Deep Transformation

Ep. 69 (Part 3 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 3The early days of Integral after the end of its “dark ages” (01:50)What was Integral Naked exactly? (03:18)Robb Smith takes over the leadership of Integral Life (06:16)The early days conversations are as relevant today as when they were recorded (08:57)The evolution of Integral Life, what’s going on now: political sensemaking, intra personal development, live community practice groups, and much more (10:08)Corey’s development of trust and confidence doing the work: from instrument to symphony (15:50)Carrying on the flame that was ignited by Ken Wilber (20:30)The curse of Ken Wilber is being born ahead of his time (22:04)What is most exciting to Corey right now? Taking Integral ideas and expressing them artistically with woodwork (24:41)Where is Integral headed? As the framework is applied in the world, it’s going to start generating real impact (28:25)Integralists are growing up, cleaning up, and now is the time for a collective “showing up” (30:51)Resources & References – Part 3Alex Gray, visual artist known for creating spiritual & psychedelic paintingsRobert Kegan, developmental psychologist, author of The Evolving Self*Billy Corgan, the Smashing Pumpkins’ lead singer, primary songwriter, and guitaristStone Gossard, guitarist and songwriter for Pearl JamSaul Williams, rapper, singer/songwriter, poet, actorSerj Tankian, songwriter, political activist, lead singer in System of a DownRobb Smith, founder and CEO of Integral LifeJames Turner, D.C. lawyer and author of The Chemical Feast: Ralph Nader’s Study Group Report on the Food and Drug Administration*Jim Garrison, founder and president of Ubiquity UniversityMark Fischler, co-host of The Integral Justice Warrior series with Corey deVosDr. Keith Witt, clinical psychologist and frequent guest on Integral Life podcastsJeff Salzman, host of The Daily Evolver podcastIntegral Life Practice communityRyan Oelke, meditation, mindfulness, and dharma teacherThe Joe Rogan Experience podcastGail Hochachka, co-founder of Integral Without Borders and author of Developing Sustainability, Developing the Self*Roger Walsh, The State of the Integral Enterprise (article in the Journal of Integral Theory and Practice)Bence Ganti, founder of the IEC global integral conferences: Integral European Conference 2023, Planetary Awakening 2.0Ken Wilber, One Taste* Corey deVos, Executive Producer at IntegralLife.comCorey deVos’ intro to Integral video: Holons: The Building Blocks of the Universe (YouTube)Build Your Integral Life, free Integral Life course for beginnersCorey’s art website, Vision Logix Woodworking* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---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.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 68 (Part 2 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 2In appreciation of Ken Wilber’s kindness and generosity (00:48)The Integral vision, the concept of “vision-logic,” and the geometry of consciousness (02:23)Corey’s creativity using mainstream movie clips to communicate the complexity of each Integral stage of development in a nutshell (05:18)How Corey applies Integral to the major social issues of our time (09:21)The Integral Justice Warrior series, co-hosted by Mark Fischler and Corey deVos (10:38)The Ken Show with Ken Wilber and Corey deVos (13:18)The Integral map’s four quadrants explained (14:47)The Integral heart is an empathetic heart (18:14) The 8 zones of racism: can we create a frame in which both a “woke” person and a traditional person can find themselves? (20:28)How can we talk about systemic racism (or any other issue) from different developmental perspectives and find common ground? (23:22)Stumbling our way towards Integral and finding out that the territory is actually real (26:21)The evolution of Integral, symbol of wholeness (32:47)How Corey came to be knocking on Ken’s door and his intention to create a way for people to become transformed by Integral yet not feel alone in this (34:41)Resources & References – Part 2John Dupuy, Integral Recovery: A Revolutionary Approach to the Treatment of Alcoholism and Addiction*Ken Wilber, The Spectrum of Consciousness*Corey’s art website, Vision Logix WoodworkingKen Wilber, The Integral Vision*The Integral Justice Warrior series, co-hosted by Mark Fischler and Corey deVosThe Ken Show: Putting the “Art” in Artificial IntelligenceThe Ken Show: Wicked Problems, Gun ViolenceJeff Salzman, host of The Daily Evolver podcastCorey deVos, Executive Producer at IntegralLife.comCorey deVos’ intro to Integral video: Holons: The Building Blocks of the Universe (YouTube)Build Your Integral Life, free Integral Life course for beginners* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---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.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

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 1Introducing 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 1Corey deVos, Executive Producer at IntegralLife.comCorey 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 WilberWhat Are the Stages of Development? (Integral Life)Build Your Integral Life, free Integral Life course for beginnersKen Wilber, Sex, Ecology, and Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution*The Integral Justice Warrior series, co-hosted by Mark Fischler and Corey deVosAbraham Maslow, American psychologist, creator of Maslow’s hierarchy of needsClare Graves, adult developmental stages psychologist foundational to Spiral DynamicsKen Wilber, A Brief History of Everything*Marcia Walters (Ken’s ex-wife) & musician Stuart DavisCorey’s website, Vision Logix Woodworking* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---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.