Through our work in helping people with their spiritual unfoldings, we observe that there are 5 key expansions of consciousness - through internal gateways - leading to our ultimate ascension. This is very much inline with many spiritual teachings and practices.
They are as follows:

Gateway 1 ‘Awakening’ - we awaken for the first time to the presence of the soul and its quiet inner voice

Gateway 2 ‘Baptism’ - the personality surrenders to the governance of the soul

Gateway 3 ‘Transfiguration’ - the soul infuses completely within the personality and the seer is partially liberated

Gateway 4 ‘Crucifixion & Enlightenment’ - the Seer is fully liberated from within our being

Gateway 5 ‘Resurrection & Ascension’ - all remaining conditioned behaviours are dissolved to allow full unbridled radiance of the seer expressed through the soul

Once we have been resurrected, which means to have fully cleansed the bodymind to be the prefect, undistorted means of expression for the soul, then the pathway is open for us to continually raise our vibration until at the time we leave the body, there is no longer any need for us to return to this lower plane of consciousness.
- Chris Bourne, Open Hand Foundation
www.openhandweb.org

Dear Pixie,
The strong consciousness and faith of those that hold the light are able to focus and hold their thoughts of what they want and do this Globally. As they do this in their own personal life. These people are your salvation. These people hold the key to manifestation, the lightworkers, who often are unknown, unheard of by the masses. Who work silently in meditation with their train focus mind. These are the people working in changing the future, changing events. We ask you now to join this ever growing group of lightworkers. This is why we ask you to work on yourself on your own reality. For how can you hope to create your reality for an entire country or planet, if you can not do this in your own life...Most of all ask us for the connection. When you ask, it creates a hormone release, and a chemical then reacts to this hormone, waking up the areas of DNA that responsible for leading you toward your incarnate blueprint.

...But we tell you, you do have magic wand. You do have saviors and that saviors are YOU Dear Humans. They are you. And your magic wands are your DNA. The tools at your disposal to change your reality and to bring about what you want are the Internet, the Lightworkers, and their combined unity and light. That is you. The Law of Attraction. Look to the teacher of this law and learn to manifest your unconditional love, your humility, your compassion, your trust and your knowing that you have what you want. Your very humanity.

A Philosophy of 2012 Survival Through Awareness, For All Walks of Life.
When planning ahead for difficult times we each go through a similar process. One that begins with awareness and which then leads us to knowledge. At some point, we eventually we realize that the need for material preparations is prudent, but then what comes next? The most important phase of all. Spiritual preparation. The kind that strengthens you with a purposeful sense-of-self to help endure the difficult times ahead, with hope, humanity and compassion.

Toolbelt for Transformation. Archangel Metatron - Release, Meditation, Affirmation, and Prayer.

Activating Your Merkaba - A Simple way is to place your palm at the center of your chest and just concentrate your attention there. Also, it's good to listen to the following videos to allow the Higher Self absorb the meaning.