Feel the Self-Contraction

Hi,

This is my first post although I have been reading the threads around the issues of I-I, Ken's Health and Transparency from the side.  I would like to offer my perspective and experiences.  I am based in the UK and have been a member of I-I since an Integral Psychotherapy seminar in 2004.  I have been over to I-I a couple of times and have been in touch with many of the individuals who are dear to all our hearts, some still in I-I and some, following their hearts, who have left. 

I have been saddened by much of what I have read and I would like to offer my perspective.  A lot of the threads seem to emanate out of fear from individuals who believe that the I-I holds some magical power over their future.  I read of people constructing imaginary careers working for I-I and others who believe that the institute must somehow provide them with permission to work with the Integral model.  In all my conversations with Ken and other senior I-I figures, the message has been consistent: " Do not wait for us, go and do whatever you feel drawn to do and give due credit and respect to the work of Ken and the others within the community when you use it"  Nobody has ever promised to me that the I-I can offer me more than that.  Yes there has been some over hyping and under achieving on some of the products  and the IU has stalled more times than I can remember, but that has never caused me true concern in what I have wanted to do. 

I have read Steve's Blog about the development and publication of both the AQAL journal and the Integralist, but I am certainly not currently short of reading material and it would not worry me if both publications did not arrive for 12 months, ditto Integral Books.  My only concern is ensuring continuity of income for the Institute.  I am more concerned with ensuring that my understanding of issues such as the role of The Conveyor Belt  in 21^st century development is correct.  Perhaps we look to the I-I for different things.

I value greatly, but do not accept without scrutiny, Ken's writing that comes out of the UL quadrant, that is the Upper Loft Quadrant.  Some of the comments and ideas coming out of the LL or Lower Loft Quadrant, can cause me more of a problem.  The addition of these two Quadrants can be helpful in understanding what is going on.  Ken has always been his own harshest critic and after all, life is an iterative process. 

What I am looking for within the I-I is accessible discussion to ensure that my understanding of AQAL has not drifted into some parody and that issues such as Integral Leadership are developed with a consistent quality and content.  Thank you Dr Fred for your output.  I am sorry that some of my contacts  within I-I  have felt unable to continue and, out of respect to Ken and the others remaining, have said little about their differences. I am left with attending seminars and taught sessions for my contact, at some expense, so for me the priority is having regular conference calls and specialist support in place.  I do not need more material to read or retail, but I do need easy access to what is available.

I believe it is up to us to co-create an interlinked network of nodes around the world, each unpacking Ken's work for local audiences, in a consistent and informed way.  Then we have a proper natural system, second tier organisation, which grows where there is the energy for it and it shrinks and dies where there is no input or demand.  The hub or core of the model is not I-I, it is not the Loft or even Ken; it is the idea of Integral, which Ken has so elegantly mapped.  The I-I is no different from any other node.  If there is energy for it, then it will grow.  If they get it wrong it will die back, morph and be reborn; just like the rest of us.  We are co-creating the second tier organisation and it is following Natural laws and responding to Life Conditions.

Feel the self-contraction and Live,

Namaste,

Ian