Is There More? A Koan with Diane Musho Hamilton

Diane Musho Hamilton is a gifted mediator, facilitator and teacher of Zen and Integral Spirituality. She is a co-director of the Integral Life Spiritual Center and has worked with Ken Wilber and Integral Institute since 2004. Diane is the Senior Teacher for Integral Recovery. She is the lead trainer on Integral Life Practice. She is [...]

Redefining Sexuality: An Interview with Sofia Diaz – www.iEvolve.org

Sofia Diaz is a gifted teacher of Hatha yoga, sacred movement, and feminine spiritual practice, deriving her form of teaching and body philosophy from the South Indian Temple Arts and their accompanying scriptures. She has apprenticed with dance and music masters of the Balasaraswati lineage of Devadasi Sadir. She is also a core founder and [...]

NEW: Unique Self Dialogue with Dr. Marc Gafni, Ken Wilber, and Sally Kempton

Marc Gafni, Sally Kempton, and Ken Wilber discuss the notion of the Unique Self, which represents the deepest possible expression of consciousness—a subject that can never be made object, the union of ever-present consciousness and individual perspective at a radically fundamental level.
The Unique Self is the substrate of our 1st-person experience, the subtlest patterns of [...]

Blessings to Adi Da…May He Swiftly Journey

The Secret to Great Sex: How to Embody Deep Passion and Nourishing Intimacy in Relationship: Part 3 by Kelly Sosan Bearer

In this next clip we’ll explore a few practices to re-polarize your relationship and re-ignite that energetic spark .
Sofia Diaz, a gifted teacher of Hatha yoga, sacred movement, and feminine spiritual practice, offers insight into the nature of sexual polarity.  First, she’ll talk about how our relationships become de-polarized. Then, she’ll explain the benefits of [...]

The Secret to Great Sex: How to Embody Deep Passion and Nourishing Intimacy in Relationship: Part 2 by Kelly Sosan Bearer

First, let’s define the two extremes of sexual polarity. Then, we’ll help you assess which pole you most resonate with in relationship. Finally, we’ll offer a series of practices that you can use to re-polarize your relationship. In the end, by purposefully cultivating an embodiment of your polarity, you and your lover can enjoy passion [...]

Love and Suffering: Dr. Marc Gafni Reemerges By Robb Smith

We recently began preparations for a new annual event called “Integral Spiritual Experience” in collaboration with integral spiritual leaders Swami Sally Kempton, Diane Musho Hamilton, Sensei and Dr. Marc Gafni. Ken Wilber and I both felt it was important to transparently investigate and address the current state of affairs as it relates to the alleged [...]

The Secret to Great Sex: How to Embody Deep Passion and Nourishing Intimacy in Relationship: Part 1 by Kelly Sosan Bearer

“The secret to great sex….” You’ve most likely seen this promise, or one like it, plastered on the cover of magazines since you were old enough to read. So, how is an Integral approach to embodying passion and great sex different from the approach of Cosmo, Vanity Fair, or Men’s Health magazine that claims to [...]

Brilliant Blogs

Hokai Sobol of h~log has put Black Plum on his list of seven brilliant blogs. Many bows Hokai! I have to say I’m a bit shocked, as Black Plum was birthed a mere two weeks ago. I’m honored to be in the line-up with these other reputable blogs. And here is a list of the [...]

The Teal Shadow: Integral Expert, First-Tier Allergy

We all  have shadows, or disowned, repressed, dissociated parts of ourselves, and as we grow and develop from one stage to the next, and even as we grow into higher stages of development, a simple fact remains — the shadow does not go away, but rather follows us as we ascend into the higher reaches [...]

Practice: The 3-2-1 Shadow Practice

To Practice the 3-2-1 Process
1. Choose an experience in your life that you want to work with. It’s often easier to begin with a person with whom you have difficulty (e.g., lover, relative, boss). This person may irritate, disturb, annoy, or upset you. Or maybe you feel attracted to, obsessed with, infatuated with, or possessive [...]

Why Does Spirituality Need Integral?

There are so many forms and types of spirituality today. Some preach love and acceptance; others preach hate and destruction. Many traditions claim that their way is the only way, “the one true path,” which directly contradicts other traditions that say their way is the only way. Why does spirit express itself in such radically [...]

What is Integral?

What is Integral?
The Integral map is a comprehensive approach to human growth and development, developed by philosopher Ken Wilber, that lays out all that the various world cultures have to tell us about human potential- spiritual growth, psychological growth, social and cultural growth. The Integral map uses all the known systems and models of human [...]

What is Shadow?

Anyone who has seriously committed themselves to or even dabbled with a spiritual practice knows that no amount of practice changes our experience of family during the holidays. Why is that? One of the great contributions of Western modernity to the understanding of self are the insights into the shadow. Freud was definitely mistaken on [...]

What is Integral Spirituality?

Spirituality is a complex, confusing, and polarizing force in the world. With so many different definitions of the word, we can barely even begin to start the conversation. Some equate spirituality with mysticism as described by the great philosophers; but with the infiltration of New Age concepts of spirituality, many are not sure what the [...]