No need to apologize, I was joking around in return. Your comments have been much appreciated, and I hope you comment again in the future – always welcome!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and can’t wait to hear how Halloween “goes down” at your house this year!

Frank

I was meaning that I see the reason for your explaining things so clearly as evidence for your gift for understanding.

Like “clarity” is a symptom of the actual underlying gift. (“One does begat the other”)

I said it somewhat in jest.

I apologize for my lack in explaining that simply – I must have had no idea what I was talking about. LOL!!

Wow, you’re the first one I’ve ever heard say that I do not explain things in a manner that makes the subject accessible! Even Kevin says that I make the subject of foresight something that is exciting and understandable. That’s always been one of my strong traits. However, I do think that I try to take people out of their “comfort zone,” using some language and approaches that they may not be familiar with, helping them to think in ways that they haven’t thought before.

Maybe you don’t have the gift for “grasping?” (just kidding);)

And, as far as Einstein is concerned, who was he to talk? I mean, the Theory of Relativity, are you kidding me?

Yes, the house is getting spooky! Now, to attract the unwilling victims.

Frank

I would very much enjoy sitting with you and hear more about “Spiral Dynamics” – or even a phone call would be cool.

When you shared your presentation on the ladder in “The Zone”, my children lost their minds (don’t ya love it!) and I was only 1/4 mentally present.

I would not say that you have a gift for explaining things simply – sorry, too bad! haha! Rather, I think that you have a very firm grasp – a gift for understanding. As Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” One does begat the other ..

On with the blogging!

(My house is “vely scarelly” (voice of Dracula). I’m looking forward to hearing the sounds of traumatized children in a couple of weeks! lol!)

I’m glad for the conversation, good stuff! I think “both/and” is a great description, and plays right into my thrist for more complexity… haha..hahaha…hahahahahahahahaha! (Maniacal laughter implied).

As for Spiral, it’s not “the” truth, it is a tool for uncovering layers of reality, ideas, values, and worldviews. It helps one to see where they are in relation to others, how “self-centered” they may be, and how to incorporate greater stages of development into their lives (all of this on a corporate or collective level as well). There are other tools that accomplish such a task on an individual as well as organizational level (such as culture change methodologies or foresight style assessments), I’m just a big fan of Spiral and the implications on Integral Thought. Why? For the very reason that it is NOT a closed system, but rather ever expanding, inclusive of the layers that have gone before (you add and grow, not simply move ahead), and cognizant of changing environments and their effect on action-logics and perceptions. The “Spiral gurus” even note that the stages themselves would theoretically have no end.

Quick plug: This helps us individually and collectively (or “both/and” as you put it), to create aspirational futures rather than beng stuck at one level of thought and action (interally and externally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc.) and never knowing the difference. All things must grow to produce their potential, and so must you! I appreciate the “accidents” as much as anyone (remember, I love complexity!), but many accidents are due to a lack of hindsight, insight, and foresight. It’s easy to talk about synergy, harmony, and the like when you live in the United States. But the time is upon us to truly grasp the causal nature of humanity’s relationship globally. The de-greening of northern Africa (resulting in starvation), the 178 present-day wars taking place, the mortality rate in Sudan, the genocide in Liberia and West Africa, the unfettered polution in ever-expanding China, the human-rights violations in Thailand, food production problems in India, the unchecked race toward more technological production – these all add to the direction of the World System as a whole, and they call for a human awakening that grants a different response than that which has been given by modernism, dualism (as you pointed out), unconscious capitalism, etc. This is also why I work towards a “mental map” shift in faith dynamics, just as you do, and the reason that we are now friends – a wonderful addition to my life!

Frank

I appreciate the post, it clarifies a great deal – AND I get points for messing in your life in a memorable way again! lol!

I’m all the more convinced that collective and individual is a both/and, otherwise it would not be collaboration as you’ve so beautifully described, but “Borg”. By “convinced”, I do not mean “entrenched” by the way. My ears and mind are still wide open .

I’ve been reading in different areas online about Ken Wilber. If you will — Do you see “Spiral Dynamics” as a truth? Do you think that it can contain errors? Do you think it’s a closed system?