So it's been a few weeks since I blogged - I'm having trouble actually committing to this (as I seem to for many things that will be good for me!). This is a good way for me to write regularly, and I hope you see more blogs as I fall into the rhythm here.

Well I'm consumed with the Democratic National Convention. I'm really enjoying watching the speeches and I vacillate between extremely hopeful and extremely fearful. I hope, more than anything, this country is ready for a leader operating from a pluralistic/Integral world view, as I see Obama doing. There are many many people still out there living the mythic world view and those are the ones I fear. Fortunately (and I believe much of the reason McCain is not supported heavily by the GOP), McCain while still a bit mythic, seems to operate from a rational world view. At least the early McCain did so. This McCain we see in this election does seem to have regressed into the mythic - perhaps simply to increase his chances of getting elected. He seems to miss the point that what many people (and especially independents who seem to be more in the rational/pluralistic world view) always admired about "Maverick McCain" was his ability to leave that mythic viewpoint behind and operate more rationally and pluralistically.

I do believe all of this will help elect Obama. He is different from a typical politician and I hope he doesn't cave to the status quo. He has that vision, that higher level of world view, and that is what we need to bring humanity along further instead of leaving it behind floundering in the quagmire of antiquated thinking and acting.

It was good to see Clinton finally releasing his ego a little and endorsing Obama. It kills me to hear these GOP pundits saying the Clintons will vote for McCain behind closed doors. I want to remind them that not all politicians are just in it for the win - Bill and Hillary really do want the world they were campaigning for and a vote for McCain would be ridiculous and against that vision. They may not be happy it isn't Hillary in the Whitehouse, but they know Obama's vision is much closer to the ideals they want. What cynics!

Well, I'm off to work on my classes. See you next time!

ITC First Day

Well, today was the first day of the conference. We (the volunteers) met for an orientation for most of the day, and what a great experience. To begin an orientation with a visualization exercise and then to use the content for ideas to brainstorm is a new experience for me. The love (for lack of a better term) in the room was palpable at times, and even withstanding the egos present, there was a real feeling of community and joy in our coming together. I met fascinating people from all over the world (there are attendees from more than 25 countries attending), and am quite taken with a few of them. Two women, much younger than I, and I went to a quick supper together and it was great. One is a volunteer for flood victims in Cedar Rapids and the other a librarian. Two young men, one from Australia, were delightful and flirty (you have to love that!), and I enjoyed them tremendously. I also enjoyed talking with a transpersonal psychologist who describes himself as a spiritual counselor (much like my own back home). What a great group to be a part of!

The opening comments with the two conference organizers was another interesting and different experience. The two men stood together on either side of the podium and shared the task. It was emotional and exciting as they set the stage for the conference and brought to awareness the import of this first integral conference.

What I found most important is the call from Mark, one of the organizers, to question and criticize what we experience and hear here. Our task is to help Integral Theory become even more viable and academically accepted so it doesn't fall into an elitist and small field (transpersonal psychology, humanistic psych). Just as we must root out the fallacies and shadows in our own development, he is calling us all to be a part of doing so for the development of integral theory. An amazing and fabulous idea.

Well now I'm going to go down by the pool and read my brochure, selecting the panels and presenters I will attend, and maybe connect with another soul . . . (hear my plea).

Hello out there!

I've finally decided to jump into cyberspace and put it all out there for the world to see! I'm not sure who'll be even remotely interested in hearing (reading) my thoughts, but I'm putting them out there anyway.

I'm away at the first Integral Theory Conference in Concord, CA, and I'm excited to begin exploring all things Integral with like-minded fellow evolvers. I'm hoping to record my thoughts and experiences as I move through this event. My life has been turned completely upside down over the last year (okay, so not completely but nearly so . . . ) and I see this as a new jumping off place. Watch for it tomorrow!