communications, we are able to witness the many rich and diverse expressions
of human culture at every corner of the globe. This has been a great gift.
Through it, our commonality is more easily seen. It has helped us recognize
that, while cultural differences can be wide and varied, fundamental human
needs and desires are essentially the same. We all yearn for happiness,
peace and the opportunity to grow, and we want to see our children
experience joy and prosperity as well. This is true regardless of differing
cultural or socio-economic backgrounds. Realizing this is important. In this
way, we begin to see ourselves within others—which is the first step in the
recognition of humanity’s essential oneness.

*Oneness as Essence*

An acceptance of humanity’s oneness is the first step in trying to navigate
through the global crises we currently face. Of course, the idea that we are
one is not something new. It has been a tenet advocated by world religions
for uncounted centuries. Usually our oneness is rooted in the commonality of
being human, yet this is only the first phase in its recognition. We must
understand that we are not just one in kind, but more importantly, we are
one in essence. Beyond (and behind) the sameness of our human experience
there is an inner dimension where we are fused as one soul—the Soul of
Humanity. This collective soul can be understood as a transcendent unified
consciousness overshadowing the entire human family. And it is this that is
awakening from its long historic slumber.

Humanity’s soul is awakening, and is learning to see itself through the
numerous garments of its external expression. These garments manifest as
cultural and racial differences, religious variations, and socio-political
distinctions throughout the world. Each is an aspect of the Soul of Humanity
as it incarnates itself in (and as) the human condition. In this regard, it
is oneness manifesting through diversity—the one becoming the many. Looked
at esoterically, it means that humanity, as a single being, is learning how
to recognize the many parts of itself. Herein is found an essential clue to
recognizing humanity’s collective soul. It is through an appreciation of
human diversity that inner unity can be sensed. Contrary to conventional
thought, our oneness is not recognized through ethnic or cultural
similarities, but instead via the richness of our differences.

*The Duality of Social Systems*

To sense the Soul of Humanity requires that we examine the nature of the
many social systems used by a culture and civilization. Though we typically
consider government, the arts and science (to name just a few) as
institutions designed to facilitate various societal functions, they are
actually much more than this. Social systems must be understood as living
beings. They are living categories of human thought evolving over the
vastness of time. Each provides humanity with an essential ingredient in
support of its evolution. And, just as a human being has a higher and lower
nature, a soul and personality, so too do the social systems used by every
civilization and culture throughout the world.

An understanding of the livingness of social systems is essential when
considering the many crises facing humanity today. Indeed, the difficulties
we now face stem largely from the inadequacies of many of our social
institutions. While this is true, we often cast the net of blame too
broadly, not realizing that social systems are dual in nature. We overlook
the fact that they are living entities in their own right, and that they
have both a soul and personality. At times of crisis, we tend to only see
the worst of our institutions and their failures, forgetting that it is only
the lower nature (personality) of an institution that is the culprit.

*World Crisis and the Burning Ground*

From a certain perspective, world crisis represents the out-pictured state
of humanity’s consciousness. For the first time in history, the Soul of
Humanity is deliberately seeking expression through our collective
personality, *en masse*. This can be recognized by the fact that, around the
world, more and more people are beginning to sense the need to live by a
higher set of values. It is an awakening to a spiritual dimension deep
within—a loftier potential. These values are the promise of the future, and
are being planted into the minds of people by this greater soul.

Paradoxically as this awakening begins, many dark aspects of consciousness,
hidden within our collective personality, tend to resist the soul’s downward
gaze. This accounts for the rise of such things as spiritual intolerance
found within various world religions, the shameful motives that drive many
business tycoons and the unscrupulous practices of assorted governments
around the world. These are symptoms of radical change. They are the shadowy
aspects of our collective consciousness rising in defiance of the Soul of
Humanity, as that soul seeks to infuse a higher set of values into us. When
society’s higher consciousness is inwardly recognized, we immediately become
aware of various attitudinal and psychological traits that seem to prevent
it from fuller expression. Stated metaphorically, when the door to the soul
is discovered, the devil is found standing in front of it.

