Abstract

As conditions in contemporary life become increasingly perplexing and difficult, with greater numbers of people living on the margins of existence, it has become apparent that something has gone terribly awry. Never have there been so many crises in every domain of existence—social, political, economic, cultural and ecological, just to name a few. Everywhere we turn, we see signs of personal and collective disequilibrium. It may be nearly impossible to escape this dystopic reality, as there are few places on earth that remain untouched by its malaise. As the outer world becomes engulfed in strife and chaos, there appears to be nowhere to turn but inwards. Are we still able to maintain personal well-being in a world that has utterly lost its bearings and the ability to sustain our spiritual health? It is time to consider whether the plight of humanity today might have its roots in a crisis that is fundamentally spiritual. If so, we would do well to return—with some urgency—to the sapiential traditions of the world and their sacred psychologies, in which may be found an enduring remedy for our profoundly divisive and disordered times.