Two Decades. A Thousand Conversations. One Integral Journey.

From Ken Wilber’s earliest dialogues to today’s explorations of the global Metacrisis and The Transformation Age, our ever-growing library offers the most complete story of human wholeness available online. Welcome on this transformative path.

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Integral Basics

25+ posts

Whether you’re new to Integral or returning for a refresher, this collection is your doorway into how Integral Theory works, with core teachings from Ken Wilber, Jeff Salzman, Corey deVos, Roger Walsh, and others.

Editor's Picks

90+ posts

Some of the very best practices, perspectives and presentations available in the Integral Life archives.

World Affairs

140+ posts

In this collection, you’ll explore the global Metacrisis and the deep causal structures behind the geopolitical, economic, and ecological challenges of our civilization.

Psychology

140+ posts

In one of our biggest and richest collections, you’ll navigate the human psyche in all its complexity—motivations, drives, shadows, traumas, relationships, practices, and much more.

Perspectives View all

Don’t Just Transcend Your Pain — Include It

Don’t Just Transcend Your Pain — Include It

Alexander Love   September 19, 2025  
After the tragic murder of his father at age 20, Alexander Love began a decades-long journey through grief, spiritual practice, and shadow work — seeking not just to rise above his pain, but to finally and fully include it. In this deeply personal conversation, he shares how real healing began not with transcendence, but with embracing the very wounds he had tried to escape.
The Dopamine Revolution: From Human Evolution to Modern Crisis

The Dopamine Revolution: From Human Evolution to Modern Crisis

Dr. Keith Witt   September 12, 2025  
Dr. Keith Witt traces how dopamine-driven evolution shaped human consciousness from ancient seafood consumption that triggered civilization's "Big Bang" 80,000 years ago to today's hyper-stimulating culture that exploits the same neurochemical reward systems for profit. While our dopamine-flooded modern world creates unprecedented pathologies like addiction and isolation, it also sets the stage for the next evolutionary leap: conscious integration of our reward systems with relational wisdom and ecological awareness.
STAGES: Cracking the Code of Human Development

STAGES: Cracking the Code of Human Development

Keith Martin-Smith   September 5, 2025  
Keith Martin Smith and Alexander Love explore Terry O’Fallon’s Stages model as a powerful lens for understanding how humans grow, make meaning, and relate across vastly different realities. Together, they reveal how developmental precision — not content or ideology — holds the key to deeper empathy, cultural healing, and truly integrative practice.
When Democracy Eats Itself: Navigating the Politics of Confusion

When Democracy Eats Itself: Navigating the Politics of Confusion

Mark Edwards   August 28, 2025  
Mark Edwards and Bruce Alderman explore Jean-Pierre Faye's "Horseshoe Theory," which reveals that political extremes curve toward each other when they abandon democratic norms, explaining why some voters support both Trump and AOC as anti-establishment alternatives. The discussion introduces meta-theoretical tools including Roy Bhaskar's concept of "demi-reality," Bruno Latour's analysis of "modal confusion," and the possibility of "post-conventional coalitions" that transcend left-right polarization while maintaining democratic integrity.
Ride the Tiger: The Psychedelic Renaissance Is Here

Ride the Tiger: The Psychedelic Renaissance Is Here

Carter Phipps   August 21, 2025  
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.
Tantra Is Not What You Think (And Way Better Than You Imagined)

Tantra Is Not What You Think (And Way Better Than You Imagined)

Kimberley Lafferty   August 15, 2025  
Two accomplished tantric practitioners — one from Kashmir Shaivism, the other from Tibetan Vajrayana — share their profound awakening stories and reveal how ancient consciousness technologies can accelerate the challenging transition from teal to turquoise awareness and beyond.
The Magic Mirror: How AI Is Reshaping Your Mind

The Magic Mirror: How AI Is Reshaping Your Mind

Dr. Keith Witt   August 4, 2025  
Keith and Corey examine AI’s cognitive, relational, cultural, and developmental impacts — highlighting both the dangers of projection, offloading, and disembodiment, and the opportunities to use AI as a practice partner for discernment, shadow integration, and growth. Corey then showcases some of the new AI tools now available to all Core Members of Integral Life.

