Stages of Awareness

In this article, "Levels of Devils, Gradations of God" Stuart Davis examines why worldview and how we experience the world matters as it relates to world leaders. Lots of fodder for further discussion, but I'd like to focus on a particular part of his post.

Humans develop. Developmental studies have shown that all humans seem to progress through similar levels of expanding care, concern and complexity. These developments take place in all of the quadrants (the singular and plural of the inside and outside) and are documented by many different disciplines. These changes take place physically, socially, psychologically, cognitively, psychosexually (yeah baby!), relationally etc. The interesting thing is that each of these stages "transcends and includes" the previous stage.

Let me briefly switch topics briefly from the "I" to the "It" to explain. Matter is composed of atoms which are whole in and of themselves. Molecules transcend and include Atoms. Molecules cannot exist without atoms, but they are also something completely different from atoms. Cells transcend and include molecules. Organs transcend and include cells and so on....(this is the concept of a Holon. Simultaneously, a whole, and part of a whole).

Individuals and societies go through real developmental stages that also transcend and include the previous stage. For instance, Gebser's Structures of Consciousness is taking snapshots of stages of the development of consciousness. By the way, this would be like looking at the "I" from a 3rd-person point of view. Which means you cannot see these structures from a 1st-person point of view. In other words, one can pray and meditate all day and not be aware of these levels of development. Here is a brief summary of combination of Gebser's structures and Spiral Dynamics. Please note that many other studies show very similar patterns of evolution.

Archaic/Beige - Do what you must to stay alive. Instincts and habits used to survive. "Deep, dreamless, sleep". Distinct self is barely awakened.

Magic/Purple - Keep the spirits happy and the tribe warm and safe. Language, unitary world, any event can be substituted for any other, Preserves sacred objects, places and events. Rites of passage, seasonal cycles and tribal customs.

Red - World viewed as a dangerous place. Be what you are and do what you want. Distinguish ourselves from the natural environment. Enjoys self to the fullest without guilt or remorse. Conquers, outfoxes and dominates others.

Mythic/Blue - Life has meaning, directions and purpose. Sacrifice of self to a transcendent cause, truth or righteous pathway. Order enforces code of conduct based on absolute principles. Impulses controlled through guilt. Laws, regulations and discipline build moral fiber.

Rational/Orange - Act in your own self-interest by playing the game to win. Change and advancement are inherent in the scheme of things. Progress by seeking out nature's secrets. Manipulates earth's resources to create and spread abundant life. Optimistic, risk-taking people deserve success. Societies prosper through strategy, technology and competitiveness.

Pluralistic/Green - Seek peace within the inner self and explore, with others, the caring dimensions of community. The human spirit must be freed from greed, dogma and divisiveness. Sensitivity supersedes cold rationality. Spreads the earths resources and opportunities among all. Reconciliation and consensus. Spirituality harmony, and human development.

Integral/Yellow - Experience the wholeness of existence through mind and spirit. The whole world is a single dynamic organism with its own collective mind. Self is both distinct and a blended part of a larger compassionate whole. Everything connects to everything else in ecological alignments. Energy and information permeate the Earth's total environment.

There's so much to say about how these structures are relevant. Society and individual consciousness both seem to go through these structures. Keep in mind they are hierarchical, and not predetermined. Gebser calls them mutations and not part of evolution. So, what comes next is always a mystery, but each structure transcends and includes the previous. So, we still have residue from the older structures in our subconscious, if not conscious.

I'll link these to spiritualityin general, and Christianity in particular, and note why I think this stuff matters with an example from Ken Wilber.

If you are interested I found this article after I got done with this post. It describes the structures in more detail. THIS is interactive integral stuff. Cool resource.