During the last several years, we have seen the worst of human nature
becoming more visible to us. We have witnessed unparalleled corruption
within our economic and business structures; we have seen dark and primitive
behaviors violently express themselves through fundamentalist theology; and
we have observed blatant genocide in Africa and elsewhere. At first glance,
it is easy to conclude that humanity is on a path to self-destruction. Yet
this is not so. We are not witnessing the end of civilization. Instead,
humanity has entered a crisis period that foretells of a promising future.
Again, it is the devil poised in front of the door of opportunity.

Collectively we have entered what has been called the *burning ground* phase
of our evolutionary journey. This is a period of painful adjustments. Yet,
at the same time it is ushering humanity into a more enlightened era. You
may ask, what is arousing humanity to traverse this fiery burning ground? It
is the Soul of Humanity seeking expression through the nations of the world
and the social institutions that we utilize. Indeed, we are awakening to our
collective soul. The crises we face are caused by the shadowy aspects of our
collective personality arising in defiance. The difficulties now playing out
on the world stage are therefore predictable. Fundamentally, it is a
developmental pattern woven into the evolution of human consciousness
itself. Darkness naturally emerges before the dawning hour. Wise optimism is
therefore well founded.

*Oneness Earned Through Crisis*

As human consciousness evolves, we are beginning to understand that the
means to navigate through world crisis requires that humanity’s essential
oneness be recognized and lived. This we can certainly do, but it doesn’t
come without a price. It must be earned. Proclaiming that humanity is one is
not the same as living it. The key to understanding this moment in history
is to realize that the human kingdom evolves through crisis, not by trying
to avoid it. It is through the resolution and harmonization of our
differences that our oneness will truly be sensed and lived. Crisis is
therefore a prelude to all expansions of consciousness. Indeed, evolution
demands that this be so.

The larger question to be asked is what can we do to support the Soul of
Humanity as it seeks to externalize itself? There are a few suggestions that
can be offered. First, be an advocate of pluralistic ideas. Initiatives
based on multiculturalism, ecumenicalism, and egalitarian ideas are
specifically oriented toward bringing divergent perspectives together. Each
seeks to create an amalgamation, and therefore supports humanity’s oneness
through an honoring of diversity. Realistically speaking, because of the
complex nature of modern civilization, it is only through diversity that we
have any hope of uniting as one.

Secondly, begin to see nations and social systems as dual, each having a
higher and lower nature, a soul and personality. This is an essential step
in order to discern the soulful qualities arising from people and
circumstances versus those that are impulsed by the personality. Life takes
on new meaning when you can see this duality expressing through world
events. It is a process that involves looking beyond the outer form
(personality) in order to sense the golden thread of truth (soul) that it
conceals. This is made easier when we remember that no person, institution,
or nation has found the Truth, but each has found a piece of it. Herein is a
philosophic truism of enormous import.

Finally, move away from the tendency to see things as right or wrong, good
or evil. When we are able to perceive the duality of people and events, we
begin to see that nothing in the world is purely good or purely evil.
Instead we start to realize that everything is a mixture of both. The
question to be asked is not what is right versus what is wrong? Instead we
should be asking ourselves, what is the proportion of light and dark playing
out within a particular person, nation or circumstance? From such a
perspective, wiser decisions can then be made.

*Concluding Remarks*

Humanity has entered a major crisis period on the road to enlightenment. We
are confronted by enormous challenges that have staggering implications for
all people and nations throughout the world. Yet it is not a time for fear
and despair. Rather, it is a period of testing and adjustment needed in
order that we may move forward into a more enlightened existence. The Soul
of Humanity seeks greater expression in the outer world, and is forcing our
lower tendencies to the surface so that they may be seen and transformed. As
such, we are walking across the burning ground toward a door beyond which is
found a dawning age of opportunity and promise. Yet, to walk through that
door requires that we do so arm-in-arm. At times of global transformation,
peril and opportunity always emerge as companions.

© 2009 William Meader

*Biographical Information: *
*William Meader is an author, teacher and counselor. Much of his work is
focused on the subjects of Spiritual Creativity, the Evolution of
Consciousness and the Astrology of the Soul. He is also an experienced
teacher of various meditation practices. At present he is teaching in the
United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He resides in
Oregon, and can be contacted through his website - www.meader.org. *

Posted and Shared with Love,Rosalie xo