Cosmic Walk Timeline

This post 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].

1) The Big Bang

13.7 billion years ago, our Universe flashes into existence, lit by the power of the eternal matrix of being.

Some 13.7 billion years ago, our Universe flashes into existence, lit by the power of the eternal matrix of being. From the quantum foam is born the universe. Time, space, and energy become the gifts …

2) Galaxies form

A billion years later, Galaxies, Stars, and Supernovas emerge.

A billion years later, Galaxies, Stars, and Supernovas emerge. For billions of years the universe continues to expand and cool. Hydrogen and helium coalesce into billions of enormous structures: …

3) Grandmother supernova

8 billion years later, 4.6 billion years ago, our Grandmother Star becomes a supernova

8 billion years later, 4.6 billion years ago, our Grandmother Star becomes a supernova.She gives up her life in an explosion of possibilities . She becomes a supernova giving rise to our Star, what …

4) Formation of the solar system

4.5 billion years ago, our Solar System forms from the remains of the supernova explosion.

4.5 billion years ago, our Solar System forms from the remains of the supernova explosion.The sun and a great disk of matter emerge—all the planets and other members of our solar system family. Here …

5) The Earth cools

4.4 - 4.1 billion years ago - Exuberant volcanoes expel hotly agitated deep earth to the surface.

4.4 – 4.1 billion years ago – Exuberant volcanoes expel hotly agitated deep earth to the surface. Over hundreds of millions of years, Earth has grown from dust particles to a large, hot, molten rock. …

6) The wonder of life

4 billion years ago, the rich chemical brew brings forth the wonder of life, as the First Cell emerges.

4.28 billion years ago, the rich chemical brew brings forth the wonder of life, as the First Cell emerges. Probably around hydrothermal vents in the seafloor A tiny being which draws sustenance from …

7) Photosynthesis emerges

3.9 billion years ago, cells invent Photosynthesis.

3.9 billion years ago, cells invent Photosynthesis. Small creatures learn to capture the sun and store the energy in chemical bonds. They are able to capture 18 times as much energy from their …

8) Development of respiration

2.7 billion years ago, oxygen loving cells emerge!

2.7 billion years ago, oxygen loving cells emerge! The first global environmental crisis is averted by the creativity of these tiny cellular creatures who invent a use for oxygen as they breathe it …

9) Emergence of nucleated cells

2 billion years ago, Despite the enormous drag of its tidal seas the planet is still spinning fast

2 billion years ago, despite the enormous drag of its tidal seas the planet is still spinning fast. Each day – one revolution – lasts only about 18 hours. It is at this time that the first nucleated …

10) Emergence of sexual reproduction

1.5 billion years ago, crisis conditions arise such as food shortages, lack of moisture and extreme temperatures.

1.5 billion years ago, crisis conditions arise such as food shortages, lack of moisture and extreme temperatures. Hungry ancestral organisms learn to eat each other. Sometimes, these tiny cellular …

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.

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. This quickens the …

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

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. First their had …

13) Earth sees herself

600 million years ago, light sensitive eyespots evolve into eyesight. The Earth sees herself for the first time.

600 million years ago, light sensitive eyespots evolve into eyesight, perhaps in an ancestor of the trilobite. The Earth sees herself for the first time. Previously only soft-bodied animals evolve in …

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

460 million years ago – Leaving the water, animals such as worms and mollusks and crustaceans seek the adventure of weather and gravity. Algae and fungi venture ashore as well. The first plants …

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.

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 …

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

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.

235 million years ago sees the end of the Permian period when the 4th and greatest mass extinction of life on Earth takes place. Trilobites and many other families of species disappear entirely and …

18) The first mammals

225 million years ago, the first mammals, small and nocturnal, jump, climb, swing, and swim through a world of giants.

225 million years ago, the first mammals, small and nocturnal, jump, climb, swing, and swim through a world of giants. Some rodent-sized insect-eaters evolve lactation, enabling mothers to spend more …

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.

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. Far larger than today’s birds, wing spans …

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.

114 million years ago, Flowers evolve gorgeous and overt sexual organs, making themselves irresistible to insects by way of colours, perfumes, and delightful nectars. Insects, drawn to the nectar, …

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

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. The …

22) The age of mammals begins

Over the course of the next 60 million years Earth greets rodents, whales, monkeys, horses, cats and dogs,

Over the course of the next 60 million years Earth greets rodents, whales, monkeys, horses, cats and dogs, antelopes, gibbons, grazing animals, orang-utans, gorillas, elephants, chimpanzees, camels, …

23) Human ancestors leave the forests

4 million years ago, Hominids leave the forest, stand up, and walk on two legs.

4 million years ago, Hominids leave the forest, stand up, and walk on two legs. The savannah offers the challenges and opportunities for these early creatures to evolve into humans.

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.

11000 years ago, Agriculture is invented. Humans begin to shape the environment. First thought to have arisen in the “Fertile Crescent” between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern day Iraq. …

26) The classical religions emerge

3000 years ago, Classical Religions emerge. Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam.

3000 years ago, Classical Religions emerge. Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam. Each of these traditions holds a story of the creation of the cosmos and The Earth, which …

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.

29) Humans discover DNA

60 years ago, humans discover DNA, life’s common language.

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”