The Spiral is Alive (2)

And here is the second statement of Dr. Don Beck. It clarifies again the unique purpose and relationship of SDi to other developmental models.  In Dons own words. Seen in the work in progress of the SDi Middle East Project it will be exciting how the process and can really be sensed as three dimensional tornado rising right from the vortex of the spiral...

Don Beck:

".... This is what sets Spiral Dynamics apart from other developmental
models. Further, it sets the conceptual system right at the heart and
soul of AQAL
but, unfortunately, is not recognized as such. There are a number of
reasons for
this which I will discuss in a later posting. Some are very disturbing.
...

The topic is always the
code of the spiral rather than simply the characteristics of individual whorls
(levels, waves, systems, vMemes etc). The new book will make it more
explicit, but I would rather wait until the publication is complete
since so many
people have been hijacking Spiral Dynamics without understanding what
it actually
represents. I've learned my lesson, alas.While we have been
collaborative for years,
sharing what we have discovered, others have behaved in a competitive
fashion, even seriously misrepresenting our work for self-gain.
Amazing how many
talk Second Tier values but display nothing but RED and ORANGE walks.

Most of the visual representations of quadrants models stack them together
so that they all touch at one point. We call this the vortex. We place the
evolutionary spiral right over the point to provide "the verb," the
dynamic that shapes
the various "quadrants," creates verticality and "altitude," and connects what
we prefer to call the "domains of manifestation" of the specific
vMeme codes, as
well as the overarching Code of the Spiral.

My concern with both "quadrants" and "lines" is that they are
left-brain, linear, boxes or
sequences when our business has to do with integration and holism.
You call these spiral statics.

So, think of a three-dimensional tornado like spiral rising right
from the vortex and you
will sense the metaphor.

Lines convey a separateness and isolation that does not exist in reality.
If we believe that everything connects to everything else, then there
are zones of
connectivity that cut across the artificiality of the surface level
expressions that we would
much rather call domains. Domains connect with considerable ease to other
domains because they are right-brain energy fields. ( In fact, one of
my good friends in Hollywood has now published
a new CD set on this approach (you can find it on Amazon..his name is
John Feldman)
where I use domains language. http://voyager.zaadz.com/blog/2006/5/new_interactive_dvd_about_sdi

... these domains are viewing platforms and all I am
saying, there, is
they are connected at a common Code of the Spiral core - this is
what has formed, over time,
the "mountain." If "lines" or "quadrants" are used, and I have no
problem with the language, just be
certain you also acknowledge how they are all connected. If they are
used to limit or contain a point
of view for political or commercial reasons then I have real problem
with their use.
You should also understand that the specific vMeme layers are
specific manifestations of the
Double Helix - the sequence of Life Conditions and Awakened
capacities - and these go far, far
beyond value systems, social relationships, or political models. One
can track the identical emergence
in styles of architecture, forms of math, versions of sports, types
of drug addiction, and even physical "diseases" of the human
body. We are part of the co-evolution of genes AND memes, as they
respond to challenges in the
environment.

Surely you can see how the multiple intelligences are not distinct
categories but are
interrelated. For years we've been using the kinesthetic intelligence
to teach math
capacity, both in South Africa and in South Chicago. Our model of
integral schools
equips teachers to mesh these intelligences to generate critical
masses. And, maybe you are
aware of the notion of "consilence" that shows how many academic
disciplines and even
areas of thought run parallel. They are connected by "glue" or
'magnets" or fields.

Also, take the matter of oxytocin, the brain chemical (upper right)
that impacts interpersonal
bonding in upper left which, also, shapes lower left ubuntu (tribal)
group bonding which, when
crystallized, even impacts the architecture of building designs, or
lower right. This BO Second Code
(purple) simply manifests itself in these domains.

See my point. Those of us who work in the real world, with real
people, facing real problems, understand
how all of these expressions are so interrelated that to separate
them, other than for heuristic purposes,
gets one in serious trouble. Single minded reductionism leads to
alarming stigmas, stereotypes, and
dangerous polarization. Come to Israel-Palestine with us and I will
show you how these domains
are deeply connected. Also, this focus on lines often leads to
single-cause fallacy thinking and, in addition,
to '"solutions" that do not get to the cores.

I will have a great deal more to say about these matters because I
have allowed, even enabled, distortions to
creep into the I-I world and it is time for some clarity, honesty,
and integrity. We have a great deal to do in
this world and it will take all of us (and many more) to have an
impact. We have created a large tent
in our Center for Human Emergence as evidence of our intent. We
invite others to join with us because if
we are trapped in First Tier infighting, political games, or
ego-demands ourselves, we have nothing to offer the world.