The Importance of Integral Learning

Ep. 67 (Part 1 of 3) | Corey deVos is the heart and center of Integral Life, the organization that revolves around the work of Ken Wilber. Corey became passionate about Integral Theory at the age of 19, and in this lively conversation, he is clearly every bit as passionate about the actuality and the promise of Integral today. Here, Corey gives a terrifically lucid explanation of what the term Integral encompasses: a stage of psychological development, a description of Ken Wilber’s life’s work, and a comprehensive map that comes alive for people, guiding their way and making sense out of enormously complex issues. Corey also describes Integral as a gateway between two massive phases in human history—the “adolescent” phase of collective development now starting to fall behind us and an integrated phase quite possibly ahead.

Corey infuses the complex topics under discussion—the Integral metatheory, social issues that never seem to get resolved, human evolution itself—with optimism and enthusiasm, clarity and light, a testament to his own embodiment of Integral consciousness. At Integral Life, Corey co-hosts The Ken Show (with Ken Wilber), applies Integral to social issues like racism and justice in his podcast series, and excels at finding creative ways of translating the complexities of Integral Theory into easy-to-understand nuggets of information. This conversation is a brilliant, beautiful illumination of the Integral vision, covering how Integral has evolved and describing what it can do for our future. Recorded on November 10, 2022.

“The more we can make room for each other’s perspective…that’s how you go about solving the kind of political tribalization and polarization that is so prominent today.”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1

• Introducing Corey deVos, Executive Producer of Integral Life, the organization that revolves around Ken Wilber and his work (00:57)
• The ordinary and the extraordinary about Integral: Corey gives a superb explanation of just what is meant by the term “Integral” (02:41)
• Global challenges now are so huge, complicated, and urgent, they are forcing developmental movement—a new evolution—and necessitating the kind of comprehensive solutions that Integral offers (07:14)
• How the spiral of development is now at war with itself—like a global auto-immune disease, we are attacking ourself; Integral can supply the “medicine” (08:27)
• What distinguishes the Integral stage from all the previous stages and how does Integral fit into history? (11:08)
• The fragmentation of knowledge and how Integral is able to hold it all in a meaningful framework (14:46)
• Integral is also a call to transform (18:39)
• Every new stage coming into being involves a revolution; Integral’s revolution is from the inside out rather than the outside in, and it demands we do our inner work (19:53)
• The problem with reductionism and how Integral holds our basic polarities: interior/exterior, subjective/objective, individual/collective, offering a way out of our conflicts (22:34)
• How can people start to get involved with the Integral project? (27:29)
• Corey’s catastrophic first spiritual experience and love at first read of Ken Wilber’s A Brief History of Everything (30:38) 

Resources & References – Part 1

• Corey deVos, Executive Producer at IntegralLife.com
• Corey deVos’ intro to Integral video: Holons: The Building Blocks of the Universe (YouTube)
• What’s the Future Integral conference in Sedona, hosted by Transformation Teaching (November 2022)
• Ken Wilber, Integral Theory, and Ken Wilber’s books*
• Everybody is right, YouTube video with Ken Wilber
• What Are the Stages of Development? (Integral Life)
• Build Your Integral Life, free Integral Life course for beginners
• Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, and Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution*
• The Integral Justice Warrior series, co-hosted by Mark Fischler and Corey deVos
• Abraham Maslow, American psychologist, creator of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
• Clare Graves, adult developmental stages psychologist foundational to Spiral Dynamics
• Ken Wilber, A Brief History of Everything*
• Marcia Walters (Ken’s ex-wife) & musician Stuart Davis
• Corey’s website, Vision Logix Woodworking

* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.

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Corey deVos is the Executive Producer of Integral Life, an online media platform that focuses on the application of Integral Theory to personal and social transformation. Integral Theory is a comprehensive framework that seeks to integrate multiple perspectives, including the subjective, objective, inter-subjective, and inter-objective dimensions of human experience.

Corey deVos is also a writer, woodworker, musician, and teacher, who has been involved in the integral community for many years. He is a frequent host and guest on Integral Life’s podcast, where he engages in deep conversations with leading thinkers, artists, and practitioners in the integral world. He is known for his ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner, and for his commitment to fostering a more inclusive and integrated worldview. Corey is a devoted father and husband, and lives with his family in Longmont, Colorado.

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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell