OLD PARADIGM refers to the tendency in human society to dominate and exploit nature, and to dominate and compete as individuals, cultures, or nations with one another. In social organizations, this orientation takes the form of the command-and-control style of management, and objectification in science – the artificial separation of object and subject. Individuation or individual identity is sought through conflict. This model is rooted in the perception of scarcity and fear for survival. It takes conflict and scarcity as a natural state of being, and division, separation, and control as its goals.

NEW PARADIGM represents the emergent tendency in human society to cooperate with one another, whether as individuals, cultures, or nations, and to live and work with, rather than against, nature. This model focuses on awareness of the whole in human, physical, and spiritual terms and on new frontiers of consciousness. In social organizations, this orientation takes the form of cooperation. Self-awareness is understood in the context of the whole. This model is rooted in the perception of abundance, and in science through the widening understanding of the interconnectivity of natural phenomena. Wholistic and integrative, this model assumes compassion, balance, and interconnectivity as a way of being and incorporates unity within diversity, universal compassion, and healing as its goals.

POSITIVE FUTURE is a general term referring to transformational outcomes of the evolution of human consciousness through the generating of new societal structures and processes that bridge polarities. It honors universal interconnectivity, and enables individuals and nations to achieve deeper connections with a higher wisdom. Inherent in this term is the hope that humankind can and will move beyond the constraints of the "old paradigm," and the long history of social, cultural, political, and religious conflict to fulfill a higher human destiny – a global spiritual and social awakening.

GLOBAL AWAKENING means individuals and communities becoming aware of and embracing their authentic nature – one of interconnectedness, service, nurturance, and spirituality, as we express extraordinary dimensions of our larger being. It is remembering who we truly are as we seek ways of developing global-scale processes and structures specifically designed to assist the fullest expression of social and spiritual awakening. Global awakening also encompasses an appreciation and acceptance of the diverse qualities and uniqueness of all humanity's contributions, and how individual and community actions have global impact.

FUTURE-PRESENT refers to the influence of placing our attention on that of our higher nature calling to us from our horizon of being. This becomes, in effect, an attractor helping us navigate in the present in accord with a new paradigm of being while we decouple from old paradigm structures and beliefs that do not serve our conscious evolution.

CIVIL SPIRITUALITY describes a global atmosphere wherein society openly acknowledges the universal interconnection of all people, creation, and consciousness. New ethics would emerge to guide thought and action for the highest good of all. There would be no place for any individual or society to dominate another, or for humanity to be in conflict with nature. People would be free to explore their fundamental nature as spiritual beings without that experience being based on suffering. This new civil spirituality would spread universal love and mutual regard among all people. It is within such a larger context that the world's religions could find coherence around ancient truths that have been obscured for too long. The potential for this would be far-reaching, as it would liberate enormous amounts of human energy for creation of a positive future, rather than fighting over the present.

DISCERNMENT WITH COMPASSION represents an ever-evolving broadness of mind that combines the use of free-will and innate intelligence to resolve specifics within the context of an integral whole. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of a greater "oneness" that we all share as sentient beings in a larger cosmos of creation.