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 66 | Ukrainian psychologist Kateryna Yasko and integral leadership development expert Vytautas Bučiūnas share their first-hand experiences of the war in Kyiv now, one year after the invasion by Russia, as well as their penetrating perspectives on Russian imperialism (“Russia needs to lose this war so they can reinvent themselves”), on why there is comparably less PTSD among Ukrainian soldiers, and the implications for the world if Russia were to win or if it were to disintegrate. They acknowledge the relatively recent “awakening of Europe” to the fact that Putin won’t stop with Ukraine if he wins, and warn that “democracy needs to be fully ready for a possibly long-term battle for its values.”Kateryna and Vytautas have witnessed how having an overriding mission and purpose has changed Ukrainians, and describe perceiving an unmistakable shift in energy upon crossing the border into Ukraine, where the heightened appreciation for life and the strength and solidarity of common purpose are palpable. What does the struggle for democracy, freedom, and dignity actually feel like? Find out on a planned pilgrimage to Ukraine this fall—both a spiritual journey of awakening and an opportunity to embody the experience of being invaded by Russia. This podcast is also a call for help—if you feel inspired to support the efforts in Ukraine, below are links to three trustworthy organizations working hard on Ukraine’s behalf. Recorded February 13, 2023.“Democracies need to have guts. Who knows how many battles between democracy and autocracy lie ahead?”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time StampsIntroducing Ukrainian psychologist Dr. Kateryna Yasko and leadership development expert Vytautus Bučiūnas (01:51) Thank you to people who gave via iAwake in support of Ukraine (04:23)Update on what’s happening on the front lines thanks to the support of Western countries and especially the U.S. (06:01)President Zelensky, his speech to the United States Congress, and the qualities that make him a great wartime president (06:58)The metamodern cultural code and using force to protect ethical values (10:06)The awakening of Europe: democracy needs to be ready for a possibly long-term battle for its values (11:42)Ukraine has integrated the extremely important polarities: love and power, and the Battle of Antonov Airport (13:01)This is an existential war; there is no choice for Ukrainians (17:40)Things are getting a lot worse in Russia socially, economically, and among the elite (20:01)Russian imperialism needs to die for the benefit of all, including Russians (21:09)Because the defensive war in Ukraine is a just war, levels of PTSD among soldiers are much less (25:04)There are more than 100 small nations under Russian control who seek autonomy, independence, dignity, and respect (25:55)What will happen if/when Russia disintegrates? (26:34)Every country has its Nazis (30:25)The spirit in Kyiv now: solidarity, purpose, meaning & an extraordinary appreciation of life (32:30)You are invited on a pilgrimage to Ukraine in Oct 2023 to experience the vital spirit of the struggle for democracy firsthand (37:33)Co-host John Dupuy’s riveting song: Ukraine! (45:59)How to get involved and support Ukraine (see links below) (51:39)A call to be with Ukraine in spirit (52:57)In gratitude for the support of the United States and a heads up to Americans: the outcome of this war will affect each and every one of us (54:09)Resources & ReferencesServant of the People, political satire TV series created by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which he stars as a teacher unexpectedly elected President of Ukraine (before his real life election as President of Ukraine)Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, There is a time for everythingBattle of Antonov Airport, February 24-25, 20221420, street interviews with Russians & Belarusians by Daniil Orain on YouTubeThe Emerge community is premised on the hypothesis that the future will be either a discrete phrase-shift towards further entropy and collapse, or the emergence of a higher-order system that is more complex and elegant than current global system dynamics. The question is how we get there.John Dupuy’s Ukraine! song on YouTubeThe Moral Imperative to Help Ukraine: Integral Perspectives on the War, Its Global Implications, and the Role of Warrior Consciousness, Deep Transformation podcast with Kateryna Yasko, Vytautas Bučiūnas, and Bence Gánti, recorded April 15, 2022Ukrainian Integral Perspectives on the Ongoing Invasion of Ukraine, Deep Transformation podcast with Kateryna Yasko & Vytautas Bučiūnas recorded March 5, 2022Additional resources recommended by Kateryna Yasko An astute, in-depth profile of Vladimir Putin, with Russian-born American journalist Julia Ioffe: Putin and the Presidents: Julia Ioffe (interview) | FRONTLINETimothy Snyder, expert on the modern history of Central and Eastern Europe and history professor at Yale, on Why the world needs Ukrainian victory Timothy Snyder on Nuclear war! Why it isn’t happeningHow you can help – Trustable charities working hard in support of Ukraine:United24, the official fundraising platform of Ukraine, initiated by President Zelenskyy, founded to protect, save, and rebuild Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/The Foundation for Competent Assistance to the Army, “Come Back Alive,” has launched a fundraiser to purchase equipment that will help the Ukrainian military defeat the occupiers in cyberspace: https://savelife.in.ua/en/Serhiy Prytula’s Foundation is a charitable organization with a military headquarters focused on providing the Ukrainian army with means of communication, optical devices, drones, UAVs, transport, and means of tactical medicine for the military, and a humanitarian headquarters, providing assistance to civilians in the occupied territories and within a radius of 70 kilometers from the front