This page displays a visual version of the “Cosmic walk” group process, a journey that spirals through deep time from the birth of the cosmos to the present day. This process is intended to guide participants in coming into contact with the enourmous scale of time which we now know is spanned by the story of our reality. The story touches on just a handful of the important events that have shaped our our cosmos, solar system, planet and biosphere.
For further resources, variant versions of this story and useful links, please visit the “Cosmic Walk” page.
1) The Big Bang
13.7 billion years ago, our Universe flashes into existence, lit by the power of the eternal matrix of being.
3) Grandmother supernova
8 billion years later, 4.6 billion years ago, our Grandmother Star becomes a supernova
4) Formation of the solar system
4.5 billion years ago, our Solar System forms from the remains of the supernova explosion.
5) The Earth cools
4.4 – 4.1 billion years ago – Exuberant volcanoes expel hotly agitated deep earth to the surface.
6) The wonder of life
4 billion years ago, the rich chemical brew brings forth the wonder of life, as the First Cell emerges.
9) Emergence of nucleated cells
2 billion years ago, Despite the enormous drag of its tidal seas the planet is still spinning fast
10) Emergence of sexual reproduction
1.5 billion years ago, crisis conditions arise such as food shortages, lack of moisture and extreme temperatures.
11) Predator-prey co-evolution
1 billion years ago, increasingly, predator organisms learn to use the complex biomolecules of their prey organisms, thereby saving themselves the effort of making their own.
12) The first multicellular life
700 million years ago, the first Multicellular Organisms emerge. Some organisms begin living together in colonies, finding ways to communicate with each other using chemical messages
13) Earth sees herself
600 million years ago, light sensitive eyespots evolve into eyesight. The Earth sees herself for the first time.
14) Colonisation of the land by plants and invertebrates
460 million years ago – Leaving the water, animals such as worms and mollusks and crustaceans seek the adventure of weather and gravity
15) The first amphibians emerge onto land
395 million years ago – The first amphibian animals hop and lumber onto land, trading in their gill slits for air-breathing lungs, transforming fins into stubby legs and continuing to return to the water to lay their eggs.
16) Forests evolve
335 Million years ago, the first subtropical forests evolve. Over generations, these forests load themselves with carbon extracted from the atmosphere which later becomes fossilized as coal and oil
17) Permian-Triassic mass extinction
235 million years ago sees the end of the Permian period when the 4th and greatest mass extinction of life on Earth takes place.
18) The first mammals
225 million years ago, the first mammals, small and nocturnal, jump, climb, swing, and swim through a world of giants.
19) The first birds
150 million years ago. Birds emerge, a direct descendant of the dinosaur as leg bones evolve into wing bones, jawbones into beaks and scales into feathers.
20) The first flowers
114 million years ago, Flowers evolve gorgeous and overt sexual organs, making themselves irresistible to insects by way of colours, perfumes, and delightful nectars.
21) Cretaceous mass extinction wipes out the dinosaurs
65 million years ago – Shortly after primates appear on the scene, the Cretaceous period ends with the 6th mass extinction after an asteroid 6 miles in diameter hits the Yucatan peninsula
22) The age of mammals begins
Over the course of the next 60 million years Earth greets rodents, whales, monkeys, horses, cats and dogs,
23) Human ancestors leave the forests
4 million years ago, Hominids leave the forest, stand up, and walk on two legs.
24) Modern humans emerge
100 thousand years ago, Modern Humans emerge. Language, shamanic and goddess religions, and art become integral with human life.
25) Agriculture is developed
11000 years ago, Agriculture is invented. Humans begin to shape the environment.
26) The classical religions emerge
3000 years ago, Classical Religions emerge. Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam.
27) Scientists calculate the age of the Earth
250 years ago, scientists begin to calculate the Age of the Earth. Humans try to understand how old the Earth is through empirical observations.
28) Empirical evidence of an Expanding Universe
85 years ago, empirical evidence of an Expanding Universe is discovered. For the first time humans are aware they live in a developing universe.
30) Earth is seen from space
52 years ago Earth is seen as Whole from space. The Earth becomes complex enough to witness her own integral beauty.
31) Our sacred Story
Today The Story of the Universe is being told as our sacred Story. The Flaring Forth continues as this moment, as us, as one. Cosmic Walker says “And this is MY story”