Much has been written about Atlantis, although for most of the material that is available to you, you must surely use your discernment. In an attempt to remember a past powerful experience, many writers have let their imaginations run a bit wild in trying to reconstruct the story. There are, of course, reasons for this compelling "push" to get the story through. In feeling that "push," some of those who experienced significant lives during "Atlantis" feel an urgency to integrate the experiences of that time into their lives at the current time. This is, of course, the way development of consciousness works.

To be more specific, "Atlantis" could be thought of more as a time, or Age, than a place. Clearly, the Age involved space; but the mythical part about an island sinking into an ocean is only an attempt to explain the seeming disappearance of all evidence that such an Age actually existed here on Earth. Just as there are many stories about Atlantis, there are also many stories about Atlanteans - all the way from the notion of a giant race, to the notion of a pygmy race, to the notion of a race with bluish skin. While such stories are fun to read, they should not be taken literally. Again, it is important to remember that these stories are generated in an absence of physical evidence and come from a deep remembering of -- something!

To understand the Atlantean Age, you must recognize it to actually be three Ages. The first of these three time spans draws from the Lemurian times, and presents an opportunity for the human race to collectively experience the Second Initiation, or the initiation of the collective emotional body of Earth. It took all the way from Earth's beginning up to the Lemurian Age to accomplish the First Initiation, or the collective initiation of Earth's physical body. Of course, these "initiations" which are done on behalf of Earth, are accomplished in the body/mind continuum of the people living on Earth at the time each specific initiatory process is accomplished. The First Initiation was the mastery of physical form. Please note, this is different from simply becoming manifest physically. Rather, it is a recognition on the part of the Whole Consciousness that manifests Itself in little pieces (i.e., all those different body/mind configurations running about) that the physical state is a viable state, and that "all those little pieces" are actually capable of recognizing the reality of the One when divided up into the pieces. This kind of mastery must not be confused with what appears to be a supernatural magic, but is rather a "viafication" (i.e., the continual process of making viable) of the state of physical reality.

The Second Initiation of Earth, is the demonstration of the same kind of mastery with regard to the collective emotional body of Earth. Once again, such is accomplished through the individual body/mind "packages" of the individuals experiencing on Earth at the initiatory time. Such was planned for the Atlantean time, but it was somewhere near the dawn of the Atlantean time that the Great One, Maitreya, ascended, setting in motion both the plan and the process for humanity on Earth. While this feat was particularly astounding in that Maitreya had no physical teacher in that life, it also shifted the consciousness of the human species in a very interesting way. Once one had "made it," so to speak, the whole field of consciousness into which the human collective participated was encoded not only with the potential for this kind of mastery, but with the vehicle for that transformation as well. Suddenly, the spectrum of all experiential potential became limitless.

The first of the three Atlantean Ages was a time when humans were discovering what it meant to be human - not just obtaining a human body. With Maitreya's ascension - which truly demonstrated the limitless capacity for expansion available to humans - it was as if the evolutionary structure was thrown "off kilter," but actually in a positive way. Maitreya literally cut through the energetic bands which divided the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual sectors of the human state. His "cutting through" altered the energetic configuration that defined these sectors, and human progress would quite literally, never be the same.

As a result of this amazing feat, the human psyche was altered (indeed, how could it not be altered?). The nice, neat linear flow of expanding consciousness was interrupted; and in that interruption, limitless expansion was established for evolving consciousness on Earth. The reception by humanity of this limitlessness was somewhat chaotic, at best. The problem was that while humans the world over were receiving the benefit of Lord Maitreya's ascension, they had no idea what they were receiving. From a "felt level," it was rather like someone had just "pulled out all the stops," so to speak. The physical body could no longer be experienced separate from the emotional body, which could no longer be experienced separate from the mental body, which, of course, could no longer be experienced as separate from the spiritual body.

Now while this might seem like a positive thing at this point in the collective evolution of human consciousness, it proved very confusing and chaotic for the Atlanteans. True, it is the goal of evolving spirituality to merge all these levels of consciousness (or the "four bodies") into a single flow of profound and enlightened Oneness, such as generally arises after a strong delineation between these levels of consciousness. In other words, each must be made strong before they can merge into a powerful union. If the individual levels are not strong prior to the merger, there is not enough creative energy to bring about an appropriate merger, and a kind of implosion of consciousness is likely to happen. Maitreya's "merger" was perfect, however, so it set the stage for what is to come for virtually all sentient beings on the planet.

