Here is a survey about YOUR future when you get older: How do you see the second half of life?
Please go to https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/8NZQ3XV
OUR FIRST COMMUNITY LIVE CONVERSATION – about AGEING
Hear our presentation at the INTEGRAL EUROPEAN CONFERENCE in Hungary,
May 6th, 2016
We were pleased and grateful to witness a lively interest in the topic.
You are invited to join the discussion by filling in the survey above and by joining our Facebook Group http://bit.ly/integralageing
Hear our pre-conference talk about what we will be talking about on May 6th, 2016 in Siofok/Hungary.
Karen Voorhees
SEASON 6 EPISODE 9
November 6th 2019
Death doesn’t exist – with Karen Voorhees
HEIDI´S INTRO
We all, everyone of us, has the experience that someone in their family or community died. So how can we dare to say that death doesn’t exist? People die and then they are gone, we don’t see them around us any more and no-one ever came back. That’s what we are taught to think inside our predominant materialist worldview. But what if it is wrong?
What does “death” mean, and what does “life” mean? Is it possible that our life continues in some way even when we have done our last breath and our body is buried? All spiritual traditions talk about eternal life or some continuum after the physical death. People who were dead and then brought back into life report about their death experience – or near death experience, depending how death is defined. So what shall we believe?
Science defines death for its purposes – to recover organs for transplantation the body is declared “dead” despite a beating heart, which not long ago was considered a sign of being alive. The body, once “really” dead is declaring the absolute end of a person’s life. This is the logical consequence of a worldview which recognises one body alone, the physical, and ignore all the others which are known for thousands of years and studied by many spiritual traditions.
Ken Wilber talks about the “right quadrants absolutism”. People who can see the world only from the outside perspective deny interiority because it is not measurable with materialist measurement systems. The quick conclusion: what we cannot measure doesn’t exist – despite the experience of millions and millions of people shows clearly that the immeasurable internal dimension exist and is very important for our wellbeing and balance in life.
So why can we say that death doesn’t exist? If we believe in an afterlife, in re-incarnation, in the existence of a transcendent soul which last even if the body has died, life, or better “existence” continues. It just transcends into a different form. Science denies this possibility, but it cannot prove that it doesn’t exist. Does that really mean that we are wrong in believing? Or does it just mean that science believes as well, only the opposite idea? Only because the scientific method of exteriors doesn’t work on the interiors, there is no justification to doubt the phenomena, but merely to change the scientific tools for the inquiry.
In our conversation, Karen Voorhees develops her ideas from her background in spiritual practice, using the integral model for her considerations. We also shared some stories about life and death and how we, personally, deal with the question. It was a rich and fruitful conversation on a topic which so many of us try to avoid – which is not a good idea, as seen in an example given by Karen.
ABOUT KAREN VOORHEES
More info on this page
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Spiraling down to Beige: Loraine Laubscher
SEASON 6 EPISODE 7
October 30th 2019
Ageing: Spiraling down to beige? with Loraine Laubscher
HEIDI´S INTRO
When we are born, we start out in Beige, the first level of development in Spiral Dynamics which is characterised by the need for safety and security, for food and shelter, for survival. This is the stage where the infant needs constant help with almost everything. Then we grow up, through other stages, hopefully, and then? When we face old age we fear to turn back into beige, to a situation where we need help for almost everything, again. We fear that this might happen to us and this could be one of the main reasons why we try to ignore our getting older as long as possible.
The fear is huge to, one day, not being able anymore to be auto sufficient, and to “lose our minds” with Alzheimer disease. It takes a leap of courage to consciously prepare for that time in which we won’t be able to live the same way as we were used to. Not only that, but we need to consciously work on keeping our physical and mental abilities alive as long as possible.
But how?
First of all, we need to explore ourselves, get to know our strengths and weaknesses and train our will. Thus we will do our physical exercises, eat healthier food and take our supplements, even when we are tempted to just relax and do nothing. iI is, maybe, even more important to find new meaning in our lives, which gives us the direction, even if we have to face unpleasant periods. If the body isn’t working like before, we still can do what it is able to do, even improve our mobility by constant training. And it is mandatory to train our mind for not giving in to despair, but instead enabling us to find something exciting.
