In this era of new beginnings, taking into consideration the inevitable shift from the material to the spiritual, we must also remember that our relationship with the Earth should change from viewing it as simply a material resource to a spiritual source.  As a point of respect and even reverence, people might say that it’s hard to love a rock, but the Earth is a whole lot more than the third rock from the sun.

Finding your personal sacred place or space is a critical part of the spiritual practice. Having a location that allows you to find inner peace, and therefore, present moment awareness, gives you an opportunity to take in the spirit of the cosmos while having the time to express gratitude and compassion in return. Here is a top 10 list of my favorites places, in no particular order, that have been sources of inspiration throughout my own journey.

In previous posts, I have expressed my excitement for the shift in consciousness that this year of 2012, symbolizes. Even more cause for celebration, in my mind, is the <strong><a href="https://emanuelkuntzelman.com/conversations/synchronizing-consciousness-and-the-cosmic-cycle.html">Transit of Venus</a></strong>, that to me, truly marks the beginning of a new era. To honor this important time in our evolution, I am inviting everyone to join together in a Global Oneness Celebration, June 6 beginning at 1 p.m. CST.

We live our lives based on cycles. From the seconds, minutes and hours, on up to the lunar and sun cycles that create our natural rhythms; we operate and synchronize within cyclical patterns. Expanding this idea to the universe as a whole, it is logical to assume that in some ways, the entire universe is one large cycle in which our consciousness is connected, and it’s this very idea of entrainment between consciousness and the flow of the cosmos that fascinated the Maya.

As we approach new beginnings on the grand scale of the universe, it is very important for us to take a look at what we can do on an individual level to feel empowered to create positive effects.

If 2012 truly represents a total shift in perspectives, and I think it does, then what is it we are shifting into?&nbsp; It is clear that we are changing from an age dominated by thousands of years of material influence to a more spiritual orientation, but there are many other binary changes in our general orientation as well, one of the most important of which is the crossover from the masculine to the feminine.

Human beings are living, breathing animals and part of the ecosystem of the cosmos, just as every other living thing. This idea of oneness in the cosmos isn’t a debate, and not only is it not a debate, but I’ll go one step further and say nature is the manifestation of spirit. Ergo, nature is spirit.

We understand why these religious traditions exist, its not natural to love a scientific law, but if you work at an understanding the spirit that is within all of Nature, the reward is deeper and truer.

In both the literal and symbolic sense, we are living in a time of great evolutionary change, and in my opinion, we can’t really talk about what the year 2012 means for us as a global community without addressing the Mayan calendar and its prophesies surrounding this momentous year.

Astronomers around the world have predicted that 2012 will likely be one of the worst years for solar radiation.  The cycles of the sun’s activity are quite predictable and <a href="https://emanuelkuntzelman.com/conversations/the-most-important-year-in-our-lifetime.html" target="_blank"><strong>2012 is definitely going to be an active one</strong></a>.  This has, in fact, already begun, and on the days following intense solar flares, there are physiological changes on earth.

At the close of 2011, the Greenheart Transforms book club participated in a wisdom gift exchange, sharing quotes, books and ideas. Inspired by that evening, I thought I would also share some words of wisdom from various people who have been masters for me as we embark on this transformational year in 2012.

In the workshop I did last summer with Rick Hanson, he talked about retaining the positive, and discussed the idea that the reason why the negative impacts us more than the positive might be due as much to cultural conditioning as it is to the hardwiring of the brain. 

We all enter the holiday season with the best of intentions of holiday cheer and stress free engagement with loved ones, only to see ourselves somewhat overwhelmed by the frenzy and fury of the season. Instead of the consumer focus on wish lists and gift-buying this month, get through these busy next few weeks by concentrating first and foremost on the quality of our inner spiritual being.

Join us for a trip through time and the experience of a life time in Ibiza. Find spiritual transformation in the beautiful surroundings of the island life in this June 2012 retreat led by Emanuel Kuntzelman.

In the past, religious conflict has fueled strife among people the world over. Although the consequences have been significant and tragic, these conflicts did not threaten the very survival of humankind. With the advent of globalization, the increase in terrorism, and the creation of weapons of mass destruction, this is no longer the case. During the Greenheart Transforms book club, Paula discusses her views on the book, "Toward a True Kinship of Faiths."

The awe and wonder is no longer about individual essence, but rather, about collective power. As we share our visions and join forces, we see that the power of One, becomes the power of Many and adds up to far more than the sum of individual parts.

Just as an individual must be open minded to open the doors to personal transformation, so must a society be open-minded to transform our social systems. To do this requires a change of attitude in relation to our values and loyalty to a given group. We now have to visualize ourselves as a member of the whole of humanity, and not just a limited group of familiar traditions and values.

It is important to emphasize that I’m not in any way asking anyone to stop their any personal work when I say we must focus on the good of the whole. The fact that we must begin shifting our focus from Descartes’s “I think therefore I am,” to the Ubuntu philosophy of “I am because you are;” doesn’t mean we stop worrying about our inner personal transformation.