San Diego Integral — October 20, 2018
Realizing the Evolutionary Heartbeat of Development
The integral community is fascinated by development. Developmentally speaking, this is no surprise, the Integral stage of the evolutionary journey is largely characterized by the recognition of this developmental phenomenon, and curiosity surrounding how to work with it.
But what is “development?” Many remarkable and renowned individuals have explored this question, from a variety of perspectives, value sets, and developmental stages themselves.
While none of the various systems seem to describe precisely the same thing, there is certainly a sense of each approach having some view of the elephant…
Recently, through a unique approach to re-visioning our developmental understandings, Terri O’Fallon and Kim Barta have suggested an underlying evolutionary pattern at play. One of the foundational elements of their STAGES model of development, is a recurring movement – a dual oscillation.
Development, possibly evolution itself, may be said to move back and forth through receptivity and activity, as well as inwards towards a “self” and outwards towards a greater focus on “other/context.”
At this monthly gathering of the San Diego Integral group, we will explore the realization of these natural movements within ourselves as individuals, and in community with one another. Come join us as we realize ourselves as the natural, developmental heartbeat of evolution itself.
In February, 2017 San Diego Integral began the Focused Integral Group Discussion (FIGD) which is a meta-structuring format where we briefly switch into an agreed upon process to optimally utilize the We-Space. The objective of FIGD is to collectively feel deeper into any topic and promote a causal state experience where we briefly switch from a collective I to a collective we. A Focused Integral Group process is “running in the background” until a salient moment rises that we want to explore. This may be derived from a presentation, a poignant comment by a member, a poem…whatever has resonance and can be horizontally expanded by the collective. This moment is identified by the “moderator” who helps maintain focus.
FIGD have three parts. It begins with a formal focus, followed by commentary on the process and then a discussion. Each segment lasts for 3-8 minutes. We have committed to a minimal of three FIGD per meeting. We have found that the intensity of these collective focused moments have increased with experience and skill and seem to delightfully persist throughout the three phases. This is very much an experimental process we have been Improving upon after each meeting.
As previously mentioned FIGD was initially described for the February, 2017. The sequential evolution of FIGD can be seen in the PAGES tab above. New or returning members are encouraged to read these brief papers in preparation for participation. Updates have followed each SDI meeting.
SDI is committed to the creative advance into novelty.
If you have a topic suggestion please let us know and we’ll bring it to the conversation.