Al contrary to our common ideas, we can learn new things, always. Epigenetics teaches us that the brain can create new pathways. But they need to be trained, constantly, to stay alive. When we are mentally active, also the body benefits. So in CONSCIOUS AGEING, the crucial advice of our guests is: don’t give in to the desire of rest – you can rest enough after death! – but keep staying active. Find meaningful tasks which challenge you enough to keep your mind functioning and even increasing its capacities of making new connections, getting new insights, seeing the bigger picture; in short, gaining WISDOM.
Not everyone will write their Phd in their 80ies, as our guest Loraine Laubscher did. But studying, learning new things and producing the seed to benefit those who come after us: everyone can set this goal and walk the path towards its fulfilment.
ABOUT LORAINE LAUBSCHER
Please go to the page of our first conversation HERE.
You will find her Bio and a long list of her publications and participations at conferences there.
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Sue Brightman: a call to further becoming
SEASON 6 EPISODE 7
October 23rd 2019
Ageing – A call to further becoming with Sue Brightman
HEIDI´S INTRO
How do you feel when someone asks you: Are you retired? Maybe the question is fine for you, you are happy to say “yes” and glad to, finally, not having to go back to work next Monday. Maybe you were tired of your work and now, being re-tired, you can rest from your life’s work.
Maybe you don’t want to be asked this question, maybe it sounds strange to you. Maybe you connect with this word the notion of “too old for work”, “useless for society”, “you need to step down and give way to the young”, and you might not really believe these ideas. Then you are in good company with many of us, especially the 100 women whom our guest Sue Brightman has interviewed. They made clear that “further becoming” is a better word for the time after you have left the work phase in your life.
Instead of indulging in re-tiredness, many of us in the “second adulthood” are expanding and exploring new territory thanks to the new possibilities which arise by not growing children or doing the normal job any more. It is a time of harvesting a long life’s experiences and to offer them back to the world in one way or another!
About Sue Brightman
For 30 years, Sue worked as an Organizational Development and Leadership Consultant, teaching and coaching at some of the world largest organizations. A Master Trainer and Certified Coach in Conscious Business, Sue founded Brightman Glover International and facilitated programs to clients in over 40 countries including Shell Oil, General Motors, Pulitzer Newspapers, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, and Huffington Post.
Like many women in her subsequent research, Sue recognized natural completeness of her career in her late 50s. Recognizing what she now calls “Done With That nudges”, she also recognized a full-on zest for wanting to continue learning, growing, and contributing.
Sue’s consideration of the question “What now?” was accompanied by deep curiosity about this stage of life: natural completion of successful careers, but more still to do with energy, creativity, good health, and spunk. She discerned a new pattern emerging on a global scale along these lines. That’s when she found social anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson’s work who declares that a whole new stage of life has arrived between 50-70+: Those of us in it are pioneering what it means, says Bateson.
In 2016, Sue launched a research project to interview 100 women between 50-79 to listen for markers of this new stage, and capture the tracks we’re laying down for ourselves and generations to come.
Sue’s upcoming book A Call to Further Becoming: The New Declaration from Women Over 50 announces ten themes that emerged repeatedly from 100 women’s stories and responses. Not only do they include the plethora of creative endeavors we are embarking on at this time – but they blow out of the water the old narrative of retirement, disengagement, and decline. Relationships of deeper connection, respect for our own resilience borne of facing challenges, and a growing trust in our inner wisdom allow us to speak with courage, act without fear, and pursue what is ours to pursue.
These findings led to Sue founding For Women on the Journey of Their Lives, LLC through which she supports women in their 50s, 60s, 70s through Executive/Life Coaching, Women’s “Further Becoming” Retreats, and soon-to-be-offered online Workshops/Groups. Combined with her certification as an SQ21 spiritual intelligence coach and interfaith chaplain, Sue’s championing of women who are pioneering Adulthood II is already attracting university requests for teaching and speaking on this emerging topic.
