The Spiral is Alive (1)

When I first read about Spiral Dynamics in 1996 -there was reference in the book STRATEGY of the DOLPHIN- by Dudley Lynch and Paul Kordis - I had a very vague picture of  it. Then came THEORY OF EVERYTHING and it got clearer. Don and his colleagues had been constantly modifying, extending and developing the work of Clare Graves. I did read the book SD in 2003 and discovered it was published in 1996.

Nevertheless it began to live really since I became part of the Sdi Yahoo constellation which serves the development of the learning curve very much. And discovering very bodily its large scale facilitating leverage. Especially now in the Middle East Project.

To increase the precise understanding of the beauty, punching power and music at the top of the learning curve -as demonstrated by Don and leading adcanced practioners - Helen and I posted some actual statements from Don :

The whole Thread:

The Spiral is alive

Here the first part of Dons statement with introduction from Helen:



Albert and I wanted to offer you this posting by Don Beck on the Spiral Dynamics Integral list, in response to conversation on that list.

"Once again I believe we are observing a great deal of maturity in understanding several of the critical elements of Spiral Dynamics as the focus shifts from defining individual whorls (memetic codes) to a recognition of the flow elements in the framework. Most of the presentations of Graves' original work, in addition to the many, many I-I versions, are nouns rather than verbs; they are reductionistic as distinct levels, or types, or musical notes or frozen mindsets. They lack the verb - the knowledge within blends, scapes, admixtures, and musical chords. (Watch for changes in I-I popularizing after we put these ideas into the public space, I've observed the competitive pattern for some time.)

As many of you know, we place the dynamic spiral right in the vortex of any quadrants typology. The Spiral, in the accumulations of codes and content, scheme and themes, and how they have interacted with Life Conditions, form these specific totem pole stacks of historical emergence. We've been doing this since the early l980s as the Gravesian bio-psycho-social systems Master "DNA" Code ratchets through time and space.

For those needing a translation, "bio" is upper right which includes the full spectrum of biological elements, from the mind-brain emergence to the entire physicality of the body and its structures, rhythm, and even versions of meditation and yoga. "Psycho" is upper left with the multiple layers of inner development around consciousness levels, value systems, and personality complexities.

One can even see this pattern in leadership styles and preferences. "Social" is manifest into the invisible domains of attraction and influence that shape the various cultural (lower left) arrangements between among people in terms of trust, power, status, rank, seniority, rights and privileges, et. When these invisible arrangements are translated or crystallized into systems and structures, or codified into laws, policy, buildings and architectural designs, economic access etc..they enter the lower right category. In short, they are inseparable in reality.

The Dynamic Spiral, driven by it's Master "DNA" Code, is what makes the connections, forms and shifts the holons, activates the new whorls, and regulates the ebb and flow as our Complex Adaptive Contextual Intelligences operate to maintain human life itself. As many of you know I've been describing this master spiral intelligence - known as The Code - for many years. We even have a book in process on this title and concept. One of the versions is contained in the 20 minute DVD called Beautiful Noise, produced by Cherie Beck from Baltimore on the theme of stratified democracy. You can obtain a copy from cheriebeck@gmail.com.

But if you truly want to be "integral," then you will see how all of these form into fractals in a unified, seamless manner, only to be separated for either a heuristic purpose or in attempts to measure them in an artificial fashion. The idea that they are separate, even into lines, conveys that reductionism and fragmentation that can very well give a false impression. I was first introduced to this quality of thinking when studying under Muzafer W. Sherif and Roger E. Nebergall at the University of Oklahoma in l965 and l966. Sherif, one of the founding principals of what became "social psychology," dealt with many of these insights within the language of "cognitive structures", where thinking and feeling intermixed, as did individuality and collective influences. We were searching for the algorithms to understand what was called The Social-Judgment Involvement approach.

I used this frame in my Ph. D study to show how economic, politics, religion, sociology, psychology, anthropology etc. were all meshed in an "integral" fashion in l860 as we polarized toward the devastating "civil" war. This may have been one of the initial "integral" approaches to a description of complex historical forces in place of single cause fallacies. It is always the dance between and among these variables. I wrote the dissertation in l966.

The Integral approach must go beyond identifying as many variables as possible; rather, it must account for the various musical forms, dance steps, and arrangement of partners. Integral is in the dance; not in the lists.

If this is how nature actually works, then the 7th Code (Yellow, systemic, authentic, ecological) will be greatly influenced by what came before - the humanizing from the FS 6th Level code that will clean out or moderate ER-Orange selfishness. At the same time it will bump up against the more pressing and global aspects of the 8th Code (turquoise) that will act in behalf of all life, not just humans, and over the long term rather than short term. Verticality of understanding will replace both group think and flatlander views; and rights/responsibilities, top down/bottom up, and systemic connections and flows will form into paradoxes to be resolved rather positions to be defended. Yellow will "express self" for sure, and may be tough as nails and even cold blooded, but it will always have the Third Win in mind rather than concern for bank accounts or personal status. It will become passionate for integrity, principle, and personal accountability to high levels of ethics.

And, since we form into memetic stacks, chords and "dance" to various melodies, Yellow may have strong Blue with in, or even Red, or maybe even Green. You might be surprised. You don't want to mess with it unless you bring lots of evidence and can make a rational argument, with a full array of nuances, viewing points, decision-making platforms and spin-offs.

So, the "expressive self" morphs itself through Red, (to hell with others), Orange (not to raise he ire of others) and Yellow (not at the expense of others) variations. This is an adaptive process, not a Calvinistic script. It will often take the excesses to provide wake up calls, and to signal when a system is on the downward spiral in its own life cycle. Look what has happened after the WorldCom and Enron scandals, or what the violence in Iraq is going to actually produce over the long haul. Rushing in with premature solutions may defeat the entire evolutionary trajectory, since it takes problems of existence to awaken new, fresh, and more comprehensive solutions. Didn't Albert Einstein say something about the need for new thinking?

Many are beginning to sketch in the parameters of Yellow as it is a new kid on the block and will need lots of experience before it becomes clear to more of us. We are off to a good start. This quality interaction makes it a pleasure to open the various postings, especially since tolerant-open minds, along with gentle words and kinds hearts, permeate the interactions. We learn through our differences and often what appear to be sparks are essential to provide the illumination necessary for growth and development. Thanks to each and all."

I'm sure Don would be delighted to read your comments...