"The hero, whether god or goddess, man or woman, the figure in a myth or the dreamer of a dream, discovers and assimilates his opposite (his own unsuspected self) either by swallowing it or by being swallowed. One by one the resistances are broken. He must put aside his pride, his virtue, beauty, and life, and bow or submit to the absolutely intolerable. Then he finds that he and his opposite are not of differing species, but one flesh." - Joseph Campbell

Who Am I

The simple answer.

My name is Jarrad Connor. I am a 33 year old white male. I was born in El Paso Texas. Lived there till I was 8 then moved to California. Was introduced to my first Mac. Learned Hypercard and Paint. Went back to El Paso when I was 14. Read the The Celestine Prophecy at 14 and this was one of the things that made me want to know more about spirituality and psychology. Ive always thought that there is more than one answer to any question. No one piece of information has the final answer. I have studied a whole lot more since that book. At 16 I dropped out of high-school and I got my first apartment and a job with some help. Lost the apartment (long story) and hit the streets of El Paso for about a year (long story). Learned a whole lot about life, myself, and others. At 18 I was given a chance to move to Austin. With help from a friend built my first PC and website. Learned HTML while working at a convenience store. Got a job working for a web design company during the .com boom. When the bubble burst I ended up at Kinko's. I've lived in in Austin Texas for 12 years. For a living Ive worked at Kinko's/FedexKinkos/FedexOffice for the past 10 years. I do graphic design and web design on the side. I've taught myself everything that I know about computers and the things that I study, with help from great friends. I am an American Super Mutt; part Irish, Turkish Gypsy, German, and Spaniard. My Mothers side of the family is Jewish. My Dads side is Christian. Like my ancestry I am a mix of spirituality, religions, and philosophy. I have studied a lot of them and feel a connection to all of them. I am passionate, creative, intelligent, spiritual, and a bit crazy. I read a lot. Fiction and Non-Fiction. I want to help others make the world a better place while making a decent living. That is as simple as it gets. On to the not so simple.

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Always taking things to the next level.

Who Am I

The not so simple anwser.

Gnothi Seauton (Greek)

Nosce Te Ipsum (Latin)

Know Thyself - Many Greek philosophers.

The quote "Know Thyself" is very important to me. I have found that If you truly don't know who you are and what you want in life. It can be very frustrating. Not just talking about the surface stuff. Talking about the deep stuff that is there when you really sit for hours listening to your own thoughts and perspectives. The stuff that comes up when you have no fear and really question who you are. The stuff that's there when you strip away all the crap. Call it meditation or whatever you want. Really listening to your thoughts makes a difference. Really finding out where your feelings are coming from makes a difference. At least this seems to be true for me. Some may disagree. Trying understand myself and others has been a life long journey and will continue to be one till I'm gone. It might still be after that too. Who knows. For most of my life I have questioned why things and people are the way they are. Many years ago I asked myself some questions. "Why do I do the things that I do?" and "Why do people do the things they do?" "Why do I think the way that I think?" and "Why do people think they way they think?" When I started to dig into psychology I became fascinated with the sub-conscious and the shadow. So I started to do work on myself. Wanting to know the things in me that control my actions without me knowing. From this I started on the ever changing path to always dig deeper into understanding people, things, and myself. Because of this there was a major shift in trying to figure out what I wanted to do in my life. Now its a matter of finding out how to make a living doing what I want to do. To me life is about asking the big questions and really sitting with them. Besides just surviving. Why am I here? Why are we here? What is the meaning? What is humanities purpose in life? What is true human potential? I'm always trying look at and understand everything in new ways. Constantly looking for and finding positive connections between people, companies, and organizations. Finding and putting people together that are aligned with similar passions is one of the things that I love to do. I enjoy speaking with people and finding out what they are passionate about and why. Then find a way to connect them to things that I think will help them do the work they want to do and trying to find a way to tie their passion into something that helps make the world a better place. I study and practice Integral Theory, Consciousness, Philosophy, Psychology, Conscious Business, Spiral Dynamics, and Spirituality. The thoughts, ideas, and concepts that I have learned from these have direct influence in everything I do. I do everything I can to apply what I have learned to my daily life. I have my good days and my bad days. Always working on understanding myself, others, and the universe on a deeper level. Wanting to know how everyone and everything grows, develops, and becomes more healthy. When one puts aside their judgments and preconceived notions, there is always another layer to knowing. I'm always trying to get to the essence. Always asking what is the next layer of context. What is the meaning? The more I know the less I know. The more answers I find the more questions that come up. The more connections that I find the more inspired to action I am. Because I do have hope.

"I refuse to be enslaved by a single perspective" - Timothy "Speed" Levitch

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Who are you?

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. - Viktor E. Frankl

Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. - Viktor E. Frankl

Connect + ME + Contact

Jarrad Connor

Jarrad Connor Resumes and Portfolio

PDF Downloads

Balanced Resume

Basic Generic Resume

Graphic Design Resume

Working for GOOD + Integral Theory + Conscious Business + Resume

^^^^^^^^ Warning this is not your typical resume. If you are not familiar with the things listed in the title of the resume. I suggest doing some research first : )

High Rez Graphic Design Portfolio ( big file 30MB )

Low Rez Graphic Design Portfolio ( small file - sort of - 20MB )

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Will work for GOOD

"I live on Earth at present, and I don't know what I am. I know that I am not a category. I am not a thing - a noun. I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process - an integral function of the universe." - Buckminster Fuller At age 32, Buckminster Fuller was bankrupt and jobless, living in public, low-income housing in Chicago, Illinois. In 1922,[3] Fuller's young daughter Alexandra died from complications from polio and spinal meningitis. Allegedly, he felt responsible and this caused him to drink frequently and to contemplate suicide for a while. He finally chose to embark on "an experiment, to find what a single individual [could] contribute to changing the world and benefiting all humanity." - Buckminster Fuller

What I want to do. On a better scale.

