Rather than the end-of-the-world scenarios portrayed by Hollywood, the Mayan Calendar's culmination is simply the end of one cosmic cycle and the beginning of another.
This is a time that calls for radical change.
If we are merely strolling along in the same old mind-set we are missing the signs that are all around us.
What will it take to shake us out of our trance, dreaming we're awake? The old ways of being and attitude do not serve us in this most transformative time.
Education, industry, government and even spiritual practice must move from a self-centered, paternalistic and profit-motivated tradition to the benevolence of an enlightened mother for her child.
From hierarchical to cooperative, from greed to generosity, society must reinvent itself in order to survive this most compelling of moments in history with grace and harmony.
We are One.
Science has determined the Unified Ground of Being whence all existence derives, the same source that spiritual luminaries have been aware of for millennia.
What does this mean? It means we are connected so intimately we are in reality a singular Self.
It means treating another with anything less than love, honor, consideration and concern in all arenas is actually self-destructive.
An enlightened being understands this.
An enlightened being sees herself in every other.
An enlightened being is compassionate, kind, and freely gives where need exists.
Every religion-which at its heart holds the highest principles-has declared in one way or another: "Love thy neighbor as thyself.
" Yet too often in the name of religion we do exactly the opposite.
How do we justify this to ourselves? If we are to manifest the transformation demanded at this critical juncture in time, we must extract ourselves from the ruts of habitude.
We must look around and start from scratch, envisioning the ideal and applying the understanding of Oneness in every area of life.
In the same way we nourish, comfort and support every cell in our own bodies so we may experience personal health and harmony, we must nourish, comfort and support every cell of our planet: All Life, be it human, plant or animal, is a cell of our singular Self.
As we cease to see the other as separate, we will elevate our interactions with loving-kindness, and create the change we want to see without, by being the change we want to see within.
Start now.