1. An Introduction to Spiral Dynamics An Evolutionary Development Model
The spiral is the nearly perfect image of the evolution of consciousness.
As persons and societies move from lower to higher levels, they move in wider circles of more and more complex consciousness.
Also these circles go around and meet changed life conditions, that require a higher (more complex) level of consciousness to deal effectively with these new life conditions.
Also the spiral allows the display of the accumulation of lower level good aspects (memes) that continue to serve well even in the new, higher life conditions.
The not so good aspects (memes) of lower levels that are transcended in the move to the next higher level are implied by drawing included levels smaller in the “tail” of the spiral than first appearances in the front of the spiral. Clearly some memes have been transcended.
The spiral is often taken apart and depicted in other forms. This dissection is done to display another characteristic of the levels, When this is done it is helpful to remember the spiral image and its significant meanings.
Rev. E. J. Niles and
Spiral Pathways Ministry
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2. About The Word “ Evolution”.
About The Word “ Evolution”
When some people today hear the word “evolution” the response may be“ Well, I don’t believe I descended from a monkey.”
This misconception about evolution came from the world famous Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 which pitted religion against science; all based on a concept of biological evolution.
Some scientists (possibly 38% according to polls) still hold to the idea that evolution was only about biological evolution.
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3. Cultural Evolution
A few Biologists have attempted to narrow evolution to changes in biological organisms; a few anthropologists have tried to discredit evolution in history. However, by the mid 20th century an awareness of cultural evolution had become so widespread it began to be taught in academia.
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4. Cultural Evolution Plus
“At the same time, the physical sciences were rocked by the startling discover that the entire universe is not a place where evolution happens, it is evolution happening.
A recognition that the cosmological evolution of stars and planets, the biological evolution of organisms, and the culture evolution in history are all part of a universal process of becoming that has been continuously unfolding since the beginning of our universe…”
Evolution’s Purpose, Steve Mcintosh
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5. What is Spiral Dynamics?
Spiral Dynamics is model that Looks at evolution in the history of humankind and how that history is incorporated in the psychological development of individuals. It is based on the latest findings of, anthropology, archaeology and neurobiology; backed by decades of research and real-world applications. It provides a roadmap, for understanding our biological, cultural and spiritual evolution.
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6. Awareness of the Process
Evolution advances through a process of higher order. Our process, as human beings has to become more aware of the purpose of evolution and in our place in it.
Our history continues to affirm the process that has been continuing in observable ways. We are more aware of this process than ever before in our history.
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7. Spiral Dynamics An Evolutionary Model
Spiral Dynamics is one of a number of development models that offer a way to see how evolution proceeds in the history of society as well as the psychology and spiritual evolution of individuals. Evolution proceeds in individuals and in the collective of society through a “transcend and include” process driven by a “push and a pull”.
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8. A “Push” and the “Pull”
The push is toward new levels of consciousness, coming from the pressure of unsatisfactory life conditions. The pull arises from an evolutionary impulse, some call it Spirit, always calling us to new values, new truth and beauty and new ideals of spirituality.
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9. A Useful Model
Spiral Dynamics offers an opportunity to better under happenings in the world today, see the progressive development of one’s individual values and current levels of consciousness.
It also offers opportunities to create and sustain more efficient, effective businesses, communities and, more importantly a more compassionate world.
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10. Why The Spiral?
The spiral is the most ancient symbol found on every populated continent.
Due to its appearance at burial sites across the globe, it represented the "life-death-rebirth" cycle.
Similarly, the spiral symbolized the sun.
The spiral is the most widely repeated archetype used to symbolize our inner and outer journey to God and the Self.
“Spirals symbolically represent a passage into the collective unconscious and then back into the world, renewed with greater psychological understanding of who we are and why we are here.” (Jung)
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11. No Notes
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12. Why Colors?
Spiral Dynamics has assigned colors to the development stages and levels to assist students in remembering and for
speaking to others about the stages and levels.
The colors are neither chakra nor spectrum colors, but each color is fitting as one discovers with usage.
The colors are selected in part to display the oscillation between “I” (individual) orientation and “We” (collective) orientation
warm colors like beige, red, orange, and yellow for “I”
cool colors like purple, blue, and green for “We”.
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13. Subsistence Stages and levels
1st Tier
Subsistence Stages and levels
2nd Tier
Being Stages & levels
Beige
Purple
Red
Blue
Orange
Green
Yellow
Turquoise
MOMENTOUS LEAP
EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
This linear (not spiral) display of levels of consciousness emphasizes the two tier structure of consciousness. The 1st tier contains levels of subsistence… levels to sustain existence in existing life conditions. Each level of the 1st tier preoccupies people with getting along well in the life conditions in which they live. It is characteristic of 1st tier levels to deny that there is any value in any other level and even to think any other level is bad or evil. Each level is usually a struggle to achieve, is hard-earned and other levels are not a good fit for the life conditions pressuring consciousness to become effective. It is , of course, insecurities that are at the root of the conflicts that arise between levels
Clare Graves recognized that it was a ‘momentous leap’ to rise above this level conflict, and, in fact, deliberately work for harmony between levels. This momentous leap was into the 2nd tier of consciousness levels, of which the first level is the ‘integrative’ consciousness… the yellow level. Graves designated the 2nd tier levels as ‘being’ as opposed to the 1st tier ‘subsistence’ levels.
The spiral graphics shows three 2nd tier levels. Of these only the yellow integrative consciousness has been fully defined. The turquoise holistic is under development but the coral is wide open and is not mentioned again in this presentation.
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14. “Not Better Than” but “More Effective”
Spiral Dynamics does not suggest that one level of consciousness is “better” than or “worse than” another.
What it does suggest is that the higher levels of consciousness are more effective in bringing about change in the world.
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15. Life Conditions Relative to Consciousness
A fundamental concept of Spiral Dynamics is life conditions are a primary determinant of consciousness.
Evolution of consciousness emerges to deal with the challenges of the present life conditions having, in turn, a major impact on next Life Conditions.
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16. Life Conditions and Consciousness
Warm colors for “I” orientation
Cool colors for “We” orientation
Life Conditions
Consciousness
Homo Universalis NOW
One World
Turquoise
Expansive
Global Village
Yellow
(Internet, Fields and information explosion)
Integrative
60 Years ago
Second Tier
Integral thinking
Momentous Leap
First Tier
Exclusionary thinking
(New Thought, ecology, human rights)
Age of Allies
Green
Humanistic
160 Years ago
Enlightenment Invention, industry
Age of Nations
Orange
Scientific
Clare Graves didn't use colors. Instead, Graves generally relied on his original pairs of letters, as well as numbers and names on occasion. The color scheme was applied to Dr. Graves's levels of existence in the 1970s by Chris Cowan for making title slides for use in teaching the theory. The color code was created as a design element for training materials and became a common language when included as part of the publication of the Spiral Dynamics book by Beck and Cowan in 1996.
(Axial Age)
400 Years ago
Age of Empires
Blue
Authoritative
(Philosophy, Religion)
(Civilization)
2.8 K Yrs ago
(Neolithic Awakening) Agriculture, writing)
Age of City-States
Red
Egocentric
10 K Yrs ago
End of Ice Age
(Hunter/gatherers Speech, handcrafts)
Age of Tribes
Purple
Ethnocentric
50 K Years ago
(Hominids before the human mind mutation)
Age of Clans
Beige
Instinctive
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250 K yrs ago 16

17. A Few Terms Used in Spiral Dynamics

18. MEMEs
In 1976 his book The Selfish Gene, The British biologist Richard Dawkins introduced the word “MEME” to describe how ideas, ideologies, behavior, or styles spread from person to person within a culture. Like a Gene, a Meme is a replicator that seeks aggressively to enter as many minds as possible.
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19. About vMEMEs
Spiral Dynamics coined the word “vMEME” to indicated values that change as consciousness evolves.
Levels of consciousness that emerge to deal with the challenges of each of the stages can be also be referred to vMEMEs
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20. The First and Second Tier vMEMEs
There is a huge gap between the First and Second Tier None of the First Tier vMEMEs can fully appreciate the value of the other vMEMEs. Each believes that its worldview is the only true perspective. A qualitative leap in consciousness occurs when a person moves past the Green vMEME into Second Tier.
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21. About Holons
Another important term is “holon”. Every level of consciousness is a holon, a word that means “part/whole”, a part that is also a whole, e.g. Russian Dolls. The former whole now becomes a part of the wider, more comprehensive whole, just as molecules include but transcend atoms and are themselves included in but transcended by cells.
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22. Holons (continued)
It is because all levels of consciousness are holons that we cannot skip levels of consciousness in our own development anymore than nature could skip from an atom to a cell.
Each level is a whole, a stable component that is a necessary prerequisite to the emergence of the next higher level.
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25. Bandon July 8, 2018