I think Einstein intuitively had a sense of Spiral Dynamics. He once said, “You cannot solve problems
with the same level of thinking that created them. There comes a time when the mind takes a higher
plan of knowledge but can never prove how it got there. All great discoveries have involved such a
leap.”

Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi), is a developmental model of human consciousness based on 40 years
of research and applications. One of its major applications by Dr. Don Beck was in South Africa to
help the country move out of apartheid without civil war. It has been used for individual,
organizational and social change. According to this model there are eight bio-psycho-social-spiritual
"lenses" that have developed on the planet so far in human history. They have been color-coded for
ease of discussion but also to help break through the false racial stereotypes in South Africa.

As we grow, we each develop our own stack of these lenses depending on our life experiences and
where and when we live. Your lenses affect everything -- your relationships, careers, ethics, parenting, politics and
much more. Much of our personal, organizational, social and political conflicts also arise out of these
different ways of seeing the world and the values that are built into our very essence.  

It is as if we are all sitting in a room looking at a piece of paper with different colored glasses on,
however, the glasses are invisible. We don’t know we have them on. When asked what color we see,
we each claim a different color and can’t understand why others can’t see what is obviously right.  

Lens Color             Arises In                       Driven by
BEIGE             The Survival Band           Biological Needs
PURPLE          Enchanted Forest           Tribal Safety Needs
RED                The Jungle                       Power Needs
BLUE              Divine Rights                   Order/Stability Needs
ORANGE        The Marketplace              Prosperity/Freedom Needs
GREEN           The Commune                 Compassionate Needs
YELLOW         The Natural Habit            Planetary System Needs
TURQUOISE   The Holistic Organism     Synergy Needs

As we move through the spiral each color's conditions creates new problems to be solved than
previously. The essence of the model is that changing life conditions encourages but does not require
ever more complex and adaptive systems to begin to "awaken" within each of us and thus the next
color lens emerges.

Spiral Dynamics was developed by psychologist Clare Graves. Dr. Don Beck and Christopher Cowen
built on Beck’s model. Don has continued to try to integrate the work of others into this model and
other well-known philosophers such as Ken Wilber have added new insights and dimensions. Wilber
has work with the 4-quadrant/all level model adding more depth. Author Jenny Wade and others have
complementary work.

I am certified by the National Values Center in Spiral Dynamics, have taught many classes and spoken at national SDi events. I will be resuming these classes next year.

Recommended Books and Websites for More Information:

Book Suggestions

Dr. Don Beck's website and training schedule. http://www.spiraldynamics.net/

Article of an Interview with Dr. Don Beck http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/spiral/

Large scale systems change based on this model  http://www.humanemergence.org/