Such is, of course, a great gift from the Lord Maitreya to humanity. However, the other side of the coin - that of practical experiencing - demonstrated that with all the "stops" being pulled out, humanity could (and did) go into profound confusion. The immediate effect was the inability to discern one "body" from the other three. To some extent, you can still see the ramifications of that initial confusion having an impact on the human process today. While such has truly expanded the parameters of experiencing at all four levels, there still remains considerable confusion in the experiencing of each, for most people.

Returning to the first of the three Atlantean eras, on the human scene, people were trying to learn what it was to be fully human. Indeed, most of humanity is still trying to get this lesson. In general much progress was made; and as a whole, explorations into consciousness with particular regard to the "inner world" of the psyche were successful and enlightening. The definitions of "self and other" became a bit less clear than just the separation of skin to skin; the ability to experience empathy grew, and people began to care for each other in deeper and more profound ways. It was at this time, that compassion was seeded in the psyches of the human race, and the dividing line between self and other was lessened by love. While the overall progress was good, it was also chaotic. As the capacity to love grew, so did the capacity to fear and eventually hate. The polar force between love and fear became strongly charged, and much of relational experiencing was "magnetized" by one of these poles or the other. Again, if you look at the way many create relationships today, you can see the roots of this initial experiencing. Ultimately, it was this pull of the opposites that created what you today know as "ego," or the separation you experience between what functions as ego mind (karmic mind) and Essence mind.

While somewhat chaotic, the overall collective learning of the first Atlantean era was positive. The desire for supportive connection evolved to a very significant level - much greater, in fact, than you experience among humanity today. Indeed, there was a sound expansion of both the collective emotional body and the individual emotional bodies, each, in turn, replicated from the bigger whole. From all appearances, this seemed to be a calm era, with relatively few wars and external skirmishes to mar the progress of humanity seeking a higher level of relating one to another. Most of the struggles and skirmishes were carried out internally, as individuals learned the paradox of individuality: i.e., individuality separated one from all others. But, it was only through being individual that one could consciously choose connection and relationship. This conscious choice for connection brought one not only closer to other individuals, but to the Divine, as well.

As we consider the second Atlantean era, we find new dimensions of connection and relationship arising. This was due in part to the fact that the energetic barriers which previously separated the "four bodies" still existed, but in a slightly different, indeed somewhat weakened, state. Such allowed for each growing individual consciousness to have fuller access to input from each of the "four bodies" at all times. As we have noticed, at first all that input proved a little overwhelming, and the end result was a state wherein one perhaps felt over-stimulated, even chaos-inclined. With the passage of time, however, humanity learned to integrate all the input, and the human being as it was then evolving, was pretty remarkable.

This second Atlantean era was perhaps the most balanced time for sentient beings this planet has ever known. Because one's emotions did not overrun one's logical process, and because one's logical mind did not suppress one's emotional flow, prejudice of any kind was at an all-time low. The mental body was not seen nor experienced as opposite, nor as fighting, the emotional body. Likewise, the physical body and the spiritual body were not conflicted in any way. There existed no social lens through which to view strata of life, and thus it was not seen as "better" to be a President than a janitor. It was not considered "better" to be a spiritual healer, say, than a science teacher (nor vice versa). Also, the genders were not as divided as you now experience them; nor were there such differences between what you today consider the "haves" and the "have-nots." Affairs of State were not political, but more egalitarian and, in a real sense, more humane.

Those who remember Atlantis as a positive, wholesome and creative experience, likely are drawing from their experiences in this second era. The expression of collective creativity was perhaps the strongest it has ever been on planet Earth. In general, government was much simpler, and existed to oversee commerce and trade - "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," to borrow a great phrase. There was no criminal justice system, since there were very few "criminals." Government did not take it upon itself to punish the few rogue characters who arose with less-than-noble intentions; but it did oversee community mentoring programs which existed to bring the errant one back into fuller relationship with the community. It was then believed that one could do harm to another only by somehow missing the obvious fact that all were One. Therefore, rather than seeing the one in error as wrong or deviant, the premise was held that in this case, somehow the family and community had failed this one. Every effort was made, therefore, to rectify the situation through a mentoring process that went on as long as was needed to bring about clarity. Such only exists today in certain remote, often tribal, communities.

