The Turquoise Dialectic: Expand Your Cosmology Through Integral Dialogue

Dr. Keith WittCognitive, Defenses, Emotional, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Psychology, Video, Witt & Wisdom: Live with Dr. Keith

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Perspective Shift:

  1. You inherit more than just genetics — you also inherit patterns of trauma, behavior, and energy. Scientific research on epigenetics shows that trauma responses can be passed down for generations, but ancestral influences aren’t just biological.
  2. Engaging in deep dialogue means being open to both influencing and being influenced. Many discussions—especially in political and ideological spaces—are framed as battles to be won. In contrast, the turquoise dialectic involves a mutual exchange where each person remains open to having their worldview expanded, refined, or transformed.
  3. Your cosmology is not reality — it’s your best attempt to model reality. No one directly perceives the world as it truly is. Instead, we construct mental models based on sensory input, cultural conditioning, and personal experiences. Recognizing that our cosmology is always evolving allows for greater humility, adaptability, and wisdom.
  4. Healing the past doesn’t mean agreeing with it — it means integrating it. Many resist reconciling with their family or ancestral history because they equate acknowledgment with approval. But true healing isn’t about repeating or rejecting the past; it’s about metabolizing its lessons, reclaiming its gifts, and consciously shaping how its energy flows into the future.

What if the most transformative conversations aren’t about winning an argument, but about expanding reality itself?

In this episode, Corey deVos and Dr. Keith Witt explore what it means to engage in a turquoise dialectic—a level of dialogue where perspectives don’t just collide, but co-create each other and co-evolve together. They examine how our personal cosmologies shape the way we make sense of the world, how intergenerational patterns influence our lives in ways we often don’t realize, and how deep, integral conversations can lead to unexpected growth. From the psychology of trust and deception to the unseen forces that shape our consciousness, this discussion invites you into a more fluid, open, and expansive way of relating to both truth and transformation.

The conversation begins with an inquiry into the nature of honesty and deception in relationships. How do we handle friends or loved ones who lie? What happens to intimacy when we engage in relationships where unspoken truths linger beneath the surface? Keith offers insights into the psychological and relational dynamics of dishonesty, explaining how confronting a pattern of lying can either deepen a connection or reveal the need for distance. Corey extends this idea by exploring the concentric circles of deception—ranging from small exaggerations to the mass perpetuation of political falsehoods—and how these different layers affect our ability to relate with integrity.

From here, the dialogue expands into a broader discussion about the power of dialectic engagement — what Keith describes as a turquoise-level approach to communication, where participants remain open to both influencing and being influenced. They explore how we develop personal cosmologies — the unique ways we model and make sense of reality — and how engaging with different perspectives expands and refines our understanding. Through examples from various integral thinkers, including Beena Sharma, Marcelo Cardoso, and Alexander Love, they illustrate how different metaphorical systems provide distinct yet overlapping ways of engaging with growth, health, and transformation.

One of the most profound moments comes when Keith leads an exercise in ancestral energy and intergenerational transmission, inspired by the work of Bert Hellinger and family constellations. Corey offers a tender reflection on his own family dynamics and history, noticing how the flow of life energy extends beyond personal experiences, transforming intergenerational traumas and challenges into the gifts of growth.

As the episode concludes, Corey and Keith explore the broader evolutionary trajectory of consciousness — why integral thinkers often see the world’s complexity as a “metacrisis,” and how faith in the ongoing emergence of human consciousness can offer a more expansive and hopeful view of our collective future.
This episode is a masterclass in integral conversation — honest, reflective, and deeply engaged with the complexity of human experience.



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About Keith Witt

Dr. Keith Witt is a Licensed Psychologist, teacher, and author who has lived and worked in Santa Barbara, CA. for over forty years. Dr. Witt is also the founder of The School of Love.

About Corey deVos

Corey W. deVos is editor and producer of Integral Life. He has worked for Integral Institute/Integal Life since Spring of 2003, and has been a student of integral theory and practice since 1996. Corey is also a professional woodworker, and many of his artworks can be found in his VisionLogix art gallery.