Podcast Series

Witt & Wisdom Series Banner

Dr. Keith Witt

Licensed Psychologist, teacher, and author

Dr. Keith Witt and Corey deVos explore the rich terrain of the integral mind.
Evolving Spirit Series Banner

Kimberley Lafferty

Teacher, practitioner

Kimberley Lafferty explores the often unspoken world of spiritual experiences—those profound, extraordinary moments that connect us to something beyond the ordinary. Reflecting on her own journey and cultural taboos around sharing such experiences, Kimberley invites us to break the silence, embrace vulnerability, and discover the transformative power of sharing our stories.

Integral Edge Series Banner

Keith Martin-Smith

Award-winning author, writing coach, and Zen priest

Keith Martin-Smith brings a deep, multi-perspective lens to the chaos, cutting through the noise to find what actually matters. This isn’t just another commentary on the world. It’s a guide to seeing—and living—beyond the divide.

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Ken Wilber

Philosopher, writer, creator of Integral Theory

In Zen Buddhism, the word kensho describes a sudden glimpse or insight into the nature of reality. At Integral Life, the “Ken Show” intends to offer you a very similar opportunity.

Recorded between 2018–2023, these are some of the most important and far-reaching dialogues in Integral Life’s history.

How to Think Integrally

How to Think Integrally

Ken Wilber   September 19, 2018  
Ken and Corey explore some of the major qualities of integral thinking at the “vision logic” or “construct aware” stages of development.
The Major and Minor Scales of Integral Politics

The Major and Minor Scales of Integral Politics

Ken Wilber   November 13, 2018  
Ken Wilber and Corey deVos take an in-depth look at the “major and minor scales” of integral politics — an inventory of the most critical elements, polarities, and patterns of self-organization that are at play within all of the major political systems across the world, from the rise of civilization to today.
The Baby and the Bathwater: Saving Liberalism

The Baby and the Bathwater: Saving Liberalism

Ken Wilber   January 17, 2019  
In this episode of The Ken Show we explore five themes near and dear to the liberal heart — tolerance, nonviolence, power, privilege, and gender — celebrating the healthy aspects of each that we want to include in a more integral embrace, while weeding out the unhealthy regressive narratives that most of these have devolved into.
On the Front Line of the Culture War — Give Me Some Real Examples, Not Just Theories!

On the Front Line of the Culture War — Give Me Some Real Examples, Not Just Theories!

Ken Wilber   February 15, 2019  
Watch as Ken and Corey offer their views on some of the most controversial policy debates of our time, each of which has become a battle line in our constantly escalating culture wars.
The Four Quadrants: A Guided Tour

The Four Quadrants: A Guided Tour

Ken Wilber   March 20, 2020  
Ken and Corey take a in-depth tour through one of Ken’s most well-known contributions to integral philosophy: the Four Quadrants. Watch as Ken shares his personal story about the origins of the Four Quadrant model — the day everything came together — as he weaves 3rd-person theoretical descriptions of the model with his own 1st-person experience and creative process.
Integrating Shadow

Integrating Shadow

Ken Wilber   July 16, 2020  
Ken and Corey offer a stunning overview of the psychological shadow. Ken describes several different kinds of shadow, how shadow can show up differently in all four quadrants, and the relationship between shadow, violence, and social transformation.
Ken Wilber Goes to High School: Sex, Ecology, Spirituality

Ken Wilber Goes to High School: Sex, Ecology, Spirituality

Ken Wilber   September 28, 2021  
In this very special episode of The Ken Show we are joined by Aissatou Diallo, Zoe Tray, and Noah Delorme, students at Choate Rosemary Hall who have been studying Ken Wilber’s seminal book, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality for their senior year project. Watch as Ken, Aissatou, Zoe, and Noah unpack many of the core insights of SES and discuss the unique value Integral work holds for a new generation of thinkers, leaders, artists, and scholars.
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Witt & Wisdom Series Banner

Robb Smith

Founder of IAM, Co-founder of Integral Life

Series of written articles and accompanying webcasts that Robb Smith hosts for the Integral Life community in real-time as the Great Release unfolds, giving rise to the Transformation Age.
Inhabit Series Banner

Ryan Oelke

Co-founder of Buddhist Geeks, teacher

Practice-based series with Ryan Oelke and Corey deVos, designed to help you embody your own unique expression of integral being and more fully inhabit the territory of your life, your relationships, and your world.

