What happens when awakening is no longer only an individual experience but something that unfolds between us?

In this issue we explore the phenomenon of collective spiritual practice and the mutually awakened states of consciousness that can arise when people come together with a shared intention to discover deeper truth. Across traditions and throughout history, human beings have gathered in ways that open the heart and expand awareness. Think of the hymns sung in churches and temples that lift everyone’s inner gaze toward the heights of spirit, or a Quaker meeting in which those gathered speak only as the Spirit moves them.

Beyond traditional religious settings we see similar dynamics in other gatherings: a packed stadium where tens of thousands of fans become emotionally united through the unfolding drama of a game, or a concert filled with people whose hearts swell together with the sound of each note. In moments like these the boundaries between individuals seem to dissolve into a shared field of experience.

Experiences like these can lead to profound shifts in awareness and in recent decades there has been increasing interest in spiritual practices designed specifically to cultivate these shared states of awakening. In our interviews here you will meet several pioneering visionaries who are exploring the possibilities of this work from different perspectives.

We spoke with Diane Musho Hamilton, a Zen teacher and professional mediator who has spent decades facilitating transformational groups and training others to do the same. Spiritual teacher Craig Hamilton reflects with Jeff Carreira on a powerful experience of collective awakening they participated in together that changed both of their lives. Elizabeth Debold, Ed.D., shares her insights into the emergence of the relational field she calls Interbeing. And Peter Mitchel speaks with us about the groups he co-facilitates to awaken the shared space between those present.

In addition to our feature articles, there are several contributions from members of The Mystery School that explore collective awakening directly, as well as pieces that themselves emerged from an awakened co-creative field of awareness.

James Redenbaugh, himself a devoted practitioner of collective spiritual work, offers art in a variety of mediums that carries and amplifies the spirit of collective awakening to which this issue is dedicated.

We hope you enjoy the issue.