line, including the “NEST” project, with the mission of bringing life back to de-occupied towns and villages by providing people with free mobile homes on their land: https://prytulafoundation.org/en---Kateryna Yasko (Ukraine) is an organizational psychologist, a trainer for the development of emotional intelligence, trust, cooperation, effective communication, and peaceful conflict resolution, and co-founder of the consulting company U-Integral. Her academic background is in the area of international relations and law (MSc), business (MBA), and psychology (MSc). She bases her programs on the principles of Ken Wilber’s Integral approach and Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication, and is certified in Spiral Dynamics Integral and in Susanne Cook-Greuter’s Maturity Assessment Profile. Kateryna is also head of the public association “International Institute for Integral Development” and a founder of the educational initiative EMPATIA.PRO, specializing in bringing holistic approaches into educational leadership and learning cultures. Vytautas Bučiūnas (Lithuania–Ukraine) is a co-founder and managing partner of U-Integral, an integral leadership development company. Vytautas also has vast experience as a top manager in the banking sector including working as the Head of Resident Office, Senior Banker, Associate Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Russia, Ukraine). Vytautas’ professional profile includes building organizational units from scratch, carrying out large-scale transformations, and managing crises. Vytautas is a certified Integral Master Coach™ (Integral Coaching Canada), an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)™, and the only business consultant in Ukraine certified in Leadership Maturity Framework – Maturity Assessment for Professionals (LMF-MAP) and Global Leadership Profile (GLP). Vytautas explores the development of human consciousness and complex social systemsfrom a holistic perspective. He considers the growth of a critical mass of mature leaders with systemic thinking and transformational capabilities to be the key to society’s healthy development.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 65 | Rev. Dr. Michael Clarke, principal of the Anglican seminary Codrington College in Barbados, beautifully articulates how embodied spirituality can change us and the importance of personal encounters with living Spirit to further us along our evolutionary path. He enlightens us as to the shortcomings of the Church and religion as it is largely practiced in the West in a way many of us may not have heard before, pointing out that the Church fails to take into account that the magnitude of our understanding of divine experience is ever expanding, in parallel with Ken Wilber’s Integral teaching on the ever expanding nature of consciousness, and mentioning that Jesus’ experience as divine man was not intended to be the end all religious experience for all time. As Michael says, “We need to understand the Oneness—we’ve done religion from the duality perspective, from a separatist perspective…missing the whole point!”Michael is passionate about creating opportunities for people to have personal encounters with living Spirit since having his own earth-shattering experience with the divine. He tells us that when spirituality comes into play, it offers a step upward, a higher place to stand to view the world that allows for Oneness, and describes the separation inherent in our world of duality today as a “wonderful avenue towards unification, appreciation, and understanding.” So, “How do you lift up this thing called spirituality and cause it to be a central part of religious response? Can the Church grow with what needs to happen?” Michael imbues this conversation with a bright, shining light of deep spiritual understanding and invites us all to be open to the “call to be more.” Recorded September 6, 2021.“This human experience causes us to fall asleep… thus the journey of awakening.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time StampsHow John met Michael Clarke at an Integral Christianity conference (01:25)Michael’s journey from cradle Anglican to hearing the call to ministry and becoming an ordained priest in 1984 (04:33)Speaking from the perspective of a Black priest rather than an Anglican priest for the first time (05:55)Michael’s spiritual turning point experience and consciousness shift (08:19)Climbing up the Jesus experience as a platform to go higher didn’t end up happening; the Jesus experience was made out to be the highest possible experience (09:16)Michael’s spiritual experience in more detail: finding himself on the floor of the Church and recognizing that there is another dimension of religious experience outside of dogma (10:40)Discovering a path parallel to the theoretical and philosophical with access to divine authority and power—direct experience of the living spirit—has been pushed aside, especially in the West, to focus on the objective (14:51)Our world (and the Church) tends to seek control, but no one can control the direct divine experience of an individual (18:00)How do you lift up this thing called spirituality and cause it to be the core of religious response? (19:38)Looking for a system that would transcend and include Michael’s experience—practices to induce religious response (21:12)Opening to the “more,” the luminous, capturing a sense that everything is expanding (27:13) Understanding that divine experience is an evolutionary process, forever changing; none of us have it all nailed down (29:14)The difficult of talking about this with people who haven’t had a divine experience (31:26)There is a growing sensitivity to the spiritual but the focus remains on the external journey rather than the inner, contemplative journey (34:49)Speaking as a Black priest from the West Indies: it’s no longer about religion but about the