Existential Archives – Integral Life

Nocturnal Meditations: How to See in the Dark

Andrew Holecek — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:33:44 +0000

Andrew Holecek presents dark retreat—extended periods in complete sensory deprivation—as a transformative meditation practice that accesses deeper levels of consciousness typically obscured by our light-obsessed, distraction-heavy culture. He argues that conventional "waking" awareness is actually humanity's most contracted state, while nocturnal practices like lucid dreaming and sleep yoga offer profound opportunities for shadow work, creativity, and spiritual development.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

Ride the Tiger: The Psychedelic Renaissance Is Here

Carter Phipps — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 01:43:19 +0000

Carter Phipps explores how psychedelics, postmodern values, and the reawakening of consciousness are reshaping the cultural landscape and laying the groundwork for an integral future. Arguing that we must embrace — and responsibly guide — the weirdness of this transitional moment, he calls for a worldview that integrates science, spirituality, and the deep interior dimensions of human experience.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

A View From Somewhere: An Introduction to Metatheory and Planetary Sense-Making

Mark Edwards — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 02:47:12 +0000

Bruce Alderman and Mark Edwards explore how integrative metatheory can illuminate and address the interconnected crises of our time. Through themes such as navigating hyperobjects, the role of storytelling in fostering collaboration, and the challenges posed by algorithmic fragmentation, they advocate for integrative thinking that balances big-picture reflection with grounded, actionable practice.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

The Psychology of Climate Change

Gail Hochachka — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 20:48:31 +0000

Climate change researcher, sustainable development expert, and activist Gail Hochachka works on the front lines of climate change research, asking—and answering—questions like: How does the way we make meaning, at all our different stages of development, relate to the ways we act on climate change? How can we foster more engagement with climate change? Is climate action scalable? And how are we going to show up for the people who are facing the greatest impacts?

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

From the Cambrian Explosion to the Human Explosion

Dr. Keith Witt — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 22:43:58 +0000

Dr. Keith and Corey explore the parallels and differences between the Cambrian explosion and the rapid evolution of human consciousness, discussing the profound impacts of technological and cultural advancements on our collective development.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

Nature as Teacher: Finding Beauty, Wisdom, and Self in Everything

Susanne Cook-Greuter — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 20:25:53 +0000

Adult psychology pioneer and ego development expert Susanne Cook-Greuter introduces us to her favorite wisdom teacher: Nature. Susanne explains how Integral Theory’s 3-2-1 Process can be practiced with elements in nature to gain greater insight into the teachings of nature—evolution, cycles of life and death, the transience of life, the beauty that is everywhere—and to experience oneness with all.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

Inhabit: Your Bardo

Corey deVos — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 19:40:44 +0000

Ryan and Corey explore the idea that every moment is a bardo, a transition from one state of being to another state of being — and within these ubiquitous transitions there are opportunities to transcend the karmas of our conditioning, and to channel new kinds of creativity into the world.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

Facing Death: A Call to “Get Real”

Terry Patten — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 18:36:14 +0000

An extraordinary, heartfelt conversation with spiritual practitioner, teacher, activist, Integralist, and author Terry Patten, who was at the time facing his own mortality following a recent diagnosis of a rare and aggressive cancer. An inner radiance shines forth as Terry, with much graciousness and candor, discusses the call to “get real”—not only personally but also collectively; his deepened perception of the “amazing grace of existence;” the directionality that has guided much of his life; and action inquiry: working on becoming next-stage human beings by experimenting with being the best people we can be. A touching and transformative talk, Terry conveys the deepening understanding coming from living on the edge and transmits a “radical okayness” with everything.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

Grace & Grit — ILLUMINATE Film Festival

Ken Wilber — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 03:38:28 +0000

Watch as Ken Wilber, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Sebastian Siegel, and moderator Maia Monasterios have a lively discussion about the power of love to transcend time and to overcome our greatest challenges and suffering. Learn how we can honor death and loss by transforming grief into a profound appreciation for life.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.

Getting Over Ourselves

Nomali Perera — Thu, 06 May 2021 19:43:38 +0000

Nomali talks to Lisa and Corey about the many opportunities and obstacles we face in our practice, and how to deepen our commitment to our own process of waking up, growing up, cleaning up, and showing up. We follow the subtle threads of love, death, and vitality that weave through each of our practices and connect us together as a community, while reminding each other that we can only truly be ourselves if we are willing to actually get over ourselves.

This post was originally published on Integral Life.