A Chance Encounter With Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Think About This)
by Joel Pitney
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin is one of the most influential Evolutionaries of the twentieth century. His vision for humanity’s role in the grand story of evolution has inspired countless individuals, many of whom have appeared on the pages of EnlightenNext magazine. One of the most interesting examples is human potential pioneer Jean Houston, who befriended Teilhard after a chance encounter in Central Park in 1951 when she was fourteen years old. In the following excerpt from an EnlightenNext interview, Houston describes an exchange with “Mr. Tayer,” as she called him, in which he shares his spiritual interpretation of evolution:
“We need to have more specialists in spirit who will lead people into self-discovery,” he told me.
“What do you mean, Mr. Tayer?”
He said—and this is exactly what he said; I was taking notes because I knew I was in the presence of greatness—”We are being called into metamorphosis, into a far higher order, and yet we often act only from a tiny portion of ourselves. It is necessary that we increase that portion. But do not think for one minute, Jean, that we are alone in making that possible. We are part of a cosmic evolutionary movement that inspires us to unite with God. This is the lightning flash for all our potentialities. This is the great originating cause of all our shifts and changes. Without it there is nothing but struggle and decline.”
Evolutionary cosmologist Brian Swimme tells the story of the cosmos like you’ve never heard it before, combining the illuminating precision of a scientist with the inspired rapture of a mystic poet. In this classic excerpt (3:37 minutes) from his very 
Carl Gustav Jung and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. One probed the collective unconscious. The other contemplated the cosmic nature of the human mind. In the following audio clip taken from a lecture on the history of Evolutionary Spirituality, EnlightenNext executive editor Carter Phipps brings together the ideas of this unconventional psychologist and controversial priest. 
How many dimensions do you live in? While most of us have enough trouble navigating our way through the four dimensions we commonly experience (three of space and one of time), countless theoretical physicists, science-fiction writers, and other avant-garde thinkers believe that our universe may only be the tip of a vast multidimensional iceberg. 
The renowned eco-theologian Thomas Berry died in the early morning of June 1st at the distinguished age of 94. Even though we never met Berry, many of our contributors and close friends were deeply inspired by his life and work, including leading evolutionary thinkers like 
