There is a definite shift in thought towards collective intelligence, both in the number of web-sites now dealing with the issue as well as numerous publications: from collective holographic theories to mind-field consciousness. One particular book of note, which is a culmination of one scientist-philosopher's 40 year search for unified meaning is Ervin Laszlo's 'Science & The Akashic Field'.

Of web-sites worth looking into: one of them is publishing research into concepts of 'resonance', 'coherence', 'holography', and 'collective wisdom', and related topics: it calls itself the 'Collective Wisdom Initiative'.

A second is a research project established at Princeton University and calls itself 'The Global Consciousness Project (GCP)': it states that it is "an international effort involving researchers from several institutions and countries, designed to explore whether the construct of interconnected consciousness can be scientifically validated through objective measurement."

It is encouraging to see that work into this realm of connected mind/intelligence is being taken up by both academic and lay persons. It indicates that there is a definite shift from the old paradigmatic thinking of reductionist, rational Cartesian thought towards the more holistic, interconnected, co-participating realm.

Trends indicate that co-evolving relationships of cooperation will become the new paradigm of human evolution towards sustainable structures. This may seem somewhat optimistic, yet the alternative is a grim picture for the future of our global species. I, for one, prefer to seed our collective consciousness with thoughts of the possible, our positive potential.