Philanthropy + Arete = The love of humanity and its highest potential while working towards it. For both myself and the world. Help others see things from different healthy perspectives. Untangle unhealthy consciousness from the healthy and work to help the unhealthy become more healthy. Then put it back together. Make a living at making a difference. Use all of my abilities, skills, knowledge, and passion while working for a company that is a Conscious Business. Help other companies. Be involved with helping others find ways to not only make a decent living doing what they love but find a way to tie their passions into movements that are working for good. Help apply Integral Theory, Conscious Business, and Spiral Dynamics to finding solutions for various markets. Design creative endeavors to share and promote inspirational people and companies.

What I am doing.

The best I can with the resources that I have.

Helping make the world a better place by sharing with others the people and companies that inspire me. Im also working on as many projects that I can for friends that are focused on creating positive endeavors. See projects.

What I can do

What I can do for you and or your company. Well...... I can do some graphic design for you. However my graphic design skills are just the tip of the iceberg. I can also. Find creative out of the box solutions to your problems. Give me a problem and I will find you an answer. Through research, my connections, my unique ability to see connections to things that sometimes seem quite opposite and my ties to various amazing people I truly believe that I can find the answer to nearly any problem. Might not be the answer that you want. I am a non liner non academic solutions finder. If you give me the time, resources, power, people, and an opportunity to help with the challenges that you or your company faces I can find a solution. If I cant find the solution myself. If I cant find the answer. I either know someone or will find someone that can. However be warned. You or your closest advisers may be part of the problem and not like the solution. You may need to change. Plus I fully admit that I'm not perfect and part of the process is the people that I help need to help also. Its a mutual process to find solutions to problems.

The future. However near it can be.

What is Third-Power?

Third-Power is an ideology that I have been working on for the past 8-10 years, might even be longer. The thoughts and ideas change and grow. The concept of Third-Power is about the Synergy and Balance of everything even if its not a perfect fit. The Logo is based on the Sierpinski Triangle and Chaos Math. The number three holds the balance. Each point on the triangle and each triangle is a variable. Any form of variable. The primary ones that I use loosely are mental, physical, and spiritual. They are always moving, changing, and balancing. From Chaos comes Order. From Order comes Chaos. The trick is to find a way to balance these and blend with them in ways that allow us to move forward. To grow. To become better than we were. To dig deep. By taking each variable to the third power they begin to harmonize. Combine all human and non-human elements. Combine the positive variables of life and the universe. Be aware of the negative. Yet focus on the positive and create more positive. Apply them to business, art, and growth. The plan is to bring together as many like-minded people who see this world from a positive perspective. To create something that will help people open their minds to new ideas and inspire them to create new ideas. To create endeavors that will allow people to be at the source of all experiences worlds, thoughts, love, and happiness. It does not matter what variable definitions are used as long as there is an attempt at unity and balance. A conscious thought that combines these things, which drive us to climb higher. Helping make the world a better place.

Third-Power

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With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. - T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding

Current - Projects

Thin Blue Flame

"Thin Blue Flame" is a 10 minute short film that focuses on raising awareness of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that can result in Military Suicide. The film creates a visual representation of what it's like for a person suffering from one or more of these illnesses. Our goal is to raise awareness of these conditions. All of the proceeds collected from "Thin Blue Flame" will be donated to the charity "I Supports Vets" whose mission is to assist soldiers and their families to overcome and cope with the unseen long term emotional, mental, and physical costs of military service. We are looking for sponsors and donations to fund our film "Thin Blue Flame". With your assistance, we will be able to help the men and women of our Armed Forces to receive the support and services they need to improve the quality of their life. Singer and song writer, Josh Ritter's song "Thin Blue Flame" will serve as the narrator and set the mood for each scene. Josh Ritter Album The-Animal-Years Production will take approximately 5 to 7 days to shoot, at a number of locations around Texas and will utilize a seasoned film crew. The film will be captured on a RED ONE camera at a aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The run time for the film will be approximately 10 minutes long. Following the film a brief Documentary/News Report on the history of these problems will be presented. The run time will be approximately 1 to 2 minutes long. Any and all proceeds the film receives will be for donated to

"I Support Vets"

SXSW Epic Idea

Imagine 1500 individuals from various cultures, lifestyles, ages, academic, non-academic, female, male, countries, and perspectives. Use a proven constructive and organized process for all of them to share and agree on their similar values in life. Then have them dialogue about making the world a better place. Imagine 1500 people working together to create an action plan for making the world a better place. Gather all their values, ideas, and plans. Digitize the information and use it to compare and inspire others that have similar views. What if this could all happen in Austin during SXSW? What if this group of people came from the the amazing cross-cultural and world spanning gathering that is SXSW?