experience of coming into this white culture (36:14)The separation inherent In a world of duality provides a wonderful avenue for unification—for us to move higher and experience the oneness (40:31)We need to understand the oneness—we’ve done religion from the duality perspective, from a separatist perspective, missing the whole point (41:28)Re-examining Jesus as a spiritual being having a physical experience, focusing on the the incarnational aspect of Jesus as human and divine, allows us to look through a different lens and see the possibilities for all of us—we all can go higher (44:37)Individuals are open to the spiritual—the Church just needs to pick it up! Bring it back to the center, invite people to do the work and make the shift (51:56)Culturally, the Caribbean perspective is changing now, loosening the connection with established religion that endorsed slavery, and taking ownership for one’s life journey, asking, what does it mean to be me as a person, as an individual? (55:37)Resources & ReferencesRev. Dr. Michael Clarke, principal of Codrington College in Barbados, one of the oldest theological colleges in the Western hemisphereMichael’s radio program, Food for the Soul, aired on CBC 100.7FM at 1:00 pm EST on Sundays, https://liveonlineradio.net/q-100-7-fmMichael’s morning devotion on Contemplative Life Foundation’s Facebook and YouTube channels, Monday through Friday, 5:30 am ESTToronto School of Theology, one of the largest ecumenical centers for theological education in the English-speaking worldThe Episcopal Church, The Book of Common Prayer*iAwake Technologies, transformative sound technology for an evolving worldKen Wilber’s Integral Theory (a quick intro on the Daily Evolver website)Paul Smith, Integral Spirituality: The Spirit’s Call to Evolve*James Finley, faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation, author of Merton’s Palace of Nowhere* and The Contemplative Heart*, and host of CAC’s podcast Turning to the MysticsCynthia Bourgeault, mystic, writer, teacher within the worldwide Wisdom community, author of the Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening* and moreAlbert Einstein, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels*, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas*Thomas Keating, one of the principal developers of Centering Prayer, author of Open Mind, Open Heart* and many more * As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---The Rev. Dr. Michael A. Clarke, D. Min, graduated from Harrison College in 1978 and matriculated at the University of the West Indies in the same year. Upon graduating from UWI, he offered himself to test his vocation at Codrington College, the Anglican Seminary of the Church of the Province of the West Indies, and upon successfully completing his time there, he was accepted into Holy Orders, ordained deacon, and priested on the Eve of the Ascension in 1985. Dr. Clarke pursued a career in the full time ministry of the Church until 1990, when he left the diocese to study and work in the diocese of Toronto at St. Peter’s Church and St. Paul’s the Apostle Church, while pursuing his Doctor of MInistry degree studies at the Toronto School of Theology, Trinity College, University of Toronto.Dr. Clarke was instrumental in creating the Anglican Youth Ministry Service, an agency of the diocese of Barbados, which was set up to provide a service to parishes enabling those in Youth MInistry with the opportunity to develop their skills and allow for a greater engagement of young people within the Church in the several parishes. He served in this capacity from 1994 – 2001. In 2015, Dr. Clarke was invited to serve the Province as principal of Codrington College, ex-officio to the Provincial Commission on Doctrine and the Provincial Commission on Ministry. ---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 64 (Part 2 of 2) | Lynn Fuentes, Ph.D., author of The Koan of Chronic Illness and teacher of a series of courses on managing chronic illness, shines a bright light of understanding on chronic illness with all of its far-reaching ramifications in this very moving and important conversation. Lynn not only illuminates what chronic illness involves physically, emotionally, and relationally, but delves also into the existential questions it engenders: How should we live? How can we love each other? How can we embrace our suffering and allow it to be our path to greater connection with spirit? Lynn speaks from personal experience, having spent many years caring for a family member with a debilitating illness, and explains how she used the Integral Map in her own struggle to help make sense of the huge, all-consuming project that inevitably follows a diagnosis. Now she teaches others what she has learned about coping with the overwhelming logistics, healing the trauma, and also about transforming illness into a spiritual practice.This conversation really pertains to all of us, whether we are very ill or not, as aging towards death is something we all face. Can we learn to prepare ourselves? Can we reflect deeply on what is truly meaningful and important about life itself and live accordingly? Can we open to the wholeness of life, the pain and the bliss, the suffering that our cultural narrative would just as soon ignore? Chronic illness is a heartrending subject, but Lynn’s warm, wise, skillful, Integral approach allows us to see it in an expanded way, more profound, more transformative, than we may have seen it before. Recorded December 15, 2022.“We cannot separate suffering from life, they are intimately interconnected. Illness really shows us that.