Imagine stories around a campfire... a mystical mobius hopes to create a space that feels like sitting around a digital campfire.  ~~~   Spiral Dynamics [SD] is amoral?  Yes, by nature's design. Well, Clare Graves' research and theory presumes that evolution plays the role of 'designer.' So, it seems quite fitting that Graves' theory/model begins … Continue reading Spiral Dynamics is amoral →

"Well, who asked you?"  Who, me? "Yeah, you!" Um Actually, maybe even more like: "Oh hell no, who asked him!?!" I'm just kidding, sort of. Some things seem pretty consistent. Bringing contrary news and challenging questions to communities of people who are focused in some way on meaning is often perilous. Please understand, I care … Continue reading Well, who asked you? →

Recurring pit in stomach! Even good ideas have unintended consequences. Since Donald J. Trump became president I have had a recurring pit in my stomach. Probably not for a reason you would imagine. For some time the "pit" related to a sinking feeling I had about Trump having some kind of mixed-up relationship with Spiral … Continue reading Polemic: kw integral error? →

No, I'm not placing teachers in the center ring of a circus, although many teachers likely feel as though that's exactly what Covid-19 has done. I'm alluding to "Ring Theory," by psychologists Susan Silk and Barry Goldman. We'll come right back to that.   Opening schools The question over opening schools safely in the context … Continue reading Teachers in the center ring →

Zzzzzzzzz   Reader alert: this piece will be of little interest to those outside the Spiral Dynamics [SD] community. An economy of words might better render: "This piece will likely be of no interest."  Jaundiced?     I asked around  I've asked the Graves/SD conversation partners that I am connected with if there were any … Continue reading “Jaundiced?” →

Nuance is sorely needed! Just using the term nuance is an admission that some things, many things, most things, perhaps, are not simple. Many things are complex, even very complex. Using the term nuance here is my way of opening an exploration of one factor in the difficulty regarding the many extraordinary problems we're facing … Continue reading Cancel culture and Donatism →

"White" *fragility*? Thanks to "White" *fragility*, racism is frequently a very difficult topic for white people. So, in deference to any potential discomfort of any white mystical möbius readers, we'll slowly ease into our discussion of the White supremacy issue this week.  Not.   That's one way White fragility seeks to serve and preserve White privilege. If we won't … Continue reading white Americans are *fragile* →

Granfalloon ~ poetic prose? What in the world is a granfalloon? Well, if you need to ask that question, you've obviously missed reading what's regarded by many as the greatest novel ever from the typewriter of Kurt Vonnegut. I'd argue that the 'granfalloon' is one of the most brilliantly poetic pieces of fictional prose ever … Continue reading Hate-fighting imagination →

  A picture is worth a thousand words Study the image for a moment. This very, very powerful image is by Grace Jensen. It is essentially the portrait of a justice activist, a profile in courage of a remarkably brave and fiercely focused young woman, Samantha Francine. However, it tells a 'big picture' story as … Continue reading Whitefish | systems thinking? →

Complexity and crises galore    This week I have been contemplating the complexity of life right now and it's becoming difficult to even get passed the multiple emerging crises. A deadly pandemic crisis. A resulting economic crisis. A health system crisis. A criminal justice crisis. Nationwide protests. And the many intersections of these crises as … Continue reading Many intersections →