Epic Idea for SXSW

The History

Rebooting Iceland: Crowdsourcing Innovation in Uncertain Times - SXSW 2011 Panel

My writing + design

Are an experiment

I am not a writer. My grammar and spelling are bad. I write to get the things that are bouncing and swirling around in my head out. Putting this stuff into words helps me objectively look at the thoughts and connect things. Im hoping that people look past my mistakes and see the essence of what Im trying to do. Help connect people and myself to things that are changing the world for the better. This site is an experiment and so is the writing in it. Im not trying to state concrete things or prove anything. Simply trying to express and manifest. The graphics are part of that. I would say that Im more of a graphic designer than a writer. Im putting this stuff out on the web to hopefully attract the types of people that want to have a conversation about this stuff. Im putting this stuff out on the web to connect with the companies and individuals that are involved with this stuff.

This Site - What is its purpose?

The Simple Answer

To help me find a career more aligned with who I am. A fast way to share with others what I love and what I'm doing. To help others get to know who I am. Share what inspires me. The people, companies, and organizations that are truly changing the world into a healthier place. Share my thoughts.

The not so simple answer

As strange as it sounds building this site has been a journey of personal growth and even spiritual growth. My heart and spirit has been poured into this site. Bouncing back and forth between business and personal. Which seem to be coming closer and closer together. It is an attempt to find a balance between the work that I want to do and shine a light on stuff. It is as close of a manifestation of who I am as I can get. With my, some what limited technical web development skills and limited time frame. The balance between Art, Business, Information, and Spirituality is something that I have been trying to find for a long time.

more of the not so simple

I have found that It will never be perfect. It is dynamic and I will always be learning and growing. It is a life long practice. One of the things that I have realized is that I want to make a living working for and with people that are trying to do more. Somehow some way working and working for good have been separated by modern society. Years ago I set on the path to find companies and people that are making a difference in healthy ways. Ways that most rational people can agree are making the world and universe a better place. Along this journey I found a whole lot that has inspired me and while I was looking outside of myself. The very things that I found made look farther within myself. I have learned about my self and about many endeavors that are truly trying to change things. Because of this I believe that I have found my purpose life. Simply, help those that are making the world a better place. Anyway that I can. Of course my hope is that in this process I will find someone that will give me a job or help me create a company doing just this doing this. LOL.

In other words, the real problem is not exterior. The real problem is interior. The real problem is how to get people to internally transform, from egocentric to sociocentric to worldcentric consciousness, which is the only stance that can grasp the global dimensions of the problem in the first place, and thus the only stance that can freely, even eagerly, embrace global solutions. - Ken Wilber

Graphic Design + Portfolio + My Philosophy of Design

Graphic design is something that I have been doing off and on for years. Seeing and understanding how things connect, and how they can all work together are what I do. For print, web, and more. Physical and non-physical. Form and formless. I did not go to school for it however I believe that this is a strength. I have tons of experience that has been learned in the field and not in the class room. However I do recognize the limitations of just pure experience and this is where team work and surrounding one self with people from all walks of life is crucial. I believe that I can learn something from any individual. I design from the heart and the mind. Design is a unique balance of art and business to me. Finding that true balance where these do not take away from the other is crucial. Yet I also understand that when you design for the masses it needs to be translated into something that can be understood. However, sometimes a bit of mystery is needed. When I work with someone I understand that I am a conduit for that persons vision. The objective is find a way to understand their ideas and passions. The next step is to translate those and manifest them into the various forms of media. Balancing realistic vision, budget, time, technical issues, and the limitations of all the above for each project.

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"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

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Growth + Consciousness

What is Consciousness?

I don't know. I'm still trying to figure it out. Why do you think the way that you think? Why should you care? What is your purpose in life? I'm going to share the pieces of the puzzles that I have found. Its about perspectives. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes. That is the classic phrase. How do the values that we have learned from others affect the way we look at things. How do the values that we have figured out on our own affect the way we look at things. Pretend you don't know anything. That you have had no experience in life. That you are trying to understand everything. How many points of view have you had throughout your life? When did they change? Have the changed. Are you able to objectively look at your own point of view? Take all of those points of view and put them together without mixing them up. Understand where they came from and why. Truly understanding and getting to the essence of someone's, something, or your own experience of reality or non reality. Throughout life our point of view changes. At least for some. How about putting yourself in a space that allows you to not only be completely objective but also feel all the variety of human emotions, all levels and degrees of love and hate all at once, while not being attached. Seeing the stuff that is inside you that make you think a certain way or do a certain action. Oh wait. Getting ahead. More about this coming soon. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Growth + Human Development and Humanities Potential ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consciousness + Perspectives + Point of View ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Wiki + Perspective in theory of cognition is the choice of a context or a reference (or the result of this choice) from which to sense, categorize, measure or codify experience, cohesively forming a coherent belief, typically for comparing with another. One may further recognize a number of subtly distinctive meanings, close to those of paradigm, point of view, reality tunnel, umwelt, or weltanschauung. To choose a perspective is to choose a value system and, unavoidably, an associated belief system. When we look at a business perspective, we are looking at a monetary base values system and beliefs. When we look at a human perspective, it is a more social value system and its associated beliefs. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Experiences? That change us and make us better than who we were. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As far back as I can remember I have always been fascinated by experiences that change people. Change peoples perceptions of themselves and the world around them. First it was understanding the bad ones. What makes a person turn towards the negative. After that and now I want to understand the good ones. What are the things that make a person begin to see the positive. The goods things in life. The things that are making the world and the human condition better. All experiences that change people. All experiences that change people for the better. Experiences that make people grow. Experiences that make people look at themselves and question why they think the way they think. Why they feel the way they feel. What experiences open people up? Integral Theory talks about states and stages. Then the perception of those states and stages. As far as I can gather. States are temporary perspectives. Stages are the integration of the the different points of view that we carry with us till we add more points of view and they become part of us. Yet we are still aware of them and are able to reflect and understand how each point of view can help us. So my question is what are the experiences in life that put humans in to states that allow us to understand the many dimensions to life. What are are the experiences that allow us to begin to integrate our points of view. More about this coming soon.

