Shifting from a material civilization to a spiritual civilization is our choice.

What will happen in the year 2012? Is it really the countdown to doomsday or something else entirely?

If you have read The Call of Sedona or heard recent lectures by Ilchi Lee, founder of Dahn Yoga, you will remember that this time is deemed the beginning of a new era of “spiritual civilization.” This means that spiritual awareness or access to inner power will not be limited to a few—it will be accessible to many.

Specifically, “spiritual” here refers to a cultural shift in focus from material or physical aspects of our existence to more intangible concerns of the mind and spirit. Many people don’t see themselves as spiritual beings. Many are afraid to even acknowledge life’s invisible aspects beyond what the eye can see.

Through Dahn Yoga, we learn about Ki energy, how it connects the body and mind, how it connects the visible and invisible aspects of life, and how, through the energy connection, our consciousness shapes our reality.

For much of our history, we humans have continually placed emphasis on the material and, through our thinking processes, have produced “things” in our lives without recognizing the greater potential each of us possesses in our mind. This has kept most of humanity stuck in a rut, feeling powerless or coveting the material possessions of other humans.

When we forget that we have the power of creation, even over little things, we do not use it properly. Instead of creating what we hope for, we have put all of our focus and energy into avoiding what we fear. This focus usually causes us to realize the very things we fear. But that is beginning to change.

In 2011, we have seen many people on the planet face their worst fears and challenge the brutality that had governed their lives for years, or even for generations. They have become conscious of the element of choice, an important step in the process toward liberation.

Even a journey of ten thousand miles begins with one step. Once more and more people begin to see the element of choice in their lives, the seeds of hope are planted. This is a golden opportunity in time. We all have the power to choose now rather than live in the past or worry about the future. Instead of wondering what this new year will bring and what our role will be in it, by choosing we can start to create the lives we want.

The era of spiritual civilization starts in your mind when you awaken not only the greatness dormant within your heart but also the power of creation that can manifest what you focus on into physical reality—through the medium of energy and energy principles!

— Joseph Alexander