variable. The shape and form of our future not only depend upon our past choices but also upon those we make in the present moment. Prophecy is based on conditions as they are at the time the prophecy is given, and the prediction made is based on the continuation of those conditions. Change the conditions, and you change the prophecy. I call this principle the “Nineveh Factor.” Love, prayer, and positive thought are the most powerful forces in the world. If we apply them, as many are, we can influence the way these changes will manifest. It’s possible that some predictions may be avoided entirely, while others, which must be met as the effect of prior causes set in motion, will be tempered with mercy and grace.
About This Book
The premise of this book is that humankind is experiencing a major transformation in terms of physical, cognitive, and spiritual development. It takes an evolutionary perspective by proposing that these changes, rather than being sudden or unexpected, are actually the result of millions of years of preparation on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels of our being. The purpose of this book is not only to describe what those changes may be, but to explore the reasons they will occur, so that we can better understand and accept them.
In order to understand the why behind the changes, we must first understand that the past leads to the future. Any event, also called an effect, is based upon a prior cause. Science calls this the “law of causation.” Albert Einstein expressed it thus: “The scientist is possessed by the sense of universal causation. The future, to him, is every whit as necessary and determined as the past.”5 Metaphysical sources refer to this as the Universal Law of Cause and Effect, which states that the future is the effect of causes previously set in motion; nothing happens by chance. This concept was repeatedly emphasized in the Cayce readings: “For each entity in the earth is what it is because of what it has been! And each moment is dependent upon another moment.” (2823-3)
Both science and metaphysics thus agree that, to understand the future, we must first understand the past. In addition to examining the past, we must also consider the present, for the future is also affected by choices and actions made in the present moment. Once we, as individuals and as a species, understand this concept, we can perhaps make wiser decisions and choices, knowing that our actions today will shape our tomorrow.
Metaphysical beliefs are based on the premise that all physical phenomena are manifestations of spirit or energy. Energy—be it human thought and idea, the physical forces of nature, or Divine Will—is the cause, while the physical condition is the effect. Metaphysics thus acknowledges the physical laws that govern the universe but seeks to find the spiritual meaning behind those laws, or the reasons for which they were brought into existence by the universal Creative Force. The philosophy of metaphysics extends back thousands of years, transcending time, religion, and culture, and is evident within many Eastern religions, the writings of Western philosophers, and even within the Judeo-Christian tradition.
The material presented in this book is thus a synthesis of traditional religious belief, scientific findings, and metaphysical principle. Religious material was drawn from a cross-cultural sample of religious doctrine, including Judeo-Christian biblical scriptures, ancient Mayan texts, sacred Hopi teachings, and the Polynesian philosophy of huna. Scientific material includes the cosmology of the creation of the universe, the latest discoveries in paleoanthropology and human prehistory, recorded history, ethnographic studies, current theories in cognitive psychology and perceptual studies, linguistics, quantum physics, geophysics and paleogeology, and recent controversial theories regarding the origin of the Egyptian pyramids. This second edition also draws upon the evolution of consciousness studies noted above.
The primary source for metaphysical material comes from what is perhaps the most thoroughly documented and consistently reliable source of metaphysical teachings, namely the Edgar Cayce mystical readings. Other metaphysical sources include A Course in Miracles,6 Sanskrit teachings, shamanic studies, and the prophecies of Nostradamus, a fourteenth-century seer. Given their use as the primary source of metaphysical information, a brief description of the Cayce readings is provided in Appendix A. Those desiring additional information are directed to the web site of the Association for Research and Enlightenment: www.edgarcayce.org.
Part One of this book, “Microcosmic Evolution,” focuses on evolutionary changes occurring within the human species. It begins by taking a look at humanity’s origins, both spiritual and physical. We discuss the spiritual creation of the soul, the physical creation of the human body, and the development of human consciousness. We then review changes in human biological evolution, i.e., the emergence of the multisensory human, and examine how these changes are impacting the evolution of human consciousness. Part Two, “Macrocosmic Evolution,” takes the big-picture view, as we look at social, political, and geophysical changes that may soon impact human culture. Included here is a cross-cultural look at various prophecies, a discussion of the nature of prophecy, and the presentation of a timeline for anticipated change.
Making a Choice
No man, woman, or child is on this planet by accident. Each soul present has chosen to incarnate on the earth plane at this particular time. Some have returned in this generation for it offers them a second chance to right old wrongs. Others have come to learn one of the many lessons this time will offer, while others have come to serve as teachers. Still others have chosen to be here simply out of love for their brethren; their role is to aid and comfort those who have forgotten why they are here. We must remember that each one of us made the choice to be here at this most momentous time in human history.
Yet, even as we stand at a critical turning point in human history, there is still one choice yet to make. We can either honor the purpose for which we entered the earth or forget that purpose, as we become entangled in the fears and doubts that all too often distract us from our chosen path. We must face the changes ahead with a sense of wonder and anticipation, knowing that we are about to take a great step forward in our journey home to God.
As I consider what lies ahead, I am reminded of a proverb of unknown origin, which goes something like this:
Two men stood on a hillside, each looking at the same night sky.
One man sighed, filled with despair, for he saw only darkness.
The other man, smiled, overwhelmed by great joy, for he saw only stars.
Which would you rather see, darkness or stars? The choice is yours to make.
Part 1
The Microcosmic View
1
Our Spiritual Origins: Creation of the Soul
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting, and cometh from afar…
Trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home.
—William Wordsworth,from Intimations of Immortality
THROUGHOUT history, humankind has pondered the secrets of its origin, the truth of its nature, and its relationship to the universe. Questions such as “Who am I?” “Where do I come from?” “Why am I here?” and “Where am I going?” have echoed across the generations, regardless of nationality, culture, or tradition. We have taken this ability to analyze ourselves as evidence of self-awareness, meaning that we are capable of seeing ourselves as individuals, separate from one another and from our environment.
For many years, this faculty of self-identity was accepted as a purely human characteristic, an ability which distinguished “man”1 from the “lower”