Integral Theory + Integral Institute + Spiral Dynamics

------------------------------------------------------------ From Integral Institute web site -------------------------------------- Integral Theory is an all-inclusive framework that draws on the key insights of the world's greatest knowledge traditions. The awareness gained from drawing on all truths and perspectives allows the Integral thinker to bring new depth, clarity and compassion to every level of human endeavor - from unlocking individual potential to finding new approaches to global-scale problems. The dawn of the 21st Century sees humanity in a bind: our most pressing problems are complex and multi-disciplinary, yet in the face of this complexity, we tend to seek deeper and narrower expertise for these solutions. We train our academic, political, business, scientific and artistic leaders to be deeply functional experts in one area, while the problems they face spill over every imaginable boundary. The result: we are producing deeply fragmented solutions to problems that require an Integral approach. The Institute's programs focus on research, education and leadership and are just the beginning of the critical work yet to be done. Research * Psychological growth * Global ecology and sustainability * Conscious capitalism and organizational practice * Integral medicine * World hunger/famine * Education (in first, second, and third-world settings) * Trans partisan politics * City and community planning * Conflict resolution * Integration of science and spirituality (Integral epistemology)

----------------- Integral Institute - Mission ----------------- Integral Institute's mission is to awaken humanity to full self-awareness. By providing research, education and events that foster intentional, behavioral, cultural and social self-awareness, the Institute helps global leaders from all arenas to improve the human condition. The Institute's vision is that humanity lives with the awareness necessary to compassionately integrate the fragmented and partial perspectives of differing pursuits of the good life. The Institute aims to help solve the world's most complex problems. Among the primary goals of the Institute are research and cultivation of leadership of complex, global issues facing humanity in the 21st century, and in particular, those issues that can only be solved with a comprehensive, Integral and non-partial approach to the complex interdependencies that tend to characterize these issues. Global warming; evolutionary forms of capitalism; and the culture wars in political, religious, and scientific domains are all examples of problems to which the Institute hopes to bring new clarity.

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What Integral Is NOT

When I first started learning what Integral was. I was aware of and looking for bullshit. My first introduction to Integral was an amazing audio interview of Interview with Ken Wilber by Tami Simon of Sounds True. Check out Sounds True - Sounds True Of course the title turned me off a little. Kosmic is a word that seems to be used by strange people. There is also the word Holon. Weird word. However I let go of my ego and reactive judgment. I listened. I was fascinated but not yet sold. Even after listening. One of the first questions that came to mind. Who is this Ken Wilber guy. So I signed up to Integral Naked. Cant say that I'm sold now. Can say that I believe. Not unconditional belief or faith. A belief based on objective research and the type of people involved with Integral. The many people that Ken has attracted. People that I believe are much smarter than me. People that I do not think would be fooled by the typical dude saying he know whole lot of stuff. Oh... and I've become somewhat confident in my ability to sort out bullshit from non bullshit. Research that I have done over the past 6 years. Watching tons videos, reading articles, listening to interviews, and reading several Integral and non Integral books that have pushed my intellectual/spiritual boundaries. To weigh and balance the concepts and ideas presented. Another thing that I pay close attention to is the actions of those at the top of the Integral movement. Seeing how their character fits their philosophy. As we all know many people claiming to have most of the answers to things have a tendency to be fake and untrustworthy. Trust me I'm always on the lookout for bullshit. However I'm not attached to finding bullshit. hehee. My own worries from the beginning Is this anything like a cult, Est, Dianetics, Scientology or an extremist religion. I set my bullshit radar on high alert throughout all my studies. No bullshit found so far. After 6 years I still think the core of Integral Theory is solid. I'm sure that there are those out there that take Integral too far. One thing that I've heard often from Integral Theory and its proponents is that Integral Theory is just a map. It is not the territory. So it inherently recognizes that the map may need to be changed, updated, adapted, to the territory and to the times. Integral is not something that thinks it has all the answers. It has a lot of answers but it knows that it does not have them all. Its more about how to find as many answers as it can and then sort them out while finding which ones have values that we can all agree on. Thanks to Ken Wilber Tami Simon Stuart Davis Fred Kofman David Deida My first influences and teachers of Integral Theory. Jarrad Connor

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Do the research!

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 growth and distills their major components into five simple factors that are essential elements or keys to unlocking and facilitating human evolution. So, why learn this map? By learning the Integral map, we are not merely learning a set of theoretical concepts, but rather aspects available in our very own awareness right now. And by exercising these elements, we can accelerate our growth and development to higher, wider, and deeper ways of being and serving in the world. The Integral map can be applied to everything in our lives, from our professional careers, to our relationships, to our health and well being, as well as to any and all disciplines, such as, business, technology, psychology, education, politics, art, spirituality, sexuality, and the environment. The Integral approach is the unification of contrasts. It helps us to see with our minds and hearts, deeply feeling interiors while steadily observing exteriors. The Integral approach provides us with the opportunity for fullness and freedom with greater capacities to express compassion and love. Integral is the practice of living fully, in a seamless and passionate integration of mind, body and spirit. From this embodied integration, we are able to transform our lives. But more than just a map, the Integral approach is an invitation to directly experience our own reality, right here, right now. The call is to integrate, to take a panoramic view of self, culture and nature, and to embrace the insights and tools that serve the highest potential of All. In short, the Integral Approach helps us to better understand ourselves, others, and the world by providing a framework that embraces seemingly opposing worldviews and perspectives in a way that mends wounds, includes the marginalized, heals the personal and rejoins the systemic in an integrated embrace of greater care, wisdom, and discernment. - Kelly Sosan Bearer

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The Three

Becomes the

The Four

One of the primary things in Integral Theory is the four quadrants. They can be complicated or simple depending on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go. The idea is to try and understand how EVERYTHING and EVERYONE fits together and how EVERYTHING and EVERYONE grows but does not loose its ancestor. Integral Theory has one thing that keeps itself in check from thinking that it has all the answers. The people that have put the pieces together understand that "THE MAP IS NOT THE TERRITORY" Basically. However we human beings try to define reality or the way things work in human life and non human spaces EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is always changing. There must always be an awareness that things change and that it is not possible to ever know everything that is going on. We can only keep learning and re learning and adjusting.

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Integral Life is the sponsoring organization of Integral Institute, a non-profit academic think tank that offers advanced education in Integral Theory and publishes the acclaimed Journal of Integral Theory and Practice. I figured out how to find the free stuff on Integral Life and post direct links. I've got an account but I hate finding stuff that I cant share. Feel weird sending people to things that they have to pay for on their first trip to Integral Land. Might give them the wrong idea. Want people to check out the large chunk of free stuff first and then decide if they want to create an account. There is a whole bunch of stuff up there that is free. Did I say FREE? No strings attached. Really no strings..... Except.... If you watch, hear, read, learn all the free stuff. Let go of your ego for a little while and open your mind. Then decide. You just might... want more. That's your decision. Your choice. Enjoy. So here are quick links that presort the archive for free listings of some very amazing content.

Links to free stuff.

Videos Audio E+Learning Articles Art Series

Some main links to Integral sites

Conscious Business + Conscious Capitalism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Conscious Business" is a term used to describe a business enterprise that seeks to be aware of the effects of its actions, and to consciously affect human beings and the environment in a beneficial way. Conscious Business also refers to a movement towards "Values-based" economic value, where "Values" represent social and environmental concerns globally as well as locally. The Conscious Business movement has emerged from the theory of Corporate Social Responsibility, and is currently related to movements of Not Just For Profit Business Models, Conscious Consumerism, and Socially Responsible Investing. Conscious Business could also be referred to as "Conscious Capitalism". As well as being a category of business, it can also mean an individual and personal approach to business, as in "she did business consciously". Conscious Business Criteria There is currently no agreed upon criteria to ascertain whether a business is a Conscious Business or not. However, there are some highly agreed upon principles: Doing No Harm It is generally agreed upon that the product or service of a Conscious Business should not be intrinsically harmful to humans or the environment. However, it is possible for such a business to be taking part in the Conscious Business movement if it is taking conscious steps to be more aware of its social and environmental affects, and to adopt more beneficial social or environmental practices. Triple Bottom Line Model Most Conscious Businesses subscribe to a Triple Bottom Line model of success for their business endeavor. They aim to provide positive value in the domain of People, Planet, and Profit. People A Conscious Business seeks to benefit both the external livelihood as well as the internal lives of its shareholders and employees. Furthermore, the Business seeks to benefit all stakeholders including manufacturers, affected communities, and humanity at large. Some trends in Conscious Business which have arisen out of these efforts include: * The forming of wellness affirming workplace cultures * Improved Employee benefit programs * Use of Fair Trade materials for manufacture or sale * Assistance to communities who supply raw materials * Assistance to communities who manufacture materials * Local Community outreach programs

Working For GOOD

"Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom." Albert Einstein The greatest advances in human history, in all realms of endeavor (science, technology,philosophy, arts...), with the most significant benefits to individual and societal well being,have come through innovative ideas and individual initiative, expressions of the entrepreneurial spirit. There is a growing recognition of the power of ideas catalyzed into action by entrepreneurs to be a powerful force for positive social change, elevating the conditions of life for humanity. Businesses and social enterprises promote peace and prosperity by: + Creating jobs + Investing in infrastructure, education, and training + Developing new technologies to address basic human needs - clean water, healthy food, durable housing, affordable energy and transportation; and to increase productivity and efficiency + Cultivating financial wealth and security for individuals and communities + Providing a broad range of for-profit and non-profit social service, including sustenance, shelter, health care, education, physical, mental and spiritual "fitness" and many others. In addition to the inherent service business provides to society, through the products and services they offer, the jobs they create, and other by-products of the entrepreneurial process, there is a growing global movement of purposefully applying the skills and resources of business to address social issues. Corporate social responsibility, cause related marketing, sustainability initiatives, and the explosion of social entrepreneurship are testament to this movement. From the Working For Good-Curriculum pdf download the pdf - it is a must read

Some main links to conscious business sites

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Martial Arts + Aikido + Mixed Martial Arts + Sports

