1. Powers of the Universe Centration

2. Our Role in the Universe “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us… Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God within us.” Marianne Williamson

3. Living in a Box Universe We see the Universe as a box containing: *Space *Stars and planets *People, animals, plants *Clock

4. Our Identity We are citizens of the Earth & Universe What is our role as citizens of Earth? To enable the powers of the Universe to take on a new form in us The Universe did not work for 4.7 billion years to produce consumers. We need to pay attention to the Universe

5. The Universe Wants Centration When the Universe flared forth: *If it had been a tiny fraction of a second faster – there would have been an ever- expanding cloud of particles without centration. No stars and galaxies would have emerged *If it had been a tiny fraction of a second slower – everything would have collapsed back to a zero point after an initial burst of expansion *In either case, there would have been no Universe

6. The Universe Contains Billions of Galaxies The Universe did not want a homogeneous cloud of particles; it wanted galaxies.

7. Each Galaxies Contains 100 Billion Stars

8. Universe Fosters Multiplicity of Life Forms Prokaryotes emerged in the primordial sea 4 billion years ago Eukaryotes emerged 2 billion years ago Every life form we have to day comes from the Eukaryotes

9. Individuation

10. The Universe Loves Diversity No two zebras have the same set of stripes Not two protea flowers have the same pattern on their cone-shaped the flower heads Every human being (baring identical twins has unique set of DNA chromosomes Every set of human fingerprints is unique The iris of every eye is unique

11. How Do We Enter The Process Of Centration We learn from the Universe Consider the membrane of a cell. The membrane decides what gets through into the cell and what is barred. The membrane knows what will enhance life and lets it in. It know what will destroy life and keeps it out

12. Intelligent Membrane

13. Industrial Society In many ways the Industrial Society is undoing the work of centration. Causing the extinction of species Causing the extinction of cultures Causing the extinction of habitats We need to align ourselves with the centration power of the Universe

14. Human Qualities That Reflect Centration Confidence Freedom from social conformity Joy at being a centre of the Universe at work A strong sense of focus A satisfaction at being alive right now

15. Immature qualities of Centration Narcissism – self-focus (human) We tend to ignore other species on the planet Grandiosity Assuming that one is the centre of the Universe Selling oneself short Your playing small does not serve the world

17. Where is the Centre of the Universe Every Galaxy is the centre of the Universe Every point in the Universe is the Centre of the Universe Every species is the centre of the ecological web of life Every being is central to the life Every being is of immense significance

18. Expanding Balloons

19. The Spots on a Balloon If you imagine a “dalmation type” balloon – a balloon with a lot of spots painted on it. As you inflate the balloon, the distance between all of the spots is expanding If your were a fly sitting on a particular dot what you would see is all the other dots expanding away form you. As a fly, you would conclude that you were the centre of your world. This is an illustration for how the Universe expands.

20. The Challenge The challenge is to allow the Centration Power of the Universe to manifest in us. Reflection What does it mean to allow the centration power of the Universe to manifest in me?