"Some of the most compelling, cutting-edge ideas about who we are and what kind of world we live in. This is a daring book--and a great read!"--Glenn Hartelius, PhD, coeditor of the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies   Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered "What is the universe?" In this lively and engaging collection of interviews, astronomer Stephan Martin talks with some of today's most innovative and cutting-edge thinkers on the nature of the universe and our relationship to it. Scientists, mystics, indigenous elders, and cultural creatives all share their unique voices on the nature of reality, the interplay of science and religion, the future of humanity, and the role of each person in a mysterious and evolving universe. Filled with rich insight, dynamic discussion, and penetrating wisdom, Cosmic Conversations asks the fundamental questions about the universe many of us have wondered about, yet few have explored in-depth, questions such as:   Do time, space, and matter really exist? Can the universe be inside us, outside us, or both? Is the universe alive, conscious, and intelligent? Where are we in the cosmic evolutionary picture?   A compelling journey from the farthest reaches of outer space to the innermost realms of the human heart, Cosmic Conversations will change the way you look at the universe (and yourself) forever.   "An excellent contribution to the philosophical revival that is taking place in the marketplace of ideas. Stephan's searching and heartfelt questions bring out the best of the authors he interviews."--Steve McIntosh, author of The Presence of the Infinite