Integral theory as experience

At Fielding's winter session, Jerry Snow facilitated an integral leadership panel. A key theme in the session was the difficulty of integrating Wilber's integral framework and everyday experience. As I suspect many struggle with this idea (I sure have) I thought I'd share this key theme that emerged form the panel. It really helped me better grasp the interplay between integral theory and practice, and I hope it works for you too.

The key theme that I noticed emerging from the discussions was the relationship between integral theory and our actual, undivided, experience. Many of the questions we had posted as part of the introduction ended up on the intersections between the four quadrants. This led Clint Fuhs, who was on the panel, to comment that before the quadrants were formed, integral theory was focused fully on practice and method. He reminded us of three principles that formed the basis for the emergence of the integral map: inclusiveness, emergence, and enactment. The quadrants, levels, lines, states and types emerged from reflecting on practice, and so could also thought of as mirrors for our experience. By using this mirror in alternating between reflection and practice, we learn to integrate reflection and practice in the moment. In this way, we can train ourselves to become increasingly aware of the tetra-arising of all facets of existence in every moment, and we can choose to better balance our being in the world with all aspects of integral.