The myth of worldly decline can seem old-fashioned, darkly pessimistic, and deeply discouraging when compared to the tales of upward evolution and unending progress. Yet this world is essentially a place of mystery and what looks darkest at the beginning can have bright threads hidden within. Conversely, things that seem most positive can be found to have a dark shadow that eventually comes to the light of day and obscures what seemed so bright to begin with.

Human beings long for connection, and our sense of usefulness derives from the feeling of connectedness. When we are connected — to our own purpose, to the community around us, and to our spiritual wisdom — we are able to live and act with authentic effectiveness.

The genius inside a person wants activity. It’s connected to the stars; it’s connected to a spark and it wants to burn and it wants to make and it wants to create and it has gifts to give. That is the nature of inner genius.