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“The Third Act” with Edward Kelly
HEIDI´S INTRO
For many thousands of years people had a short life span. Only very few arrived at an old age, most people died before their 40ies birthday. Child mortality has diminished and life span increased steadily for the last couple of hundred years. Now, for the first time in history, “old age” begins about 20 years later than it used to start. Today you are not any more old with 60. You have the probability to live other 20 years in reasonable health and with enough life energy to start something new. The Third Act today is not the period before death as it used to be (this would now be the “fourth act”), it is a period of a redefined life – if we take it on as such.
Many of us over 60 are getting aware of this fact. We don’t feel old and we don’t want to be confined by the traditional expectations for people over 60. There is a difference between men and women. Men often struggle with retirement because their life suddenly loses the meaning which often was determined by what they did professionally. Women can seamlessly slip into grandmotherhood and find their meaning in taking care of the new generation. That has always been a choice for grandparents. But what if a woman decides that now, finally, she can do something different, develop her own interests instead of continuing to be in service of the family?
While society gives a lot of support for young people in their transition from the first to the second act of life, there is almost no support and encouragement for transitioning into the Third Act. Older people are not considered when looking for jobs. The work-world refuses to modify their standards and expectations which are tailored for people in their 30ies, maybe still 40ies. It doesn’t see the gift which older people bring to the table and it is not willing to adjust the modalities which would allow older people to fully take part in society and the occupational field.
Social change is slow and people who want to go ahead have to be pioneers for that change. They have to figure out by themselves how to create their life and find the meaning in their Third Act. Fortunately there are some generous people whose passion is to figure out these processes and to help others to go through them as well for not remaining alone in this very important quest of their lives. The question is only: will those people in need for help also take it? Or are they hesitant or even ashamed of needing support after having succeeded always alone in their previous life? Or is it the fear of being blamed by the family of not meeting the expectations of the younger ones when they dare to redefine themselves as an independent individual?
These are some of the questions I am discussing with Edward Kelly who, for many years, has offered his support to people in the transition period to the Third Act. His experience is that people are happy when they do the work and participate in his courses, but the main hurdle for them is, initially, to DECIDE to participate. It seems that very many people who could benefit from the inquiry into elderhood do not find the path to get the appropriate support they would need for growing into the fullness of their possibilities and of their being.
In our Conscious Ageing series we hope to encourage you to take this step. We have interviewed several people who actively offer their support in questions of getting older, finding one’s purpose, open oneself up instead of closing down, how to best take care for one’s health or even prepare for our death and for our legacy. Edward Kelly, the guest in this interview, has done theoretical and practical work in order to support the entry into the Third Act, he is certainly a perfect go-to person.
ABOUT DR. EDWARD KELLY
Edward Kelly is an entrepreneur, researcher and facilitator. In the past few years he has led over forty workshops in Intel, Accenture, Google, and others. He is a regular presenter on the MBA and Innovation programmes at University College Dublin (UCD) and has published articles on adult development in the ILR and JITP. More recently he has facilitated workshops, developed programmes and has run a conference on The new Third Act in life. He is currently writing a book on adult development and leadership. Prior to this, he ran a successful telecoms business which he founded in 1995 and before that organised and participated in ‘The Great London to Sydney Taxi Ride’ in 1988, which entered the Guinness Book of Records for the longest most expensive taxi ride in history. He holds an ITC, BA, MBA and PhD. He can be contacted at: edward@thethirdact.ie, on +353 86 810 2000 and at www.thethirdact.ie.
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR TOPIC RELATED BOOKS
Stirb und Werde
CONSCIOUS AGEING
SEASON 6 EPISODE 5
October 9th 2019
BLOG und INFO SEITE
Stirb und Werde – Der Zyklus des Lebens mit Theresia-Maria Wuttke und Ute Weber
Das bekannte Sprichwort und Titel eines Buches von Andre Gide wird hier mit Leben erfüllt von der Wachstumsgeschichte unseres Gastes Theresia-Maria Wuttke. Konfrontiert mit lebensbedrohenden Krankheiten von Kindesbeinen an konnte sie erleben, wie die unmittelbare Gefahr des Sterbens in wiedergewonnenes Leben führt. Ein schwerer, aber einsichtsreicher Entwicklungsweg.
