Magic and Mystery
Victor MacGill's website
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Chaos
and Complexity Magic and Mystery Victor MacGill's website |
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My first book.. |
 
Spiral DynamicsI have found Spiral Dynamics a very useful model to understand human development and the stages we have moved through on our journey from the African savannah to New York city and beyond.
The pioneer of Spiral Dynamics was Clare Graves, a psychologist at
Union College in upstate New York. He developed his theory, but ill
health kept him from promoting it in the scientific world. Two of his
students, Chris Cown and Don Beck, picked up where he left off,
promoting and further developing the theory, including giving it the
name of Spiral Dynamics. Spiral Dynamics proposes that human social evolution occurs through the interactions between an individual and the environment they find themselves in. Through this interaction we form value systems which create meaning and enables us to function effectively in our environment. Life never stands still, however, and over time the value system, which has been created loses its ability to create appropriate meaning for the members of that society. The individual or society must then form a new set of values to cope. This 'ratchets' up the level of complexity of the value system, and a new value systems emerges out of the previous system, which nevertheless remains as the foundation of the new level. Continuing in this way, a ladder-like series of levels forms. The levels have been  denoted by
different colours to emphasise that fact that a higher level is not a
better level, and that all levels are vital to the functioning of the
total spiral of emergent value systems. Having said that, higher levels
are more able to respond appropriately to a wider range of situations
since all previous levels remain active each time a new level emerges.Spiral Dynamics uses the term v-meme or values meme to describe each level of social development. The word "meme" was coined by Richard Dawkins. It was derived from the word 'gene'. A gene transmits the genetic code that allows a species to propogate itself into a new generation. Some genes are morre successful than others at propogating themselves. A meme is like a gene but exists in the realm of the human mind rather that in the physical world. A meme is an idea, concept, image, design or other element that can be held in our mind. These memes can spread from mind to mind and some memes are more effective at propogating themselves into other people's minds. Memes tend to come together in clusters, so, for instance, a picture of Elvis Presley will tends to be related to other memes such as Graceland or pop music. Clare Graves found that at each level of development there were clusters of memes that people who functioned at that level tended to have in common. These became known as values memes or vmemes. Clare Graves found that the vmemes proceed in a coherent order. BeigeThe first vmeme is the survival level vmeme. There may well be no human groups still living at this level alive. In our pre-history it is found in the small family bands of early humans with only basic speech and culture. It is also seen in the new-born baby who is so dependent on those around them.PurpleThe second vmeme is found at the tribal level of development. The person sees there identity more as being a member of the tribe than as an individual. There is a magical view of the world, so there is often a shaman in the tribe and ancestors are evenrated. It also links to family and sentimental items and symbols of identity. Purple also relates to childhood times when we also live in the magical world of our imagination.RedThe Red vmeme is seen in history as the times of the great empires such as the Romans, Greeks, Persians, and Egyptians. Red controls through violence and intimidation. It is the time of the adolescent.BlueThe blue vmeme is about absolute truths. It is typified in the religions of Christianity and Islam and the ideologies of Communism and Naziism. Each of these saw their own truth as the only truth and saw differing ideologies as a threat. Rules structure and authority are important at this level.OrangeThe orange vmeme see a change to more individualistic ways of seeing the world and is materialistic. The orange vmeme is the most prominent vmeme in the Western world today with everything being run through the market economy and everything being given a monetary value. The world is seen as a resource to be exploited for profit. Science is important and is aimed at giving amn control over his world.GreenEventually the materialistic orange vmeme becomes unsatisfying and we turn to look at relationships and personal values which are evident in the green vmeme. The green vmeme is a fast growing vmeme today, with estimates that around 25% of people are operating from the green vmeme. New Age and post modern philosophies, and environmentalists come under the green vmeme. In spite of the green claim to support diversity, it can be very judgmental particularly towards the authoritarian structures of blue and the reductionist scientific and materialistic orange.YellowThis is the first vmeme that can truly look back at previous vmemes and integrate them without denial or distortion. It can look back and see the positive value of each vmeme, while also being aware of their shortcomings and work with each constructivelyTurquoiseThis is the universal vmeme. Yellow is focussed on the individual, wheras turquoise returns the gofts of yellow back to the world. Turquoise looks to the needs of all humanity. Those operating from Turquoise are often called to make great personal sacrifices to enable the benefits for all to be made manifest.As we progress from one vmeme to the next we do not discard the previous vmeme, but must continue to use it. Whenever we do deny or distort previous levels we disturb the balance of the overall spiral of vmemes. |
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