As we enter the 21th century, we wish a happy and fruitful year to all and we hope that any Y2K inconveniences (see NR vol. 8 no. 3) are minor and temporary.

Our feature articles focus on women and spirituality, but social and spiritual issues are not easily separated. In reviewing these articles we see that history and tradition often cast a long net. Though they can be stabilizing forces, we need to understand the motives and reasons for the attitudes of earlier generations. Self-interest, rather than human or universal love, has guided many decisions. Rationality and studying the past can help us sort out the good from the bad, for our needs, ever remembering that what we do now creates the future.

Spiritual pursuit—the desire for complete fulfilment—does not limit or privilege one type of person. However, throughout history many religious leaders have placed artificial limits on who can pursue spiritual practices or leadership. So often women are outside these limits.

Stressing the importance and relevance of female mystics in these transitional times, Mary Devlin notes that "a large percentage of mystics are women" and giving us some history of female mystics.

Sabine Lichtenfels proposes 24 theses (excerpted here) for an end to one-gender domination, "seeking to reintegrate the female part in all of us (as) so much depends on... cooperation between men and women."

P.R. Sarkar takes a concise overview of the rights of women, who "have their potentialities no less than men." He proposes three seemingly simple steps for women’s social liberation.

Jessica Torrens talks to women’s quest for spiritual rights, so often derailed by dogma. Women and men must be seen "as partners on the path to self-realization."

While women have often actively participated in wartime roles assigned to them, there are complex reasons for this, argues Ivana Milojevic. Ultimately, it is "more difficult for women (then men) to detach themselves from ‘real’ people."

And Shakespeare supports James Wellesley-Wesley’s view that "women are best suited to mediate between warring factions."

Elsewhere Jean Houston, in the second part of a book excerpt, marvels at the possibilities we might all have in our increasingly "interconnected...ever-changing world."

Jennifer Fitzgerald takes us into the fire of a cancer patient—herself—who refuses to be a ‘victim’ in a deeply personal account of a medical and spiritual quest.

Economically speaking, Peter Montague maps out the designs of Monsanto and the U.S. government to rule the world. And Sandra Dempster reminds us that economics is not just numbers and charts; people are also involved.

D. Patrick Miller talks about the human need to be all we can be, and the evolution of computers towards being more human. Kaviraj Chauhan introduces us to Ayurveda as a way to health and true happiness.

Our reviews feature Sally Hazelet Drummond on the language of painting and Salif Keita, a Malian singer who dreams of the past and the future. Rene Wadlow surveys some of the latest New Age music releases.