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2What are the essential things in life? Self-knowledge, the need for community, a spiritual connection, appreciating the small things (01:27)Transforming illness into a spiritual practice and the practice of surrender—in surrendering we can become larger; it’s not giving up, not defeat, it’s acceptance (05:20) Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ stages of grief end in acceptance (08:22)Respecting people’s journey: people are too ready to make assumptions about what is needed, when we actually need to listen and ask, “What do you need?” (09:00)It’s very scary letting it in: this could happen to anyone at any moment (11:32)I thought life was about doing something! But now I can’t do. (12:53)How to take sick people’s grumpiness and irritability (13:27)How do we navigate the relationship part and allow each party, sick person and caregiver, to have their feelings; where is the place for sacrifice while still taking care of yourself? (14:50)We need to teach people how to be with a person who is suffering (18:13)Do most of us grow wiser as we age? (20:32)The importance of reflection and taking responsibility for one’s life (23:08)How is God here with me—as caregiver, as provider, as patient? (24:19)Philosophy—the love of wisdom—and the importance of spiritual practice in preparation for illness and dying (27:26)We cannot separate suffering from life—they are intimately interconnected (29:46)Opening to the wholeness of life goes against our cultural narrative that we have managed to eradicate suffering (32:43) The dialectic of progress: every social advance cures some problems but also introduces new ones (33:55)The important part is how you hold your suffering, how you relate to your illness or your suffering (37:03)The realization of love and its redemptive power as an answer to the koan (37:59)Resources & References – Part 2Roger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind*Ram Dass, Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying*Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ stages of griefLady of the Camelias film starring Isabelle Huppert, based on the novel La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre DumasTerry Patten, A New Republic of the Heart*, Deep Transformation episode 8, Facing Death: A Call to “Get Real”iAwake Technologies, sound tech infused audio tracks to help deepen our spiritual lives, enhance creativity, heal emotional trauma, and become more compassionate (iAwake sponsors the Deep Transformation podcast)Bob Dylan, It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)Lama Surya Das, one of our foremost Western Tibetan Buddhist teachers and scholarsLynn Fuentes, The Koan of Chronic Illness: An Integral Approach*Lynn Fuentes, It’s Not Too Late: You Can Grow a Bright Future Starting Right Now*Lynn Fuentes, CEO, Transformation Teaching, offering personal and spiritual growth coaching, and courses in adult development, life planning, and chronic illness management, based on the integral theory of Ken WilberTransformation Teaching courses including Koan of Illness courses* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Lynn Fuentes, Ph.D., is CEO of Transformation Teaching, which offers personal and spiritual growth coaching and courses in adult development, life planning, and chronic illness management, based on the integral theory of Ken Wilber. Lynn is also the author of the 2022 book The Koan of Chronic Illness: An Integral Approach and It’s Not Too Late. She has taught in the areas of conflict management, chronic illness, writing, and adult psychology at Prescott College and DePaul University, where she also founded and directed the Chronic Illness Initiative, a unique program to help chronically ill students obtain a college education. She also served for many years on the board of the Solve ME/CFS Initiative.  Lynn’s primary focus is The Koan of Illness, a program dedicated to helping people with chronic illness using integral principles. Lynn has been a caregiver for the past 36 years for family members with serious chronic illnesses and was recently diagnosed herself with a chronic condition.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 63 (Part 1 of 2) | Lynn Fuentes, Ph.D., author of The Koan of Chronic Illness and teacher of a series of courses on managing chronic illness, shines a bright light of understanding on chronic illness with all of its far-reaching ramifications in this very moving and important conversation. Lynn not only illuminates what chronic illness involves physically, emotionally, and relationally, but delves also into the existential questions it engenders: How should we live? How can we love each other? How can we embrace our suffering and allow it to be our path to greater connection with spirit? Lynn speaks from personal experience, having spent many years caring for a family member with a debilitating illness, and explains how she used the Integral Map in her own struggle to help make sense of the huge, all-consuming project that inevitably follows a diagnosis. Now she teaches others what she has learned about coping with the overwhelming logistics, healing the trauma, and also about transforming illness into a spiritual practice.This conversation really pertains to all of us, whether we are very ill or not, as aging towards death is something we all face. Can we learn to prepare ourselves? Can we reflect deeply on what is truly meaningful and important about life itself and live accordingly? Can we open to the wholeness of life, the pain and the bliss, the suffering that our cultural narrative would just as soon ignore? Chronic illness is a heartrending subject, but Lynn’s warm, wise, skillful, Integral approach allows us to see it in an expanded way, more profound, more transformative, than we may have seen it before. Recorded December 15, 2022.“We cannot separate suffering from life, they are intimately interconnected. Illness really shows us that.