Systems thinking is fundamental to understanding systems. So to understand systems, let's start with exploring, what are systems? (1) Systems are evolutionary structures. They are characterized by boundaries that contain system elements. Those elements have evolved across deep time, from the Big Bang until now. The basic evolutionary strata that we can point to on [...]
Make no small plans for they do not have the power to move human souls! One person can dream a Vision that empowers his/her soul. But to dream a Vision that attracts the souls of others is a necessary step in the whole approach to evolving an Integral City. Many cities market their unique attractions [...]
How can I shift my perspective of the city when I am not aware of the perspective I hold? A shift in perspective assumes that a change in my view occurs. Unpacking such a shift requires the answers to some basic questions: What is my current perspective? Why would I change it? How can I [...]
Is information in your city easy to come by? or is it difficult to make sense of your city because information is scarce or misaligned? Information in the Integral City is critical to the city's functioning, wellbeing and thriving. But when we are overwhelmed by electronic news blasts it can be difficult to know what [...]
Assumptions in the city arise not only from the four voices of the city - but from the worldviews being expressed in those voices. Worldviews emerge from the beliefs of what is important around here and how those values are translated by the city's voices. In the most basic ego-centric way, assumptions are implicit - [...]
Using Integral City approaches to analyse your city demands attunement of your faculties of observation. Cindy Wigglesworth recommends that in 2013 we use "Humble Curiosity" to see the world in new ways. She outlines a path that aligns multiple intelligences that build on one another like a pyramid of increasing complexity. Cindy is founder of [...]
How can we apply Integral City theory or frameworks to my city? This is a question I am often asked. At the What Next Integral Conference, Roger Walsh offered some helpful suggestions for applying Integral Theory in general. These are also a useful approach to engaging Integral City practices. 1. Step 1 is to offer an [...]
The Integral City 2.0 Online Conference gathered 60 visionary thought leaders, designers and practitioners, with 600 participants from 6 continents, to inquire into how to design a new operating system for the city. The 12-day Conference allowed exploration of each of the 12 intelligences from the book, Integral City: Evolutionary Intelligences for the Human Hive, [...]
Dr. Ichak Adizes asks if we are falling apart faster? He charts the dissonance that exists in our individual physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual sub-systems. Dr. Adizes observes that our physical maturity is way ahead of our emotional and spiritual maturity. And while we can learn all the way into old age, that choice is [...]
Civic Meshworker and Populus Founder, Beth Sanders explores Integral City's 12 Intelligences in one sentence. Beth says: Seeing the whole city as alive, evolving wholes that need nourishment allows us to navigate toward cities that serve citizens well, and citizens that serve cities well. Read how she unpacks this sentence at her Populus Blog here