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Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessEwan said May 23, 2007, 10:29 AM: |
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I am integral. I have integral consciousness, and with it, the ability to see, to embody and to use, the goodness, truth and beauty it increasingly discloses to me. What a gift! And one that I will carry for the rest of my life whether I like it or not. What a journey I have been set upon! I stand on the shoulder of giants, the warriors of my parent's generation who fought so passionately and resolutely to secure my right to be whatever kind of human I desire. They have taken me and my young integral brothers and sisters up to, and through the gates of second tier; the Kosmic scratches in the sand are already well trodden paths; the fundamental slabs have already being laid. The integral highway is underway. And yet, as the integral project gathers pace, the impulse is shifting, changing, growing. The torches are being handed over; the old boomers and hippies are getting closer to their twilight zone, the master is fading, the student is growing. “Hey teacher, leave those kids alone!” This is not a revolution, this is an evolution. Fuck, what a kick! I feel so alive; the world is so vibrant before these new eyes of mine. The lights are that much brighter, the space that much deeper, my consciousness is that much wider. And do you know what the most exciting aspect is? It only gets bigger baby!! I wasn't in this place a few years ago. My journey had stopped at a very different point, one that is shared by so many of my generation. The playground we're given is so huge it's overwhelming. I see so many of my peers fall by the wayside, wasted through drink or drugs, giving up because the choices are too many. We're given the most freedom of any culture in the history of the world, we're told we can do and be anything we desire, the shackles are off, and we've been given the keys to the whole damned castle. But with no map to know where the hell to go; its chaos. It is chaos. Ken saved my life. I was floundering; overwhelmed by choice, lost through freedom, wandering the endless halls of a relativistic maze. I was ready, had been ready for some time, yearning for the lift up to the next floor, but with no map to find my way there; I was getting desperate. As my frustrations took hold, I got meaner and meaner, stretching my crumbling worldview past any sense of decency or rationality. Cue Ken…. Wow, this makes sense, this works! I've been fumbling for these truths for so long, and here they are, honest and tangible; bigger and more beautiful than I would ever have imagined. Here was someone with stature, integrity, and wisdom giving me not only more truth than I knew was possible, but the permission to embrace it and use it. That's where the love affair begun… My life is about integration: learning to live in a unity of mind and body; introducing my estranged shadows to my conscious self, drawing them in, being them; constructing better understanding of the world out there, and in here; living in relationship, giving myself to friendship and love. I love to learn: clarity of thought, rationality. If I have a distorted understanding of the world, my relationship to it will be distorted. If I have a partial understanding of the world, my relationship with it will be partial. If I have a distorted and partial understanding of myself, then I will be distorted and partial. For me, learning is about cognition in the best sense: widening my ability to see, to perceive. A good map not only helps me navigate the territory, it helps me see more of the territory! I sometimes see caution thrown over the cognitive, rational side of integral, “be careful not to live in your head too much”; an understandable fear indeed, but one I don't feel, or share. Is rational cognitive experience the only way I interact with, and learn from the world? Certainly not! What a death that would be! But do I find a rational reconstruction and unpacking of my experience crucial? Yes. Without it-without an accurate map- my ignorance and shadows can get lost in contradiction, sauntering off on tangents, withholding and distorting goodness truth and beauty. I know, because I have tasted that dream world. Rationality and feeling are not opposites, it is not an either/or choice. They are lovers; the perfect marriage. Without each other, they wilt, unable to embrace the fullness of life. Without feeling we lose touch with the world, floating, disembodied, and dead on the inside. Without rationality we drift with no guidance, no filter, naked to contradiction and narcissism. I love to feel, to touch life. I flourish through the visceral caress of relationship, of loving. This is part of my very nature, instilled by my parents and their own world. Rationality does not negate or repress this, quite the opposite, it allows it to flow freely, chaperoned by context and integration. Where this river will lead, I'm uncertain. But this time I'm not lost, I'm exploring. So here I sit, surrounded by possibility, guided by perspective, driven by truth, nourished by beauty; this is how I live. |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessColin said May 23, 2007, 10:43 AM: |
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Busy off doing other things, I return to the pod and click refresh. Ah, Ewan shares! Smile. |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessPelle said May 23, 2007, 10:53 AM: |
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Great contribution Ewan! |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessBalder said May 23, 2007, 11:19 AM: |
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Woo hoo, that rocks, Ewan! Emaho! I'm a trans-hippie – hear me roar!