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Lynn Fuentes, founder of Transformation Teaching and author of The Koan of Chronic Illness: An Integral Approach (01:01)How Lynn came to focus on chronic illness—because of her son (01:52)Why say the “koan” of chronic illness? And the spiritually oriented questions that come up when facing such an illness, like “why me?” “Why my son?” (05:24)How to handle this as a parent and making lemonade from lemons (08:40)Genji-kōans arise out of life itself and the difference between knowledge questions and wisdom questions (11:02)The all-consuming challenge of chronic illness: getting an illness is both a trauma and a HUGE project, like taking several college causes when all you should be doing is resting (15:30)Be kind to yourself: this is not easy (20:22)Using Integral Theory’s four-quadrant model really helps get a handle on this (20:40)You need a village (22:52)The medical system needs to be completely revamped (24:03)Physicians’ burnout and moral injury (26:14)Support groups can be even more effective than the doctors (28:51)Chronic illness is not like acute illness: doctors want to be successful and patients feel guilty seeing their doctors when they’re not getting better (29:50)The heartless attitude that it’s all in your head (30:44) A longstanding UK study’s medical recommendations for exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy were just plain wrong (34:05)Chronic ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and Long Covid are so widespread, they’re forcing more research (34:57)Illness is actually one of the most profound experiences we can have: it’s a path for growth (37:19)Resources & References – Part 1Lynn Fuentes, The Koan of Chronic Illness: An Integral Approach*Lynn Fuentes, It’s Not Too Late: You Can Grow a Bright Future Starting Right Now*Lynn Fuentes, CEO, Transformation Teaching, offering personal and spiritual growth coaching, and courses in adult development, life planning, and chronic illness management, based on the integral theory of Ken WilberTransformation Teaching courses including Koan of Illness coursesThe Life and Work of Francis (Fran) Bennett, chaplainIntegral Life’s Who is Ken Wilber?Integral Life’s What are the Four Quadrants?Terry Patten, A New Republic of the Heart*, Deep Transformation episode 8, Facing Death: A Call to “Get Real”Bill Epperly, Integral, mindfulness-based coach* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Lynn Fuentes, Ph.D., is CEO of Transformation Teaching, which offers personal and spiritual growth coaching and courses in adult development, life planning, and chronic illness management, based on the integral theory of Ken Wilber. Lynn is also the author of the 2022 book The Koan of Chronic Illness: An Integral Approach and It’s Not Too Late. She has taught in the areas of conflict management, chronic illness, writing, and adult psychology at Prescott College and DePaul University, where she also founded and directed the Chronic Illness Initiative, a unique program to help chronically ill students obtain a college education. She also served for many years on the board of the Solve ME/CFS Initiative.  Lynn’s primary focus is The Koan of Illness, a program dedicated to helping people with chronic illness using integral principles. Lynn has been a caregiver for the past 36 years for family members with serious chronic illnesses and was recently diagnosed herself with a chronic condition.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 62 (Part 2 of 2) | Educator, author, philosopher, and futurist Zachary Stein gives a startling account of the effects the digital age already has on education and where this is headed. Think AI tutors and students talking in 3D with Socrates. Zak sees education in a deeply philosophical sense as fundamental to the sustainability of our civilization, with implications for each component of the metacrisis. Who will be driving the technology stack that actually leads to a viable civilization? Can we maintain our psychological sovereignty in a sea of digital propaganda and know the truth?Zak describes the metacrisis as a gestalt shift that allows us to orient toward the whole in an intuitive way and how this can give us traction in finding solutions. He finds hope for our future in the untapped potential of our collective human family and especially in the untapped potential of our youth, given the opportunity to make their lives meaningful and connected, working together to resolve the pressing challenges of our time. If you have a slightly outdated perception of the present, this impactful, far-reaching conversation may rock it squarely to the edge of present and future. Recorded November 30, 2022.“A crisis at the root of the way we make choices about civilization itself—the metacrisis is a crisis of the mind.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2How we ourselves are weaponized to spread propaganda (01:52)Meditation as an antidote: coming back to our own fundamental present moment experience (02:58)Algorithmic radicalization and how to stop the limbic hijacking that happens via the screen (04:20)The future of education: AI tutoring, virtual reality, and talking with Socrates (07:50)For the first time a generation could be raised by a non-human entity, creating a trans-human generation and fundamentally changing the dynamic of what a human is (12:31)The “return of the human” and the bicycle analogy (16:51)Who will be driving the technology stack that actually leads to a viable democracy in America and a viable civilization altogether? (19:06)Education broadly defined is social autopoiesis—the way the social system identifies, reproduces, evolves (21:06)Self-conscious evolution occurs through human education; our capacity for education makes us unique as a species (23:55)The future of education involves the end of schools and learning to socialize doing collaborative work (26:50)The adolescent mental health crisis: everyone senses schools are irrelevant (28:04)Making the lives of adolescents meaningful and reviving the guild structure (30:30)How do we foster virtue and maturity, and intelligence rather than only intelligence? (32:40)The de-spiritualization of society and the need to reintroduce religious meaning making (35:00)What gives Zachary hope: how much we underestimate human potential, and all the untapped collective intelligence that could come out of a cooperative approach vs a competitive one (39:31)Resources & References – Part 2Consilience Project propaganda series (#1)Consilience Project article, Social media enables undue influenceJonathan Rowson, anthology Dispatches from a Time Between Worlds: Crisis and Emergence in Metamodernity*Marshall McLuhan, Canadian philosopher whose work is among the cornerstones of the study of media theory, The Gutenberg Galaxy*John Dewey, philosopher, psychologist, educational reformerAlfred North Whitehead, developed a comprehensive metaphysical system which radically departed from most of Western philosophy, arguing that reality consists of process (process philosophy) What is a Tech Stack?Santiago theory of cognitionJean Piaget, psychologist whose work led to the study of development becoming a major sub-discipline of psychologyMichael Tomasello, comparative psychology researcher, Becoming Human*, The Evolution of Agency*Civilian Conservation CorpsDavid Graeber, Bullshit Jobs*Zachary Stein, Social Justice and Educational Measurement*Zachary Stein, Education in a Time Between Worlds: Essays on the Future of Schools, Technology & Society*Zak’s website: http://www.zakstein.orgZachary Stein, co-founder, The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogueZachary Stein, co-founder, Center for World Philosophy and ReligionZachary Stein, co-founder, Lectica* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Dr. Zak Stein is a philosopher of education, trained at Harvard, co-founder of Lectica, Consilience Project, and Center for World Philosophy and Religion (formerly Center for Integral Wisdom). He is the author of dozens of published papers and two books, including Education in a Time Between Worlds.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 61 (Part 1 of 2) | Educator, author, philosopher, and futurist Zachary Stein gives a startling account of the effects the digital age already has on education and where this is headed. Think AI tutors and students talking in 3D with Socrates. Zak sees education in a deeply philosophical sense as fundamental to the sustainability of our civilization, with implications for each component of the metacrisis. Who will be driving the technology stack that actually leads to a viable civilization? Can we maintain our psychological sovereignty in a sea of digital propaganda and know the truth?Zak describes the metacrisis as a gestalt shift that allows us to orient toward the whole in an intuitive way and how this can give us traction in finding solutions. He finds hope for our future in the untapped potential of our collective human family and especially in the untapped potential of our youth, given the opportunity to make their lives meaningful and connected, working together to resolve the pressing challenges of our time. If you have a slightly outdated perception of the present, this impactful, far-reaching conversation may rock it squarely to the edge of present and future. Recorded November 30, 2022.“A crisis at the root of the way we make choices about civilization itself—the metacrisis is a crisis of the mind.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Dr. Zachary Stein, educator, author, philosopher, futurist (01:12)What exactly is the metacrisis? (03:30) The main risk to the planet is our inability to make the right decisions (06:06)Creating a world philosophy that would be adequate for sustaining civilization, and shifting to an intuitive gestalt of the planetary whole rather than addressing only the parts or individual crises (07:10)The metacrisis is also about existential risk and catastrophic risk: the near-term future is precipitous (09:07)Where is the hope? What can we do as individuals? (10:14)The metacrisis does not imply anything faulty about humans (11:09)It’s as a result of our successes that we need to rebalance the domains that need attentionThe metacrisis hyperspace is so complex, it forces you to look at it intuitively—consulting the analytical and then returning to the whole gestalt (16:05)The sensemaking crisis and the booby trapping of the ecosystem of information (17:54)Public sensemaking, propaganda wars, the issue of trust with the news and politicians, cyber troops, and social media (20:03)The behavior manipulation machine, the thought terminating cliché, and how propaganda targets the intuition (24:05)Propaganda is the evil twin of education (32:28)How do we find our way through? Psychological sovereignty says a human being can know the truth (37:47)Resources & References – Part 1Books by Zachary SteinZak’s website: http://www.zakstein.org2015 Integral Theory ConferenceHans Despain, Roy Pascar, Sean Esbjörn-HargensDaniel Schmachtenberger, founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue (Zak Stein, co-founder)Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality*Zachary Stein, co-founder Center for World Philosophy and Religion with Marc GafniMax Horkheimer & Theodor Adorno, Dialectic of Enlightenment*Habermas’ Critique of the Frankfurt SchoolJean Piaget, psychologist whose work led to the study of development becoming a major sub-discipline of psychologyAshley Rindsberg, The Gray Lady Winked: How the New York Times’s Misreporting, Distortions and Fabrications Radically Alter History*Consilience Project propaganda series (#1)Louis Menand, The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War*Fukushima, ongoing nuclear disasterOAN, One America News NetworkZachary Stein, co-founder, Lectica* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Dr. Zak Stein is a philosopher of education, trained at Harvard, co-founder of Lectica, Consilience Project, and Center for World Philosophy and Religion (formerly Center for Integral Wisdom). He is the author of dozens of published papers and two books, including Education in a Time Between Worlds.