We are an integral group,
with a focus on understanding, analysis and application,
using the integral, grounded, multidimensional meta-model
and the "Three Strands of Valid Truth" (injunctive, experiential and falsification/validation)
with healthy (as opposed to pathological dominator type) hierarchies of values,
genealogical developmental models,
subject/object relations,
and the appropriate contextualization of content,
making useful distinctions
and employing skillful means,
in terms of "The Big 3" value spheres
(1. goodness/morals/intersubjective and interobjective right relationship,
2. truth/science/objective accuracy, and
3. beauty/art/subjective phenomenology).


To join, one is not required to understand and/or have integral consciousness; we all start from right where we are.
The only requirements are:
1. BE polite behaviorally (A. show up/update RSVP status, B. try to let others express themselves fully, you'll get your chance too, and C. actually listen).
2. DO the "homework" (D. so as to be able to participate meaningfully in the discussion).
3. HAVE an open mind (E. with which to question BOTH self and other).

OUR MOTTO IS, SIMPLY:
"LET'S KEEP IT REAL, REAL NICE, REAL WIDE AND REAL DEEP!"

CAUTION:
This is not a suitable group for everyone, AND it MAY be suitable for specific individuals (we choose the more depth / less span compromise over the more span / less depth compromise) who desire to attain an expanding / 2nd tier consciousness with the help of integral theory, self-examination and communal input.

We are not a green group,
which often exhibit a tendency to become focused on the sharing of perspectives,
while excluding and/or marginalizing valid genealogical, developmental and hierarchical valuations.
To us, that is partial, not integral.

We are not a green group,
which prioritizes making everyone feel "special"
in an atmosphere of unexamined positively biased social contracts in resonance (heart)
OVER the accuracy of the model and appropriateness of application (head);
we want BOTH heart AND head,
and that is ONE meaning of integral,
an integrated consciousness,
in BALANCE, not biased (anti-intellectual, OR anti-emotional).

We believe that this is in everyone's best interest, as our standard is the post-metaphysical Wilber-5 model
(we have to understand it before we can apply it without distorting it,
we have to be honest, authentic and sincere in our efforts to see where our views and behaviors fit,
and we must be courageous in using the 'map' to navigate the 'territory' of our lives and relationships).

We are being up front about this so as to not mislead or falsely promote the nature of the group
(truth in advertising, let's not waste anyone's time).

We do include the healthy values of green (i.e. genealogical relativism, mutual regard, care, and ever-expanding circle of compassion), and any and all levels for that matter... we are just not exclusive to any one of them (the "exclusionary tendency of first-tier consciousness", Spiral Dynamics) and we seek to include the truths of other perspectives/levels/vMemes up and down the Spiral as well, as appropriate to our shared life conditions and subject matter in discussion.

We are NOT mentally constricted to political correctness, and do not represent the status quo,
so some individuals may feel that our perspectives are too radical, and may feel threatened/offended.

For those truly open-minded, this can be an opportunity to examine one's unconscious beliefs and attachments, and consciously choose whether or not they are serving you, and/or if you may be to some extent unconsciously serving them; bringing the unconscious context that we all have into our conscious field of view offers us the freedom to become self-determined (Kegan's Stage Five).

Our desire for
REAL authenticity,
VALID truth and
DEEP insight beyond the norm
may be uncomfortable for some,
and for others this may be exactly what they are looking for.

Everyone in the group has the right to express their perspective(s) and inhabit any perspective they wish
(i.e., even if it disagrees with our own, which is healthy and will happen), AND everyone must behave according to conventional values and common courtesy for the STABLE health of the group (healthy amber values of "propriety and politeness in interaction", healthy orange values of "everyone may learn the most that way", PLUS healthy green "mutual regard and intersubjective sensitivity"). We desire to create a space that respects individual rights and freedom of expression, no matter how radical and unpopular, as we are not a group about consensus. Disagreement and debate are welcomed, while any disrespect, impropriety and/or personal attacks will not be allowed.

ABOUT US

Who Are We? :

Ted Baker and Eliot Bissey are the meetup organizers, the team that brings you the Integral-Matrix.
Ted is a business data analyst and internet marketer.
Eliot has been nationally published (with co-author Jana Espiritu Santo) in "What Is Enlightenment?" magazine, which has been praised by Ken Wilber for its depth and scope.
Eliot is a trader and a caregiver.
Ted and Eliot have both studied philosophy, psychology, martial arts and public speaking.
Ted and Eliot have been close friends for many years, and have taken many of the classes that Landmark Education offers; They are both graduates of Landmark's "Curriculum For Living" which includes the Landmark "Forum", the Seminar Series (several choices were offered, Ted and Eliot graduated from the "Breakthroughs" series), the "Advanced Class" and the "Self-Expression and Leadership Program" (SELP).
Many of the members of this meetup group have also taken Landmark Education classes, and we all strongly endorse them personally, while we agree with Landmark that they are not for everyone (They have cautions about mental health that one must sign off on prior to taking any of their classes, which typically begin with the Landmark Forum).

What Do We Do? :

We share ideas, perspectives, data and experiences,
as adequately, accurately and appropriately as we can,
using the integral theoretical meta-model,
in a relaxed, informal group setting.

We listen very carefully, and ask for more data where needed.
As we gather enough data to form an intelligent question, it might get asked;
an application of The Socratic Method, in an Integral Worldspace,
where we can look for meaning together,
and differentiate unsupported assertion from evidence-based truth,
content from context,
and subject from object.
We share our opinions and impressions in a safe conversational we-space.
We are open to feedback from all sources,
and apply the integral lens in our views of both interior and exterior dimensions,
individually and collectively.

We apply the most evolved Integral Methodological Pluralism (IMP) Model/Map available; at the time of this writing, it is known as "Wilber-V", and also known as the Post-Postmodern Integral Meta-Theoretical Model. We highly recommend reading "Integral Spirituality", Ken Wilber's latest book. It will help to familiarize you with integral terminology (if you are not already versed in it) and clarify our framework/model. Awareness of the importance of dynamically tracking the relationship of model/map and territory is helpful, and we are simultaneously interested in developing better understanding and knowledge of IMP (check and upgrade the model) as well as applying it efficiently in real-life moment-to-moment awareness and behavior with greater accuracy (check our movement through the actual territory).

We do our best to support and encourage each other's growth and personal evolution and the journey of looking within our interiors in a stable and authentic way with dialogue/dialectic; shedding light in blind spots (every perspective has a darkside), looking at "hidden", dissociated and un-integrated perspectives, discovering both the explicit and implicit meaning in our perspectives, and seeing deeper interpretations as they arise/our perspectives shift, with increasing elegance, along the entire spiral of development. Our community supports extending the integral theory into application; going beyond our discussions and into the Integral Life Practice (ILP) of our daily lives, encouraging more of an integral perspective and lifestyle ("checking in" with an efficient and scalable model that takes all the major differentiations [quadrants, lines, levels/stages, states and types] into account). Integral Life Practice is content free (you choose what to put in the framework, the framework itself is empty), so that it is also free of bias (other than your/our own unconscious ones... LOL!).

What Do We Stand For? :

We are sincere and strive for accuracy and appropriateness in our integral approach and its application, open to the truths and truth tests of all four quadrants. We value expansive awareness over egoic contraction and identification.

We do NOT solicit or subscribe to ANY ONE TYPE (absolutism and exclusivism are tendencies of first tier consciousness, we are shooting for at least second tier) of religion, perspective, or truth (including "integral", when Wilber-VI or its equivalent comes out, after careful evaluation, we're ready to upgrade! An adequate structure must be capable of stably holding its content).

The integral model is an open-ended dynamic meta-methodology, evolving like a living organism, incorporating new truths as they emerge, including the most perspectives and the most comprehensive valid data; it is NOT a fixed dogmatic ideology.

The Integral Model:

By including the truths of premodernity/Great wisdom traditions, modernity/Scientific Revolution/the Enlightenment, and postmodernity/cultural relativism/contextual embeddedness, Integral Theory is a model that helps us to genealogically locate and pluralistically honor ALL perspectives and include their partial and valid truths into a multi-dimensional whole that more accurately represents reality and contains and integrates the most available valid truth from the most dimensions of any model to date.

Also known as the AQAL Matrix [All-Quadrants/All-Lines, and all states, stages and types], integral theory describes BOTH the STRUCTURE/CONTEXT of consciousness in which its CONTENT arises AND that content, consisting of the Four dimensions/quadrants of experience (interior individual, exterior individual, interior collective, exterior collective) and/or the (simplified version of the Four Quadrants) "Big Three" native perspectives: I (1st person perspective [1-p]), We (2nd person perspective [2-p]), and It (3rd person perspective [3-p]), also described as art/self, morals/culture, science/nature and/or the Good, True, and Beautiful of the ancient Greeks; stages of development, states of consciousness, types (i.e. active, passive, feminine, masculine, enneagram, astrology), and lines (i.e. spiritual, cognitive, psycho-social, emotional, kinesthetic; similar to Gardner's multiple intelligences etc.).

Our goal is to move more elegantly and fluidly between multiple perspectives to appropriately match our dynamically changing life conditions and to shed light on exclusivist focus and SINGLE viewpoints, stuck and absolutist perspectives, dominating and rigid hierarchies, pre-trans fallacies (the error of calling fusion transcendence, as green loves to do), regressive myths/pre-rational fixations, and limiting beliefs as they arise, to free up consciousness so that it (we) may evolve and continue the journey up the Spiral.

We incorporate BOTH subjective and objective perspectives of the Western traditions (awareness of developmental pathologies, unhealthy fusion, dissociation and fragmentation [i.e. psychotherapy, shadow work]) AND the NON-DUAL perspective (together known as the "Two Truths Doctrine"), which Ken refers to as the paper the models are written on, and although this perspective cannot be spoken about, it can be directly experienced through many (typically Eastern) practices (i.e. Zen and meditation) and "pointed to" with Koans and the "eternal questions" of philosophy.

Who Are We Looking For? :

People who are open-minded, interested and interesting, dedicated to authentic growth in consciousness, socially polite and considerate of others, and hygenically sound (recently bathed! LOL!), to name a few attractive qualities (for our group, and society in general!).

We are open to investigating a multitude of topics for our group discussions, applying the integral lens to whatever arises, in a friendly, MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL informal setting.

If you can't handle disagreement and remain polite, we are not the group for you.
Passionate is fine, impolite is unacceptable.
This is our minimum behavioral standard.

If you are attached to a particular perspective and/or set of perspectives (i.e., political, eco and/or religious),
and can't handle the fact that ATTACHMENT EQUALS PARTIALITY EQUALS BIAS
(non-integral, fragmented, biased, partial, not whole and complete, stuck, structurally crystallized),
we are not the group for you.
Please do not misunderstand, we welcome any and all who CAN acknowledge their attachments with honesty, authenticity and humility (and we ALL have attachments, both conscious and unconscious)
and objectively enter into group dialog using the integral meta-model
for the growth and betterment of all.

Disagreement is welcomed, while any disrespect and/or personal attacks will not be allowed.

We think and feel this to be
a reasonable minimum behavioral standard
for a stable, healthy and supportive environment for us all
within which to learn with and from each other.

For more information, please contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions.

Thank you sincerely for your time,
All the best to you and yours, warmly,
Ted and Eliot