“Tod und Wiedergeburt! ist eine spirituelle Weisheit. Im Alltagsleben erfahren wir immer wieder den Tod im Kleinen, Verlust von Dingen, an denen wir hängen, oder schwerwiegender von geliebten Menschen. Wie werden wir damit fertig? Wir können daran verzweifeln, aber hier liegt auch das Potential zum Wachsen und Reifen als Mensch, in diesem unsrem Leben. Loslassen Lernen als Vorbereitung auf den Moment, wo wir alles, was uns bisher ausmachte, loslassen müssen. Wenn wir eine positive Sichtweise und Erlebensweise entwickeln, wo wir das, was nach diesen Toden neu entstehen kann, mit Neugier annehmen und wertschätzen, dann haben wir die Chance, ein erfülltes Leben zu leben.
Der Zyklus des Lebens, .oder die vielen Zyklen im Leben, zu umarmen anstatt ängstlich zu versuchen, sich vor Veränderung zu schützen, ist der Schlüssel, der zur Fülle führt. Angst verengt uns und macht uns unfähig, das Leben, so wie es ist, anzunehmen und zu genießen. Loslassen lernen führt uns in den Flow, aus dem heraus vieles möglich wird, was man vorher nie als Möglichkeit auch nur gesehen hätte. Es erlaubt uns, das Leben wertzuschätzen und als Geschenk anzunehmen, mit allem, was sich darin entfalten will.
Warum lernen wir nicht, das Leben wertzuschätzen, das Positive zu erkennen und zu pflegen? Warum sorgen wir uns um jede Kleinigkeit, haben Angst, wo sie nicht berechtigt ist – also fast immer und gegenüber fast Allem – und leben in Ablehnung und ätzender Kritik, Im Privaten und in unserer Gesellschaft? Wie könnten Kinder so geführt werden, dass diese Ängste nicht entstehen? Wie könnte Tod wieder zu einem ganz normalen Ereignis im menschlichen Leben werden und aus der tiefen Tabugrube herauskrabbeln? Theresia gibt uns ein wunderbares Beispiel von ihren Enkelkindern.
Wertschätzen durch Achtsamkeit: das Thema unsres anderen Gastes Ute Weber: Achtsamkeit gegenüber sich selbst, den anderen und der Welt gegenüber. Was ich achtsam betrachte und womit ich mich vertraut mache, das muss nicht sofort in den Schatten verschoben werden, was aber automatisch geschieht, wenn man sich in Angst und Sorge bestimmten Themen zuwendet und versucht, sie so gut wie irgend möglich zu vermeiden.
Es sind die Schatten, die unsere Beziehungen zerstören und zu Krieg führen, im Persönlichen wie auch im Globalen. Den Schatten aufdecken und integrieren sollte das oberste Lebensziel aller Menschen sein, aber wir sind weit davon entfernt, trotz Bemühungen von Psychologen, aufgeschlossenen Ärzten und bekannten Lehrern wie Dr. Rüdiger Dahlke oder Ken Wilber. Wir hören ihnen zu, sind inspiriert applaudieren – und tun meist nichts.
Darum ist es immer wieder eine Freude, mit Menschen zu sprechen, die ernsthaft ihren Wachstumsweg gehen, die schon weit gekommen sind und gerne ihre Erfahrung teilen und andere inspirieren, der Realität mit freundlichem Blick ins Auge zu schauen. Wie würde unsere Welt aussehen, wenn Achtsamkeit, Meditation und ähnliche Praktiken schon in der Schule gelehrt würden? Wenn wir von klein auf lernen würden, was die Gesetze des Lebens sind, des wirklichen Lebens, und nicht die des Funktionierens in unserer verkrusteten Gesellschaft und erbarmungslosen Wirtschaft? Kaum auszudenken!