It may seem odd to move from such a time of balance into the third Atlantean era, which has become known for the destruction and suffering of a time that was truly remarkable, although perhaps not in a positive manner. While a high level of balance and integration was the norm in the second era, indeed, no real planetary initiation had actually taken place. Spiritual expansion of consciousness might, for such humans as these, seem easy; and one might draw the conclusion that the planetary initiations were no longer necessary. Indeed, had humanity been able to persist in the integrated adaptations it had made, a considerably different path might have arisen for Earth. Life was pretty good on Earth at the time - no wars, no pestilence, reverence for all life, plentiful harvests, abundant health, longevity, and more intellectual, philosophical and educational stimulation than anyone could fully absorb. Perhaps things were too good. Perhaps this is the era that demonstrated what some humans still believe, that "too much of a good thing can only become a bad thing." Have you ever asked yourself how certain people came to believe that statement?

It was in the third Atlantean era that things began to fall apart, so to speak. Not instantly, of course, but gradually there arose in the minds of some the notion that the mental body (or perhaps its contributions) was more valuable than was the emotional body (or its contributions). The outward manifestation was that the balance of power began to shift from an egalitarian society to a hierarchical one. At first, it likely seemed a necessary function of governing and communal direction. Ultimately, however, it led to a severe polarizing of the emotional and mental bodies, both collectively and individually. This split was perhaps the most profound in generating the hierarchical structure that first became acceptable, but eventually became desirable. (You can probably see the seeds of egoic aggrandizement being sown here.) This fracture led to a further fracturing: the prejudicial separation of the physical and spiritual bodies. One was deemed "sacred", the other deemed "profane", or "carnal." One might speculate that had the earlier Atlanteans actually accomplished the Earthly Second Initiation, the fracturing and splintering that occurred in the collective psyche of humanity might not have happened. Once again, chaos ruled, both internally and externally. There were many who thought the technological advancements would save the day; that somehow supreme logic would settle the dust of chaotic dispersion, and all would return to balance once again. However, such was not the course of events.

Scientific faction rose up against scientific faction. Technologies that had previously been used to heal were turned into means of destruction for the sake of gaining "power over" others. Giant bombs were created, some harnessing the power of the mineral kingdom in an untoward way. Other types used powerful energies that were actually generated from human consciousness. The point of it all was to drive home the "new" understanding of the day that "might makes right." Indeed, before all was brought to silence, explosions were detonated that were so powerful as to knock Earth right out of her natural orbit around the sun. While this did not kill off all the beings of Earth, it did push the Earth far enough from the sun to produce what you have come to call an "Ice Age." Somehow, the cold covering of Earth seems a kind of predictable balance for the explosion of all those hot bombs.

As far as the part about technology being lost after the cataclysm, each can only speculate as to whether that was a positive or a negative thing for the planet as a whole. Whether it was actually lost or merely hidden for a while is likely a good source for debate among humans. From an energetic point, nothing is really ever lost. However, since energy is (or can be) constantly changing, people are often not able to experience all that exists in the "vibes" of Earth. Therefore, it may seem like the wheel has been invented numerous times.

With the dawning of what has come to be called the Egyptian Age, there was once again another opportunity to begin the process all over. Consequently, much of the Egyptian Age was concerned with a repeating of the First Initiation. However, since it was somewhat like challenging a course in college to "test out" of the class, there were certain elements, of course, that did not need repeating simply because people had already completed numerous lives in physical form. What had to be re-established, however, was a connection to Earth. Therefore, in the historical accounts you will note many experiences with drought, pestilence, and general "hard knocks" until that relationship could re-establish itself as a positive one. This, of course, is somewhat complicated, and while the Egyptian Age does not look much like the Lemurian Age, there is little question in the minds of the knowledgeable that it was likewise an initiatory Age. While I know others have speculated that Earth (i.e., the collective consciousness of all sentient beings now dwelling on Earth) has passed the First and Second Initiations (some say the Third, as well) I see it somewhat differently. To me, it appears that Earth is trying to do her Second, Third and Fourth Initiations all at the same time. I see this as something that was set in motion way back when Maitreya ascended. This is one reason that there is so much chaotic energy bouncing around Earth at the present time, and if you know where to look, you can see reflections of all the previous "Ages" Earth has concluded, playing out in the "now" of this Age.