Integral Edge Series Banner

Mark Fischler

Professor of Criminal justice

Join Mark Fischler and Corey deVos as they bring integral justice into focus on today’s pressing cultural, legal, and societal issues.

Integral Edge Series Banner

Lisa Frost

Integral Master Coach, facilitator

Between 2021 and 2023, Lisa Frost and Corey deVos recorded a podcast series that continues to offer timeless guidance for deepening Integral Life Practice, with powerful ways to Wake Up, Grow Up, Clean Up, and Show Up in life, relationships, and work.

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Watch the full episode here (members only): https://integrallife.com/dont-just-transcend-your-pain-include-it/ He didn’t just transcend pain — he learned to include it. From loss and projection to shadow work and devotion, this excerpt follows Alexander Love as he reorients his practice around one quiet realization: love didn’t arrive; it was remembered. Alexander shares how his father’s death set him on a path to Naropa, how he unconsciously projected “dad energy” onto a radiant teacher, and why he asked a seemingly simple question—“What’s the remedy for feeling separation from God?” He describes years of rigorous practice (Surat Shabd Yoga), the honesty of being “pissed off at God” in meditation, and the turning point when shadow work gave his devotion somewhere real to land. What emerges is a tender reframing: pain as another face of the sacred, and development as a way to love more precisely—not to rank anyone. You’ll hear about: • Grief as the real beginning of spiritual life • Projection, devotion, and “practice as escape” • Surat Shabd Yoga: soul, sound, and union • Why shadow work matters (and what it changes) • “Evolution’s engine” — a friendlier way to meet reality • Pain as a doorway to wholeness
Don’t Just Transcend Pain — Make It Sacred
The psychedelic renaissance is here. 🌍🍄 A global re-emergence of psychedelics — for healing, science, spirituality, and culture. But the psychedelic renaissance isn’t just about individual trips, it’s about a cultural tipping point. When millions explore consciousness together, the waters of culture shift from “I” to “We,” awakening intersubjectivity and transforming how society makes meaning. 🌍✨ Watch more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n30kh31F2Rs
What Happens If 10 Million People Take Psilocybin? 🍄
Watch the full discussion here: https://integrallife.com/the-dopamine-revolution-from-human-evolution-to-modern-crisis/ What if the secret to human civilization wasn't fire, tools, or language, but seafood? Dr. Keith Witt reveals one of the most remarkable untold stories in human evolution: how a devastating drought 100,000 years ago forced early humans to the beaches of South Africa, where their brains were flooded with dopamine-boosting nutrients that triggered what evolutionary neurobiologists call "the Big Bang" of human consciousness. This isn't gradual genetic evolution—this transformation happened so rapidly that existing neural circuits, dormant for 120,000 years, suddenly activated all at once. Within thousands of years, humans went from basic survival to creating sophisticated tools, art, jewelry, burial ceremonies, and complex social structures. The same neurochemical system that drove our ancestors to explore new territories and develop civilization is the system that modern technology exploits today. Through compelling archaeological evidence and cutting-edge neuroscience, Keith traces how environmental pressures in the lower-right quadrant triggered dietary changes that rewired the upper-right brain, enabling consciousness evolution in the upper-left that manifested as cultural explosion in the lower-left. This is integral theory applied to deep history, revealing how all four quadrants aligned to create the most significant leap in human development—until now. This episode is a tour de force — part history lesson, part neuroscience primer, part spiritual invocation. Keith and Corey don’t just describe the human story — they locate you inside it, inviting you to step consciously into this next unfolding wave. Because, as they remind us again and again: the Big Bang is still banging.
The Ancient Discovery That Created Human Civilization
Think atoms are the building blocks of the universe? Think again. Everything around you — from cells to stars — is made of holons: structures that are both a whole and a part. This is the hidden design behind evolution, consciousness, and complexity. It’s not just science. It’s the pattern of existence itself. #shorts #universe #reality #philosophy
The Hidden Design of the Universe No One Told You About 🌌🪐💫☄️
Discover the power of spiritual intelligence — the capacity to explore the deepest dimensions of awareness. Ken Wilber explains how this inner science can open the door to awakening, enlightenment, and mystical states that feel more real than physical reality itself. 🌌 #KenWilber #SpiritualIntelligence #Awakening #Shorts
Unlocking Spiritual Intelligence – The Path to Awakening | Ken Wilber
What if every “thing” has an inside? From worms to dogs 🐕 and even subatomic particles, consciousness might not emerge at some magical point — it could be baked into reality itself. No ghost in the machine. Just consciousness, all the way down.... 👉 Want more mind-stretching insights? Check this out: https://youtu.be/zHuV9sbGML0 #Consciousness #KenWilber #IntegralTheory #SpiritualIntelligence #shorts
Are Atoms Conscious? 🤯
What if the secret to understanding anyone—your teenage daughter, your impossible boss, that friend who keeps making the same relationship mistakes—wasn't about reading their mind, but about recognizing the developmental lens through which they see reality? What if most of our communication failures stem from a simple error: assuming everyone makes meaning the same way we do? In this conversation, Keith Martin-Smith and Alexander Love dive deep into Terry O'Fallon's revolutionary Stages model, a developmental framework that cuts through the noise of content to reveal the underlying structure of how consciousness evolves. Unlike the rigid hierarchies that plague most developmental theories, this approach treats growth as an unbroken fabric of becoming — twelve developmental waves flowing across three distinct tiers of reality perception. Alexander explores Terri’s three-question methodology, which can help pinpoint someone's developmental range in real-time. First: What world can they actually see? Someone operating from concrete thinking literally cannot perceive the systemic forces that are obvious to someone with subtle awareness. Second: Are they exploring individual identity or collective belonging? This reveals whether they're in the first two stages of any tier (developing the individual) or the second two stages (developing the collective). Third: What's their learning preference — receptive, active, reciprocal, or interpenetrative? This final question narrows twelve possibilities down to one. The conversation illuminates how this precision serves empathy rather than evaluation. When we recognize that a child adopting progressive values through rule-based thinking will enforce inclusivity with the same rigid authoritarianism they learned at home, we stop expecting postmodern sophistication from concrete cognition. When we understand that someone at 4.0 (green) can see systemic oppression but is still "had by" the system they're critiquing, we can appreciate both their insights and their limitations without condescension. Alexander's exploration of shadow and projection dynamics reveals another layer: how 4.0 can spot others' projections but remains blind to their own, while 4.5 begins the difficult work of recognizing their own shadow upon reflection. This isn't just developmental theory—it's practical wisdom for navigating the projection-heavy landscape of contemporary culture. Perhaps most importantly, they demonstrate how development unfolds not as a linear climb but as a fluid dance between multiple stages within any given conversation. A healthy person at any level naturally draws from earlier developmental waves when appropriate—using first-person perspective to open a door, concrete thinking to follow traffic rules, systemic awareness to understand cultural patterns. The goal isn't to transcend our humanity but to discover its full spectrum. Their discussion of real-world examples—from diversity and inclusion debates to parenting challenges—shows how the same content can emerge from radically different developmental structures, and why meeting people where they are developmentally creates the conditions for genuine growth rather than defensive reactivity. This isn't another framework for ranking consciousness. It's a tool for recognizing the magnificent complexity of human meaning-making, and for learning to love people into wholeness rather than arguing them into agreement. When we stop trying to convince others to see through our developmental lens and start learning to see through theirs, something remarkable becomes possible: genuine understanding across the beautiful diversity of human consciousness.
STAGES: Cracking the Code of Human Development
Psychologist Dr. Keith Witt explains why AI never gets stuck in drama — it just gives you a clear answer. The drama begins when we resist that answer and defend against change. Used mindfully, AI becomes a magic mirror for growth: it shows where you’re solving problems and where you’re hiding in excuses. #AI #Psychology #InnerWork #SelfDevelopment #Shorts
Stuck in Drama? AI Can Show You the Way Out
Watch the full presentation here: https://integrallife.com/when-democracy-eats-itself-navigating-the-politics-of-confusion/ This excerpt introduces a counterintuitive political phenomenon: voters who support both Trump and AOC, despite their apparent ideological opposition. Mark Edwards uses this puzzle to reveal the limitations of traditional left-right political analysis, presenting Jean-Pierre Faye's "Horseshoe Theory" as a more accurate framework. The theory suggests that when political positions become extreme enough to abandon democratic norms, far-left and far-right ideologies begin to resemble each other in their totalitarian methods, even while their content differs. Mark argues that conventional politics has failed to address fundamental crises, creating hunger for radical alternatives that voters perceive as "anti-establishment." However, the media's polarizing influence pushes people toward increasingly extreme positions within their ideological camps rather than exploring transformative solutions. The horseshoe shape occurs because both extremes share a willingness to "smash the system" and abandon democratic discourse, making them functionally similar despite opposing rhetoric. This framework explains why Trump and AOC voters overlap—both represent rejection of conventional politics, though Edwards suggests they lead in fundamentally different directions regarding democratic norms. --- Free Email Course on Building Your Integral Life: https://bit.ly/byim-integrallife Participate in our daily Integral Life Practice sessions: https://integrallife.com/calendar Watch all episodes of The Ken Show: https://integrallife.com/category/perspectives/the-ken-show/ What is Integral? https://integrallife.com/what-is-integral-approach/ Follow our news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntegralLifeOfficial/ Integral thoughts on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobbSmith Integral Life is a member-driven digital media community that supports the growth, education, and application of Integral Philosophy and integrative metatheory to complex issues in the 21st century. Integral Life offers perspectives, practices, analysis, and community to help people grow into the full capacities of integral consciousness in order to thrive in a rapidly-evolving world.
Why Politics is Broken: Horseshoe Theory Explained
Watch the full presentation here: https://integrallife.com/psychedelic-renaissance/ Carter Phipps lays out his central thesis about the psychedelic renaissance as a cultural catalyst that's fundamentally changing what he calls "the waters of culture"—the invisible assumptions that shape collective reality. Drawing on insights from his own psilocybin experiences, he argues that when millions of people access expanded states of consciousness, it removes the protective "veil" that modernism placed over reality to guard against superstition, allowing deeper dimensions of consciousness to re-emerge. While acknowledging this cultural shift "is gonna get weird" and carries real dangers if postmodern values become virulently anti-modern, Phipps insists we must "ride the tiger" of this transformation rather than resist it. He contends that this consciousness expansion is essential for moving beyond the "disenchanted universe" of materialism toward a foundation that recognizes consciousness as ontologically real—ultimately leading to his vision of re-animating our "once dead, rocky, indifferent material universe with the richness of life, the magic of consciousness, and the fullness of deep meaning." The excerpt concludes with his strategic imperative for the integral community to support healthy postmodernism and avoid becoming "worldview partisans" in the culture wars. --- Free Email Course on Building Your Integral Life: https://bit.ly/byim-integrallife Participate in our daily Integral Life Practice sessions: https://integrallife.com/calendar Watch all episodes of The Ken Show: https://integrallife.com/category/perspectives/the-ken-show/ What is Integral? https://integrallife.com/what-is-integral-approach/ Follow our news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntegralLifeOfficial/ Integral thoughts on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobbSmith Integral Life is a member-driven digital media community that supports the growth, education, and application of Integral Philosophy and integrative metatheory to complex issues in the 21st century. Integral Life offers perspectives, practices, analysis, and community to help people grow into the full capacities of integral consciousness in order to thrive in a rapidly-evolving world.
The Psychedelic Renaissance Is Here
