In the Midst of a Spiritual Awakening

I think James Redfield got it right when he wrote “A new spiritual awakening is occurring in human culture, an awakening brought about by a critical mass of individuals who experience their lives as a spiritual unfolding, a journey in which we are led forward by mysterious coincidences.”

Everywhere I look I see people who have accepted life as an “unfolding” journey. While I do still see some who fight, tooth and nail, to control every aspect of their existence, I think there is good evidence to suggest that a spiritual awakening is permeating all sectors of our culture. Look, just for one example, at major cinema.  Consider just the ten films selected for Best Picture nominations. Six of these ten clearly address aspects of the spiritual journey.

• The Black Swan – Just as the White swan and the Black swan are apparent opposites, we each possess light and darkness. To become fully self-realized we must be willing to examine both aspects of our humanness.
• The Fighter – The human spirit has an unlimited capacity for overcoming life’s adversities. The life you create for yourself has nothing to do with the past and everything to do with the choices you make today.
• Inception – A great visual presentation of Chaung Tzu’s dilemma: “I had a dream that I was a butterfly, but when I awoke I was no longer certain if I was a man having a dream that he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was a man.” My favorite films are those which examine the reality we take for granted.
• Kings Speech – Our inner battles can be greater struggles than anything going on outside. Courage and a willingness to lay aside what has “always been” empowers us to create a new future instead of being ruled by the past.
• 127 Hours – There is, within each of us, immeasurable untapped potential. Oftentimes we really have no clue what we are capable of doing, being, or achieving until we are called to explore these hidden abilities.
• Toy Story 3 – Once again this Pixar feature addresses timeless themes which face us all: Continuing to be relevant in a world moving at the speed of light, letting go of the past, not allowing circumstances to dictate self-identity. I could go on, but you get the idea.

A full sixty percent of this year’s Best Film nominees have obvious spiritual themes at their core. Art is said to be a representation of the consciousness at the time of its production. I think this is true and these excellent films seem to support that conclusion.

I am thrilled to be alive, right here, right now, and to be in the midst of this spiritual revolution. I feel very blessed to have so many wonderful friends who are committed to Self-discovery and wholeness. It is truly a remarkable time of awakening.