Da stellt sich immer wieder die Frage: Sind wir bereit, die nötige Arbeit zu leisten für ein gutes und erfülltes Leben, in dem gleichen Maß wie wir Energie ins Geldverdienen und Karriereleiterklettern verwenden? Wenn wir von Menschen umgeben sind, die diese andren Werte verkörpern, dann kann es gelingen. Man braucht das notwendig, wenn man nicht die Energie von jenen Pionieren hat, die trotz Ächtung und Behinderungen jeglicher Art unbeirrt ihren Weg gehen, ihren inneren Werten folgend. Jesus musste sterben für seine Botschaft der Liebe, Menschen werde für verrückt eingestuft, wenn sie Liebe predigen und verkörpern, anstatt Hass, dann wenn sie anders leben wollen, im EInklang mit der Natur, dem Leben und ihren hohen inneren Werten.
Auch heute sind solche andere Menschen noch in der absoluten Minderzahl, aber heute kann man schon öffentlich über diese Themen reden, ohne als Hexen verbrannt oder oder als geisteskrank eingesperrt zu werden. Heute, im Zeitalter der Kommunikationstechnik, können wir uns finden und uns gegenseitig halten und ermutigen!
Ich wünsche Euch viel Freude und Inspiration beim Verfolgen meines Gespräches mit Theresia-Maria Wuttke und Ute Weber.
Im ONLINE SALON des”Integrales Forum”
Über Theresia- Maria Wuttke
Eine ausführliche Beschreibung findest Du HIER
Über Ute Weber-Woisetschläger
Ute ist auf der Suche nach dem Schönen, Wahren und Guten im Leben und in der Kunst. Sie schreibt:
Ich verstehe mich als Philosophin, Kunsthistorikerin, Kommunikatorin (Mag. phil., MSc) und Integrale Lebensbegleiterin (u.a. Integraler Entwicklungslehrgang, Integraler Business Coach bei Matthias Florian sowie div. Weiterbildungen im Bereich der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Achtsamkeits- und Dialogpraxis, regelmäßige Meditationspraxis und Higher-We-Kultivierung).
Nach leitenden Funktionen im Bereich der Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit in verschiedenen Museen suche ich nach einer existentiellen Erkrankung die Nähe zu Menschen, die sich vom integralen Ansatz angesprochen fühlen und sich persönlich, in ihrem In-der-Welt-Sein und in ihren Beziehungen achtsam und bewusst weiter entwickeln möchten.
Am Integralen Zentrum öffnen wir insbesondere den Raum für Selbsterfahrung und das Gewahren von Selbstverantwortung: In der Integralen Meditation kontemplieren wir Entwicklungsstufen und –zustände, im Integral Art Lab erfahren wir tiefere Dimensionen unseres Seins und im Integralen Salon beleuchten wir individuelle und kollektive Themen aus verschiedenen Perspektiven.
Theresia-Maria Wuttke
Ute Weber
RESOURCEN
THERESIA-MARIA & MONIA
Besuche unsre andren Webseiten
Conscious Ageing Panel Discussion
SEASON 6 EPISODE 4
Conscious Ageing – a panel with Ann Roberts, Monia Fruehwirth and Firehawk
HEIDI´S INTRO
The CONSCIOUS AGEING series was the result of Mark’s realisation that he might have other 20-30 years to live. He didn’t feel like doing the classical life of a person in retirement, he was inspired to know more about how other people dealt with the “third act” in their lives.
In 2014 we started the live broadcasts of the Wisdom Factory, first about topics around integral theory and practice, and from 2016 especially on “Conscious Ageing”. Mark, for the first time in his life had stepped up on the stage of the second Integral European Conference and presented his insights of how we age, up the spiral.
We did 4 seasons together, the fifth in spring 2019 I did alone in honour of Mark’s passing in June 2018. I had taken the commitment to continue with the work which was at Mark’s heart, and now, with season #6, I am happy to welcome more contributors, some of which have already appeared in the Wisdom Factory.
How to age consciously – this is the topic of our panel discussion. And how can we support others in this quest.
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