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 60 (Part 3 of 3) | Michael Murphy, author, co-founder of the world-famous Esalen Institute, and pioneer of the Human Potential Movement starting in the 60s, relates a wealth of intimate experience, knowledge, and wisdom covering his decades of living at the leading edge of transformative practice and the realization of human potential. Mike talks about Esalen’s latest research, our current crisis of belief, and the anchoring question that has guided Esalen (and Mike) all along: how best to serve? Mike has watched the developmental process of transformative practices themselves, such as somatics and psychedelics, now circling around after a period of purgation, and talks about current efforts to add research on the mystical and the ecstatic to meditation and mindfulness research in order to better understand what's going on. This podcast is a wonderful mix of tales from the past—including Mike and his wife Dulce’s achievements and adventures with Soviet-American citizen diplomacy towards the end of the Cold War—the present, and what’s coming up at the Esalen research center now, e.g., asking what is happening on "the other side," and discovering the truth about subtle body phenomena. On a personal note, Mike shares about practicing agnosticism, his respect and admiration for the quality of wonder, and about the magic of reading subtle cues and being increasingly in tune with “the algorithms of his heart.” Friendly, relaxed, and humorous, Mike is one of the world’s leading lights on self-transformation. Recorded on February 16, 2022.“With Esalen, life has given me this marvelous laboratory.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 3The magic of reading subtle cues and developing increasing discernment to the subtleties of one’s own internal psychic mechanism (02:26)Paul Ekman’s nonverbal cue study and how aging correlates with greater capacity to discern subtle social cues (06:03)The capacity for childlike wonder is one of the things Mike admires most (08:15)The human potential movement and the complexity of human beings (16:09)Spies, innocence, and transparency (19:08)Mike’s suspicions about developmental maps and schemes, especially in the spiritual world (23:37)There is no such thing as a single virtue: for example, you can’t have courage without prudence (28:38)Integral Transformative Practice: does it really work? Does it help us grow in virtue and character? (30:18)Mike’s calling to continue the inquiry: What’s going on on the other side? What is the truth about the subtle body phenomena? (32:33)Mike’s general advice: enough good habits, meditation, and tailoring your practice to who you are (33:59)The problem of suffering in this world is only going to be answered with an adventurous, experimentative embrace exploring what’s going on here (40:00)Resources & References – Part 3Fritz Perls, well renowned German psychotherapist and psychiatrist known for his notable works on Gestalt therapyHoward Gardner, Multiple Intelligences*Frances Vaughan, one of the great pioneers of transpersonal psychology, psychotherapist, teacher, authorDr. Paul Ekman, Nonverbal Messages: Cracking the Code*Solomon Asch conformity experimentsBill Walsh, 49ers football coachAbraham Maslow, psychologist who created a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority and culminating in self-actualization (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs)Will Schutz, author and creator of FIRO Theory (Fundamental interpersonal relations orientation)Gordon Wheeler, clinical psychologist who pioneered Gestalt Relational Constellations, integrating Systems Constellations work with Gestalt-based client experimentsTanya Luhrmann, studying people who attend Esalen for unique characteristicsIntegral Transformative Practice: ITP-International, founded by Michael Murphy & George LeonardThomas Merton, monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and scholar of comparative religionOscar Wilde, Irish poet and playwrightMeister Eckhart, theologian, philosopher, and mystic born circa 1260Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov*Esalen Institute, a leading center for exploring and realizing human potential through experience, education, and research, Esalen’s Center for Theory & ResearchJames Redfield, Michael Murphy & Sylvia Timbers, God and the Evolving Universe: The Next Step in Personal Evolution*Michael Murphy, The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature*Michael Murphy & George Leonard, The Life We Are Given*Michael Murphy & Steve Donovan, The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation*Michael Murphy, Golf in the Kingdom*Michael Murphy & Rhea White, In the Zone: Transcendent Experience in Sports** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Michael Murphy is a graduate of Stanford University, co-founder of Esalen Institute, founder of Esalen’s Center for Theory and Research, and author of numerous books. His novels include The Kingdom of Shivas Irons, Golf in the Kingdom, Jacob Atabet, and An End to Ordinary History. His latest nonfiction work is God and the Evolving Universe, co-authored with James Redfield and Sylvia Timbers. Other nonfiction work includes: In the Zone, an anthology of extraordinary sports experiences, co-authored with Rhea White; The Life We Are Given, a book about transformative practice, co-authored with George Leonard; The Future of the Body, and The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation, co-authored with Steve Donovan.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell