Mar 20, 2021
Integral scholar and Exostudies pioneer Sean Esbjörn-Hargens
joins Terry to explore an integral approach to conspiracy theories
and “exo realities” — including the anomalous phenomena that
challenge our current models of reality. Sean begins by sharing an
illuminating series of wise guidelines for navigating our
post-truth conspiracy-theory-filled culture. Then, he and
Terry build upon our recent episode with Jeffrey Kripal by
considering the strange territory of anomalous phenomena in greater
detail — what’s “real” about them, what makes it possible to
experience them, how they require our scientific frameworks to
evolve, and how increasing public awareness might serve as a
catalyst for moving society into wiser structures of consciousness.
As committed spiritual practitioners, they also consider the
potential risks of becoming fixated on fascinating phenomena, and
how we might integrate them without letting them distract us from
the nondual heart and ground of Being.
Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is a leader in the application of
integrative thinking to leader development and organizational
design, and has made significant contributions to the fields of
integral ecology, integral business, integral education, and
integral research. Sean created and hosted the four Integral Theory
Conferences and founded MetaIntegral — a social impact network that
supports change leaders around the world in applying integrative
principles. Most recently, in 2018, he founded the Exo Studies
Institute, pioneering an integral approach to anomalous phenomena
including UFOs/ETs. Sean has been a long-term practitioner of
Tibetan Buddhism, A. H. Almaas' Diamond Heart, and Celtic
Christianity. He has published and edited numerous articles and
books, and his recent article on non-human intelligences is titled
Our Wild Kosmos! Currently, Sean is the Dean of Integral
Education at the California Institute for Human Science where he
also serves as Program Director for two integral PhD programs.
Here are some of the questions Sean and Terry explore in this
episode:
- What are Sean’s 16 ways of practicing wise responses to
conspiracy theories and those who believe them?
- What emotional and cognitive capacities does it take to “hang
out in the unknown” instead of jumping to conclusions?
- What exactly are “exo studies?” Why are they
important? Can they catalyze a major shift in human consciousness
and the practice of science?
- Which 10 recent events — from New York Times bombshell articles
to Pentagon admissions — have led to a new widespread
legitimization of UFO and ET studies?
- What are the 3 major “ontological realms” of anomalous
phenomena? Can they be experienced and understood in our ordinary
waking state of consciousness, or do we have to open to different
modes of knowing in order to experience them fully?
- Can spiritual practitioners explore and integrate exo realities
without becoming fascinated and distracted from the conscious
divine reality from which they arise?
Sean’s 16 Guidelines for Practicing with Conspiracy Theories
- REALIZE THAT WE ALL ARE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS:
Keep in mind that we are all are conspiracy theorists of one strip
or another – we have strong biological, cognitive, and
social-cultural tendencies that predispose us towards conspiracy
thinking. No one is really is immune. We are all in this together.
It is psychologically commonplace – though it gets magnified or
distorted under certain circumstances.
- CLAIM YOUR SOVEREIGNTY: Stay in our own
sovereignty and energy management around the content. – it can be
intense and disorienting.
- DON’T BELITTLE CTs or CTers: Avoid belittling
them and encourage others not to – as it encourages an environment
that is not conducive to engaging them.
- DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF CT IS IT? Determine if
it is a rational or irrational CT (or an evidence-based CT vs a
speculative CT) – how much evidence and what kinds does it have
supporting it.
- DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN GOOD DATA POINTS vs
NARRATIVE: Keep in mind that CTs often are based on good
data points and insights and are pointing to “gaps” we ignore at
our own peril. Differentiate the data points from the narrative.
Acknowledge the “facts” (if they are solid/verifiable) but don’t
blindly accept the “links”.
- ACKNOWLEDGE THE “DEEP MEMETIC FRAME” INVOLVED:
Identify the deep memetic frame being presented and connect with
that w/o affirming the content of the CT. CTs tend to resonate with
our deepest sense of how the world is (i.e., our worldview).
- HANGOUT IN THE GAP: Acknowledge that the
official story doesn’t add up but refrain from committing to a CT –
allow for multiple possible non-official stories to contain
potential explanations. Allow yourself to “reject” the official
story but holdback from identifying with a single CT
narrative.
- TALK ABOUT CTs & SEEK CT PERSPECTIVES: Talk
with people about all of this - Seek the perspectives of the CT
believer. Chances are they have some good points and reasons for
their position.
- AVOID HAVING A CT ABOUT CTers: Avoid falling
into us-them dynamics and simple explanations for complex scenarios
esp. ones that have some concerning data points supporting
them.
- LOOK TO SEE IF CTs ARE FEAR OR GROWTH BASED:
Look to see if the CT actually moves us toward a better society –
evolves systems or consciousness by exposing hard truths, demanding
transparency, accountability, etc. or does it attempt to better
society by instilling fear, racism, separation, division. Be wary
of any version of a CT that dehumanizes people.
- EXPAND YOUR MEDIA DIET & AVOID DIGITAL ECHO
CHAMBERS: Expand your media diet to avoid digital echo
chambers – engage in a diverse source of information – avoid
algorithm selections for you.
- AVOID DEMONIZING BIG Xs: Be cautious when you
demonize Mainstream (Big) Media, Big Pharma, the USG (Big
government) and instead strive to point out the aspects of those
“others” you find problematic – be as specific as
possible.
- UPDATE AND REFINE YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Keep
updating and refining your own perspective even when it contradicts
earlier positions you had. Don’t stay static in your own thinking –
try and add to it vs replace it with some other position. Lean into
doubleness, “good “contradictions, and complexity.
- PRACTICE & PROMOTE EPISTEMIC REFLEXIVITY &
HUMILITY: Practice epistemic reflexivity (reflecting on
your own thinking) and epistemic humility (reflecting on your own
biases, tendencies, limitations, projections). The more
metacognition we can develop the better. Unhelpful CTs often
involve simplistic non-reflective modes of thinking and analysis.
Encourage others to do these types of thinking practices and look
for them in our information leaders.
- HELP REBUILD OUR INSTITUTIONS: CTs are
thriving because we have lost trust in science, government, and
journalism – for some very good reasons I might add – all of these
institutions have been found to have taken advantage of our trust
in them. How do we rebuild those institutions – what are the checks
and balances that can create a healthy knowledge and information
ecosystem.
- BE COMPASSIONATE WITH EACH OTHER WE ARE ALL IN A
SENSE-MAKING CRISIS: Individually and collective we are
facing a crisis of sense-making and meaning – we need to be
compassionate to ourselves and those around us as we all try and
figure out how to navigate this terrain.
For more information on Sean Esbjörn-Hargens and Terry
Patten, check out the following resources:
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