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessMascha said May 23, 2007, 12:32 PM: |
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Invigorating, Ewan. I'm shouting, HAH! as I write over here. |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessJulian said May 23, 2007, 12:42 PM: |
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lovely passionate post ewan - inspiring and bold! |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmelv said May 23, 2007, 3:58 PM: |
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respect to that Mascha! |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmelv said May 23, 2007, 1:44 PM: |
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Ewan bud i was looking forward to fully digesting your post this evening, but work dragged into the evening sortin out me tutee's stuff, so it'll have to be tomorrow. |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessFrans said May 23, 2007, 2:40 PM: |
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Ewan, WOW! That’s quite the writing - I love it. You say: “I was ready, had been ready for some time, yearning for the lift up to the next floor, but with no map to find my way there; I was getting desperate.” That is me all over - Ken’s “A Theory of Everything” started me on the next plane - and never forget - this is just the beginning!!!!!!! Frans |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmaxie said May 23, 2007, 3:10 PM: |
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Ewan,
Michael |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmelv said May 23, 2007, 3:56 PM: |
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<back from finally eating inna lovely persian resteraunt and a de-brief with wine and friend session> |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmelv said May 24, 2007, 12:16 AM: |
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Fuck, what a kick! I feel so alive; the world is so vibrant before these new eyes of mine. The lights are that much brighter, the space that much deeper, my consciousness is that much wider. And do you know what the most exciting aspect is? It only gets bigger baby!! Ken saved my life. I was floundering; overwhelmed by choice, lost through freedom, wandering the endless halls of a relativistic maze. I was ready, had been ready for some time, yearning for the lift up to the next floor, but with no map to find my way there; I was getting desperate. As my frustrations took hold, I got meaner and meaner, stretching my crumbling worldview past any sense of decency or rationality. Cue Ken…. Same same brother. Its amazing how even though there's no clear answer to those once burning questions, they have been answered enough - perhaps by adressing the how to do rather than the what to do, perhaps through beecoming more comfortable in this existence and more accepting of myself. That freedom can now be felt as a gift, not a burden of choice.I think many/most people on this pod had that kind of Ken ahhhhh experience. I sure did, and just like you said, he took my crumbling world-view and gave tools to re-organise it and make it oh so beautiful and workable. Big big up to the man and his work! I love to learn: clarity of thought, rationality. If I have a distorted understanding of the world, my relationship to it will be distorted. If I have a partial understanding of the world, my relationship with it will be partial. If I have a distorted and partial understanding of myself, then I will be distorted and partial. For me, learning is about cognition in the best sense: widening my ability to see, to perceive. A good map not only helps me navigate the territory, it helps me see more of the territory! Wonderfully said! - all i would add - you know me {;-) is the importance of personalising the model through living it - making a dynamic 'guide book' to supplement the map, which in many ways proves the validity of the AQAl map. I sometimes see caution thrown over the cognitive, rational side of integral, “be careful not to live in your head too much”; an understandable fear indeed, but one I don't feel, or share. Is rational cognitive experience the only way I interact with, and learn from the world? Certainly not! What a death that would be! But do I find a rational reconstruction and unpacking of my experience crucial? Yes. Without it-without an accurate map- my ignorance and shadows can get lost in contradiction, sauntering off on tangents, withholding and distorting goodness truth and beauty. I know, because I have tasted that dream world. It's funny how i see the same caution often being (as perceived by me) being unwarrantedly pointed at non-rationality in its many guises, both theoretically and in the walk of action with twin concepts such as the morality of authority moving through the morality of association to the morality of principles (from Integral Psychology). I guess this just reflects the strengths and tendancies we both have to offer, though i really value your perspective, because although i am having my 'integral status' affirmed by life's reflection, i do know i currently need more rational cognitive clarity to balance by comfort with chaos and paradox. Rationality and feeling are not opposites, it is not an either/or choice. They are lovers; the perfect marriage. Without each other, they wilt, unable to embrace the fullness of life. Without feeling we lose touch with the world, floating, disembodied, and dead on the inside. Without rationality we drift with no guidance, no filter, naked to contradiction and narcissism.So we're the perfect match <rehearses bending down one knee with diamond in pocket…> No Ewan, thats what's so cool about having you as a friend - you have a really good balance of feeling and rationality, and i value it very highly. I love to feel, to touch life. I flourish through the visceral caress of relationship, of loving. This is part of my very nature, instilled by my parents and their own world. Rationality does not negate or repress this, quite the opposite, it allows it to flow freely, chaperoned by context and integration, What a cool place to use the word chaperoned! Where this river will lead, I'm uncertain. But this time I'm not lost, I'm exploring. So here I sit, surrounded by possibility, guided by perspective, driven by truth, nourished by beauty; this is how I live. Thats a very good way to describe the move from feeling choice as burden to choice as gift, but more universally. Beautifully put. To add a one-liner to what i was trying to get at in my response to Michael (i hope it wasnt too unclear and tangentic - i was a bit fried from me day…) To the 'teachers leave those kids alone' impulse i would add ''If you listen, we listen'' If we feel heard, we will listen (i say that almost voicing what the students i work with say in their truth-full yet uncontrolled response to educational approach, though ive certainly echoed a big version of that voice, and sometimes still do). ''we dont need {no rigid and unlistening} education'' Wilber remarked how jealous he was of the young folks nowadays, having so much knowledge to go on that was not available when he was growing up. He said he felt like choking the young shits. Totally Balder - i relish and respect the gift of evolution and the giant's shoulders we stand on, and even look forward to handing the torch over - i allready do with our students - there's nothing more satisfying than seeing a student become better than what i can teach, and the fact that a load of you guys run on a similar humility makes interacting such a joyful honour, and in the case of my job, such humility enables an honest and free 'submission' to 'authority'. Mascha its a joy to read what you wrote regarding this too! Michael, its all about the money - again, the point where i could embrace the neutral yet immense power of money as something that is not bad, when i was watching my green world crumble to dust, was a point of massive liberation. Money is almost like a lower right equivelent of the subtle body - a powerful energy that can be guided to immensly constructive action, or if left un-examined and without conscious rationality can become a malignant growth with a force of its own that is hard to reign in. Once that was realised, from then i have been able to walk with a much lighter backpack and with a lot more trust and energy, and a lot more excitement and bubbling potential. Watch this space - social entrpeneur on the rise. I have seen enough glimpses of the possibilities that arise from authentic 'dreams' that connect with a higher ideal to know its no longer a matter of if or if-only, but when. |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessEwan said May 24, 2007, 4:46 AM: |
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Hey everyone |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmarigpa said May 24, 2007, 5:34 AM: |
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Yay Ewan! |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmaxie said May 24, 2007, 11:05 AM: |
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Lol, |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessgitanjali said May 24, 2007, 6:28 PM: |
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Dearest Ewan |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessEwan said May 25, 2007, 3:07 AM: |
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Lol - Thanks for your kind words. It was really wonderful to meet you and your son. Thanks for your hospitality! It was great to witness and recieve your energy directly, really wonderful. |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnesskessels said May 25, 2007, 7:13 AM: |
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Hey Ewan, |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessEwan said May 25, 2007, 8:06 AM: |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessMascha said May 25, 2007, 8:44 AM: |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessEwan said May 25, 2007, 8:09 AM: |
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Jeez these smileys are addictive… I blame you Pelle! |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral Consciousnessmaryw said May 26, 2007, 3:01 AM: |
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Go on with your bad self, Ewan! Fuck, what a kick to see your contribution posted on KW's blog! Wheee! |
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessJane said May 26, 2007, 6:14 AM: |
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Ewan, Today my son Daniel, age 17 is graduating from highschool. the time thing is a joke in a way…..I can remember being 17 and buzzing with life like he is. It was not until 25 years later that I found all of Ken’s writing. Those intervening 25 years were almost a picture perfect science experiment on moving from the Green Meme to the Mean Green Meme to the Anti-Mean-Green-Meme to the arrival at the depth perception that comes from second tier cognition. It was a painful path for me, and one that hopefully can be shorn up and worn smooth by all successive travellers. I love that you are still in your 20’s and you can see so much of what was unclear to me at that time in my life.
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Re: Blogopalooza Day 3: Trans-hippie Integral ConsciousnessLisaji said May 26, 2007, 9:38 AM: |
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Respect Ewan, |
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