The challenge to forge a culture of dignity and integrity for the second half of life in a world where fully half of the human beings who have ever reached 65 are currently alive falls now on the shoulders of the Aquarius Generation.
The West is awakening to what ancient sages, yogis and mystics have known for centuries – that life takes a natural turn towards introspection and a desire for clarity in The Third Age and beyond. But, say the authors of Life Planning for the 3rd Age, few policy structures and supports exist to help Third Agers craft lives of fulfillment.
The popular idea of Successful Aging tends to bypass or dismiss the normal aging process, with its natural inclination toward reflection — gerotranscendence — and foster a shuffleboard vs. meditation mentality. Stay young is its mantra.
The Spiritual Aging Movement, on the other hand, embraces the inevitable changes of aging as the soul’s work, as opportunities for transcendence and peace. The Conscious Aging Movement, and Second Journey also support lives of fulfillment and integrity. Drew Leder’s and Zalman Schacter-Shalomi’s Spiritual Eldering Institute is just one of many visionary endeavors offering hope for reform.
Yoga, with its ready-made community and wide accessibility – an ever-growing number of teachers, web sites, CDs, DVDs, cable networks and even meditation channels piped onto hospital televisions — offers an ideal structure for spiritual aging.