See more episodes of Witt & Wisdom here: https://integrallife.com/category/perspectives/witt-wisdom-live-with-dr-keith/ Are you caught in cycles of relational drama and wondering how to break free? Do you struggle to discern whether you’re solving problems in your relationships or perpetuating unproductive emotional dynamics? How can integral insights help you navigate the complexity of modern relationships, therapy, and personal growth? In this episode, Corey deVos and Dr. Keith Witt explore one of the most common yet misunderstood aspects of human interaction: the tension between drama and problem-solving. They dive deeply into the “Drama Triangle,” a psychological framework that reveals how the roles of victim, rescuer, and persecutor trap us in cycles of dysfunction. These dynamics, while often personal, are also embedded in cultural systems, politics, and even therapy itself. Drawing from integral theory, Keith explains how drama is a signal of relational disconnection and unmet needs, while problem-solving is a path of self-awareness, connection, and growth. They discuss how therapy provides a transformative space by balancing unconditional acceptance with clear expectations for change, helping clients shift from reactive drama to creative problem-solving. Through rich examples—including Keith’s personal stories and reflections—they illuminate the emotional and relational signals that help us recognize when we’re stuck in drama and how to move beyond it. Key themes include: - The power of self-awareness to shift from reactive drama to empowered problem-solving. - How relational disconnection is often the first problem to solve in any relationship. - The interplay of cultural narratives, such as green postmodernism, in amplifying cycles of victimhood and blame. - Why integrating emotional connection (relating) with practical resolution (problem-solving) creates transformative relationships. - The role of emotional signals, such as urgency or secrecy, in identifying drama dynamics. Whether you’re navigating complex relationships, exploring personal growth, or grappling with cultural and systemic challenges, this episode offers practical insights and profound perspective shifts. Join Corey and Keith as they unpack the patterns that keep us stuck and the practices that help us grow.
Escaping the Drama Triangle: Presence, Problem-Solving, and Relational Mastery
Watch the full discussion here: https://integrallife.com/tantra-is-not-what-you-think-and-way-better-than-you-imagined/ What if the most powerful healing work you could do required nothing more than a mirror and the willingness to look yourself in the eye? In this profound excerpt, Scott Schwenk and Kimberley Lafferty demolish popular misconceptions about tantra while revealing what it actually is: consciousness alchemy. Scott introduces his revolutionary mirror practice, combining Daniel P. Brown's five forms of healthy attachment (attunement, safety, soothing, delight, encouragement) with traditional shadow work to create what he calls "the five transmissions." This isn't therapy—it's recognizing that your difficult emotions are simply "energy doing things" and learning to meet them with the same loving presence you'd offer a frightened child. The conversation seamlessly weaves developmental psychology with ancient wisdom, exploring how understanding individual projection becomes the gateway to meta-awareness and fifth-person perspective. Kimberley illuminates the key developmental milestones needed to transition from teal strategist consciousness to turquoise construct-aware stages, while Scott demonstrates how tantra's true purpose is the recognition of "inner penetration"—the seamless unity of form and formlessness. By the end, you'll understand why real tantra has nothing to do with advanced sexual techniques and everything to do with discovering that every moment of difficulty is an opportunity for alchemical transformation. This is shadow work revolutionized: not trying to fix yourself, but learning to love yourself into wholeness. --- Free Email Course on Building Your Integral Life: https://bit.ly/byim-integrallife Participate in our daily Integral Life Practice sessions: https://integrallife.com/calendar Watch all episodes of The Ken Show: https://integrallife.com/category/perspectives/the-ken-show/ What is Integral? https://integrallife.com/what-is-integral-approach/ Follow our news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntegralLifeOfficial/ Integral thoughts on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobbSmith Integral Life is a member-driven digital media community that supports the growth, education, and application of Integral Philosophy and integrative metatheory to complex issues in the 21st century. Integral Life offers perspectives, practices, analysis, and community to help people grow into the full capacities of integral consciousness in order to thrive in a rapidly-evolving world.
Tantra Is Not What You Think (And Better Than You Imagined)
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