Then mix in Integral Theory

Martial Arts

Karate Kid was one of the first "Martial Arts" movies to influence me in a deep way. It was the one that spoke to the heart of the boy wanting to not only have the ability to defend oneself but also command a respect that I never got. I was the weird kid. The one picked on often. Now that I think about it. Still am in some ways. This movie not only focused on the physical strength and discipline that a life of Martial Arts could provide but it also open the door to seeing how true self control and understanding could change ones life. Rocky and the first Rambo provided the other component to the equation. The misunderstood and psychologically damaged hero. The endurance to withstand anything with heart and pure self determination. The freedom to let go of control and allow ones "darker" side to take control. Within the right environment we should all be allowed to explore and release the darker parts of us. I don't know exactly where and how in ones lifetime the shadow is born. Or I should say I don't know where exactly violent tendencies come from. Its that classic question of biological vs. behavioral. How much of it is our DNA and how much is learned? I do know that if it remains unchecked and if human beings don't recognize that despite how far we have come we are still to some degree controlled by things hidden within us. If we don't do the work to uncover our hidden needs and wants we will be forever stuck and unable to grow. Martial Arts has been one of the key things that lead me to meditation and the quote. "True Victory is Victory Over Oneself" One must first learn to control oneself before attempting to harmonize and control others. Without a good balance and control of oneself, one can neither avoid an attack nor apply an effective technique on others. It is through self-control that one can learn to enjoy a harmonious way of life. - Morihei Ueshiba - founder of Aikido. Most martial arts in the media today are depicted as violent. Very few depictions carry the message that Karate Kid carried. Some examples have violence on the surface but when you dig beneath the surface you will see something new. Something with potential to at first attract those that are looking to see violence. One of the major questions is why do some people watch violent and aggressive forms of martial arts? In movies and now in sports. Why do people want to see another human being hurt another human being? Is it purely because the watch wants to see blood and pain? The new form of martial arts takes from the old. Although I don't believe in violence for the sake of violence. It is such a loaded word. So many of us see violence in so many things. A One of the questions that I recently asked some friends. When is violence healthy? Is there such thing as conscious violence or competition?

Aikido

Ai = Harmony

Ki = Energy

Do = The Way or The Path

I was first introduced to Aikido by a friend of my Fathers when I way 13-14. She explained the basic philosophy and it stuck with me for many years before I got a chance to truly practice Aikido at the age of 18-19. I practiced Aikido at the Still Point Aikido Center off and on for 3-4 years. The essence of Aikido has changed me in ways that I cannot describe. There is really only one person that I know of that can really get to the heart of it. The understanding of Aikido's ability to blend form and formlessness is no better described than by Sensei Robertson. Below are articles that my former Aikido Sensei Ross A. Robertson wrote and is still writing. He has several great writings at aikiweb. I still go back to them often. Strange saying former because despite the fact that I no longer train with him physically. Due to time, my current priority's in life, and transportation constraints. He will always be my Sensei. What I have learned will always be with me. The experience of training and learning from Sensei Robertson will last a life time, who knows maybe even longer. The training has already saved my life once and prevented several potential really bad injuries. In all ways mental, physical, and spiritual. His teachings, perspectives, way of life have always inspired me and continue to. Very much outside of the traditional martial arts box yet at the same time traditional. You could say he includes and transcends the traditional.

The AikiWeb Papers by Ross Robertson

Early in 2004, Jun Akiyama of AikiWeb asked several people if they would be interested in contributing monthly columns to his web site. I was privileged to be among those asked. Since then, I have written a submission for each month of publication. AikiWeb is arguably the web's most important watering hole for anyone interested in aikido and all things aiki. Writing about aikido is difficult -- rather like the proverbial "dancing about architecture" (which I've never really thought was a bad idea, so much as conceptually challenging). I would like to say that in my writing I've found a flow that embodies the experience of aikido at its best, for both author and reader. In reality, while at times I've hit a nice zone, the articles referenced below reveal how complex, awkward, and painful, simplicity and effortlessness can be. All articles links will take you to AikiWeb.

rariora

A web site by Sensei Ross A. Robertson

Mixed Martial Arts

One of the personal projects that I'm working on.

An Integral Perspective on the Development of Consciousness in Mixed Martial Arts

MMA as a hidden expression of cross-cultural development

Despite what it looks like. It is not just about the violence. "If boxing is the sweet science, MMA is quantum physics" - Al Johnson Think about this. All MMA fighters have to go back to the traditional Martial Arts to develop. They have to learn and train with the basic building blocks of a sport and discipline that requires them all. Therefore they have to train with traditional martial artists or they have trained in traditional martial arts. This is where the trading of cultural values starts to happen. Fighter from all around the world are training with each other. Trading points of view not only on technique and physical fitness but how they see and understand things. Most of top fighters that are veterans and have had some loses see the challenge of fighting another human being not as a just way to prove they are a better fighter. They include this perspective in a way that is healthy. It is about competing against the only other thing on this planet that can test them. Another human being that has trained as hard as they have. Trained in all the ways that they have. It becomes more about the respect for the challenge that the other human being provides. The challenge then becomes more of an internal thing. The training and the discipline is hardest part, most fighters say. Its not the fight at the end of the training. Its the path that leads up to the fight. So the challenge is to oneself. To become more and more disciplined and balanced in life to prepare for a fight. Because there is nothing more challenging that a nother human being that is doing the same thing. In essence the fighters standing across from each other are each others own shadows. That said MMA is a unique blend of all the good and bad of Sports and Martial Arts. Everything and everyone in it is still growing and learning how to handle all the dimensions that MMA hold inside of the cage and outside of it. It is the fastest growing sport in human history. It is still traveling at light speed.

This has lead to a new fascination with sports and how they can effect human potential consciousness. I'm starting to create something.

I am in the process of developing an Integral Theory research and development program for Mixed Martial Arts Athlete/Fighters. Eventually I would like to take my findings and experience to Sports and Athletes as a whole. If you are unfamiliar with Integral Theory. The basic idea is to study things from all perspectives. Psychological, Cultural, Physical, and Social. How the all develop and how they are all connected. I believe that some Mixed Martial Arts Athlete/Fighters have a unique mental state and level of consciousness that goes beyond the typical fighter and athlete mentality. This mix of mental and physical cross pollination of cultural and thoughts makes fighters evolve because of the extreme life conditions that being a professional mma fighter presents. If you don't evolve mentally, physically, and socially you will loose. What happens in the cage and the type of cross training that fighters do makes them think different. Makes them open their minds. Its survival of the fittest but not just on a physical level. They are forced to blend both thought and extreme physical practice with other cultures and philosophies because each cultural has its own style of fighting and its own view of life. Each has its own thought process when it comes to how an opponent is perceived and the strategy that must be taken to win. Each has its own thought process when it comes to how the self is perceived and the strategy that must be taken to deal with ones one weaknesses. What most have found out is that there is not one fighting style or martial art that beats another. What fighters and people in the industry are finding out is that that there is also not one mental strategy or one way of life that creates the best. Its a mix of all of them. It is the combination of all the marital arts, sports, and mental training and their perspectives that creates the best fighter and athlete. MMA fighters are becoming the modern sports role model. Whether some like it or not. The top fighters. The ones that realize it know that they must get their lives in order to win. More so than most other sports. MMA is at its core an internal individual sport but the single fighter is not just fighting for themselves. Not just their family. Not just to make money. Not just the respect and honor for their specific style. These may be some of reasons at first. The reason transcends and includes all the other reasons. When the best fighters starting getting to the top. When they realize that to stay there they must fight far all of these reasons and more. The behavior that has been seen from the top fighters is that they fight to show that they have become better. They must constantly evolve in all aspects of life. Each fight becomes a culmination of their life. Not just to prove that they are better than than their opponent but that they have grown and developed as a human being. George Saint Pierre says that to be the best in MMA requires not just discipline but a way life. To be the best, MMA like true martial arts must become a healthy way of life. There must be a constant mental state in training and outside of training. Not all fighters realize this. Not all athletes realize this. I want create something that focuses and researches what it takes to be the best fighter. In all aspects mental, cultural, physical, and social.

Links

Fighting for Acceptance: Mixed Martial Artists and Violence in American Society - David Mayeda (Author), David Ching (Contributor) David Mayeda Combat Sports Psychology

Sports + Spirituality

What happened?

To spirituality in sports. Mainstream Sports athletes being healthy role models.

Stream of Thought Spirituality in Sports Integral in Sports Integral Spirituality in Sports Consciousness Conscious Sports Competition Competitiveness Healthy vs. Un Healthy Conscious Business Conscious Capitalism Conscious Business and Capitalism in Sports Conscious Sports Spiritual Competition - Spiritual Competition - Not competing spiritually but competing from a Spiritual Consciousness. Competition from a spiritual perspective Integral Sports Sports around the world Athletes as role models not just for kids but for all of humanity Consciousness in Sports What happened to spirituality in sports? Why is Christianity one of the major spiritual influences in sports? Was the baby thrown out with the bath water? When pray before a game was given a bad reputation? Seen lots of athletes thank God and cross themselves before and after an event but what about their "Un-Spiritual" or "Un-Christian" behavior outside of the sport. The Mainstream Sports and how they currently influence the world? American Football Basketball Baseball Soccer Mixed Martial Arts - UFC Boxing Hockey The Olympics Top athletes and how they currently influence the world? Why have the most public of them become bad examples? Bad role models. How can this be changed? Was Michael Jordan the last "good role model?" Who are the current "good role models?" The Money Makers Drugs, Sex, and Money in sports The Center for World Spirituality Sports Spirituality What would mainstream sports look like with spiritual competition? Individual Sports vs. Team Sports Aggressive, Violent Sports, and combat Sports. How does spiritual competition fit into them? Are the competitors each-others own manifestation of shadow? Integral Athletes or World Spirituality informed Athletes How would a mainstream Integral Athlete behave? How would they think? How would the perform? What kind of example would an Integral Athlete or World Spirituality informed the set for the masses? How would the masses be influenced by the behavior of an Integral or World Spirituality informed Athlete? If promoted, advertised, and run by an integrally informed management correctly; how would a team, athlete, or sport perform and be seen by the masses. Would this directly influence the masses in a way that help them become more conscious or more "integral"? Integral Spirituality in Sports World Spirituality in Sports Crowds, Fans, the market and how they are affected by the behavior of athletes. Athletes competing for GOOD How much money does mainstream sports make? How much money do mainstream athletes make? How much of that money goes to positive community endeavors? Or conscious business endeavors? How can the current condition of sports and behavior of athletes be grow or evolved to become an example of human potential on more than just a physical or monetary level? Just some thoughts. I'm going to choose some of these to write about and answer from an Integral and World Spiritual perspective. If you have any suggestions, information, and research related anything above. I would be deeply thankful for any advice. I think I created a whole new level of research and work for myself. I'm quite passionate about the idea that sports and athletes are major influences on human development, for the masses. Wither its someone just watching or competing. So this opens a whole new area for me to dig into and find some sort of solution to make things more healthy. Not just MMA now but sports in general.

