It is said that there is an old Chinese curse that goes something like "May you live in interesting times." I think that there is probably a little something lost in the translation, but the meaning rings through. We are indeed living in interesting times, but we need to keep in mind that every curse is also a blessing.

There are many things in the world that it is easy to feel negative about. Recent election results have many of us apprehensive about the future. But there will be other elections and this latest one will encourage all of us to take them more seriously. There is always the environment to be concerned about, but the Mother will heal herself and continue to bless us if we will love her and pay her the proper respect. There is violence in many regions of the world, but people must learn the error of their ways.

As we move into the new millennium for real this year, it is a good idea to take a longer view. There are many things to be encouraged about. More people than ever before are awakening to higher realities. More of us are taking responsibility for our consciousness, our spirituality and our relationships with other people and the larger world that we all live in. We have already reached the critical mass necessary to effect momentous change. At this point we only need to focus -- and anything may be accomplished. We have only to look at the ending of the cold war to see how the power of this mass consciousness can succeed.

Yes, we live in interesting times, but there is no other period in recorded history that I would rather be than here. We have unprecedented access to the world's religions and spiritual teachings, both exoteric and esoteric, and unprecedented access to each other. We have unprecedented freedom to walk our paths and to communicate them.

We have the means to create heaven on earth in our hands, and it is these very interesting times that brings them to us.