Links

Athletes United for Peace David Meggyesy Shawn Phillips

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Inspiration + Motivation + Hope + People + Companies + Organizations.

That ARE making a difference.

I Study + Follow Closely & Admire Deeply

All of these companies, people, and organizations have inspired me in too many ways to count. They all give me hope. I have learned from them all and I use what I have learned nearly every day. These are the ones that I have found so far. I'm constantly searching for more. Looking for more people that are truly trying to make humanity, this world, and this universe better. There is really no order to these. One of these days I will create a time line related to when I was first influenced by everything that I think was part of who I am. I'm working on a time line that tracks down all of the major influences in my life. From movies, people, cartoons. For example I think Fraggle Rock was a major influence on my ability and my want to see things from multiple perspectives. Some of them I am in contact with. Some I am not. Everyday I try to get closer. Everyday I try to share them with as many people as I can.

Companies + Organizations

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People

This list is not finished - Missing some major people. Lots of family and friends. Going to hold back on those for now.

People that inspire me

My challenge and goal in life is to find more people, get closer to more people, and work with (or for) more people that inspire me. Within the past 3-4 months I have connected with so many amazing individuals it is breathtaking. People from around the world. In my opening up to the world the world as opened up to me. I want to know people that act and think the way that I want to and do, most of the time. None of us are perfect. I want to connected with people that are doing the things that I want to do. With purpose and meaning. For the GOOD of all of us. I want to know and work with human beings that are trying to make Earth, Humans, others, The Universe better. Oh and non terrestrial aliens if they are cool and don't want to use us for something insidious. LOL. My mission and purpose in life is to work for, with, and support those that are making a difference on a universal scale anyway that I can and eventually be one of those people. I eventually want to create one of the greatest companies on the planet that does not hold back from truly working towards humanities highest potential. Solving our worst problems. Philanthropy + Arete = The love of humanity and its highest potential while working towards it. Nearly everyday I attempt to get closer to and find more people, companies, and organizations that are doing good things on this planet. Working towards building the positive network that I want to work for and in the end work with. Nearly everyday I try to find a connection that brings the people I don't know and the people that I do know and myself closer to fixing the obvious problems that humanity has. Rather than bitching about what's wrong with things in the world or in my life I want to do something. I'm aware of the negative things going on but I focus on finding positive things and creating positive things. I put my energy into building things and helping people that are not spending their energy on criticizing or complaining about the fact that the universe is not doing something for them or that things are really messed up in the world. Yes things are messed up, but what is complaining about it going to do? This is what keeps me going when I have to deal with people that don't act the way that I want to act. People that get stuck, don't grow, close their minds, stop learning, focus on the negative. People that judge before objectively researching and judge without truly trying to understand someone or something. I don't hate these people ( ok sometimes I get really frustrated ). I don't look down on these people because I know that sometimes I am one of them ( I get really frustrated with myself sometimes). Some of these people just were never given that one spark in life. That spark, event, or teacher that wakes them up. Makes them look outside of the box. Sure there are some that to a degree remain consciously ignorant ( I admit that there are a few things that I remain consciously ignorant about ). I still don't hate them or myself. Just choose to try and understand them and my own stuff on a deeper level. To me trying to understand someone is not trying to find an excuse for them. No. It can mean being objectively aware. Objectively conscious. Wanting to know why they do what they do and why they see things they way they do. If we can figure out what shuts people down wither it is physical, psychological, or simply the cards they have be given. What I try to do is find a way to inspire them and myself to look within and connect their dreams, passions, and what they really want to do in life; to something positive. Something that allows them to do what they want while making a living and making a difference. Which is exactly what I want for myself. To make a difference by helping those that are making a difference. People that have integrity, honesty, open minds, a mostly positive perspectives on life. People that are trying to make life better someway somehow. Theirs or others. They are trying to make the world a better place for ALL. These are the people that inspire me. These are the people that keep me going. These are the people that are truly successful in Life. I have realized that you do not know who you are and what you really want in life. This will make you see things negatively. If you know what want but don't know how to get it or the steps that you need to take to get it. This will frustrate you to the point of insanity and see things negatively. I speak from my own experience. Mine may not be yours but I'm guessing that we are all more alike then we all think. If you are deeply confident and know that everyday you are doing something that will get you closer to what you want to do in life this will change your view of everything. If you are doing what you want to do and if you know it is making life better for you, your family, your friends, your country, the world, the universe, this will change everything. What do you do? For the World to continue to have the wrongs that we can ALL agree are wrong. The very wrong things that we would not want for ourselves, our family, friends, and fellow human beings to experience. All that you have to do is continue to sit back an watch life go by. Make your money, buy your toys, and bitch about what is wrong with the world. Do what you want to, only for yourself and those close to you. Pay no heed to the many stories about how one woman or one man can make things better. Do nothing for anything or anyone except for yourself and the World and your reality will continue to be what it is. However if you see something that ALL of us can agree is wrong. Do the research, check your judgment with lots of others from all sides of the issue, gather the information, dig deep within and without, and find the people that are trying to change things for the better. Help them anyway you can. Why should you care? Why should you not? Jarrad Connor

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Site Credits

Site design and development by Jarrad Connor. With lots of help from friends and family. Thank you to. Everyone that has influenced me.

Photo Credits

So far - All photos on this site are by

Anna Spysz

Check her out. She's does a whole lot more than look pretty and take pictures. She's tough, smart, has attitude and does a whole lot of shit!

Photos by Anna Spysz - Check out www.annaspysz.com