Navigating Epochal Transition Through Self-Regulation and Collective Wisdom

Deep Dive

The discussion begins by introducing Aviv Shahar and his exploration of an "Epochal Moment," a period of transition between dying and emerging epochs, with individuals often existing in a liminal zone between the two. Shahar is presented as the "sherpa" or guide for the website Portals of Perception, which addresses questions about conscious evolution and collective transformation. He is also noted as the founder of Aviv Consulting, which aids leaders in strategic innovation, and as the author of "Create New Futures: How Leaders Produce Breakthroughs and Transform the World Through Conversation."

The concept of an "epochal moment" is then elaborated upon. Shahar explains that "epochal" is derived from "epoch" and can also be pronounced "epical." He outlines five main "trace lines" or historical narratives that contribute to understanding this epochal journey: the 5,000-year axial story, the 400-600 year journey from the Renaissance and Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution and its context within the scientific method, the period from the mid-20th century including counterculture and liberation movements, and the last 20-30 years marked by the technological transition, computing revolution, internet, AI, and social media, leading to the current crisis.

The discussion further details five dimensions through which this story is told. The first is the "historic trace" or "his story." The second is "her story," which is not a feminist perspective but rather the living, energetic dimension of past cultures and events that remain accessible. The third is the evolution of knowledge and how human perspectives have changed individually and collectively. The fourth is the "dialectic story," which emphasizes the capacity to engage with any time period to complete what is unfinished. The fifth dimension is the story of the future. Additionally, a "sevenfold story" of seven colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) is mentioned, with each color representing self-intelligences and functions in conscious and unconscious evolutionary development.

Shahar explains that the current epochal moment is characterized by the intensification of the indigo and violet stages, signifying the end of one epoch and the emergence of a new one. He likens this transition to moving from one country to another, requiring a rewriting of one's "interior operating system" as old power structures recede. This transition is seen as epochal because it necessitates a fundamental shift in how individuals are nourished and operate.

In addressing how individuals can navigate this liminal space and contribute to creating a new future, Shahar proposes three key actions. First, he emphasizes self-regulation and self-care, suggesting that individuals must first attend to themselves to be effective agents of change. Second, he advocates for gaining true perception of the current situation, understanding "where we are on the map" by appreciating how we arrived there, which involves tracing the story of the epoch. He uses a navigation analogy, stressing the importance of not mistaking the map for the territory and seeking the last point of contact with the terrain when lost. Third, he asserts the necessity of collective action, stating that no one can accomplish this task alone and that individuals must come together to fortify each other, highlighting the shift towards distributed leadership and a "post-guru phase" where new archetypal relationships are needed.

The conversation delves into the concept of "regressive evolutionary cycles" and "remedial development potential." Shahar suggests that what appears as regression can be corrective periods where lessons that have not been fully assimilated are retraced. He posits that the universe is wise and that the current epochal journey is initiatory, with past phases like the Renaissance and Enlightenment having developed "bugs" in the system. These regressive cycles serve to retrace and learn from these unassimilated lessons, citing the hippie movement and the rise of the New Age as an attempt at a shortcut to enlightenment that requires corrective work. He links the rise of authoritarian tendencies and socio-economic regressive movements to awakening the "social spiritual crucible" for necessary remedies.

Shahar identifies three main "looms" or categories of inquiry for correction and remedy. The first loom concerns how individuals treat themselves, encompassing relationships with their bodies, thoughts, and feelings. The second loom addresses how individuals treat each other, covering communal, network, national, and global spaces, often described as "shadow work of the individual and the collective." The third loom, considered the most challenging, deals with power, including the relationship between self, other, and power.

Within the third loom of power, Shahar outlines specific areas of inquiry: fears, beliefs, and major archetype relationships. He explains that tremendous power is given to things feared, leading to stuck energy. Beliefs and worldviews are where power can be lost or individuals can become arrested in obstructive power structures. The relationship between beliefs and fears is also explored. Finally, he discusses archetype relationships, such as teacher-student and leader-follower, where arrested aspects of humanity's story need updating for individuals to become "universal humans."

The discussion then shifts to Shahar's color framework, explaining that it is not a new invention but an observation of how the seven colors of the rainbow appear and function developmentally and functionally in all aspects of life. Red signifies the emergent beginning of a new impulse or epoch. Orange represents the expansion of that impulse into new territory. Yellow involves reorganizing around a unifying purpose, exemplified by the Axial Age and new belief systems. Green emerges when energy from the initial journey becomes exhausting, seen in movements like the Renaissance. Blue relates to organizing as a species in large groups, building systems of justice, and resolving differences, representing the differentiating capacity of Homo sapiens. Indigo signifies the merging of all that has happened in an epoch, and Violet represents the phase transition to a new epoch.

Shahar elaborates on the concept of the "universal human" (homo universalis), suggesting that humanity is on the ground floor of an evolutionary story that could span centuries or millennia. He proposes that the Axial Age promised a transition from tribal, planetary humans to more "solar" oriented humans, a shift now culminating in a call to graduate from being "solar" to "universalis" humans. He identifies traces of this emerging human in the rise of meta-theories, the capacity for multi-perspective taking, and practices that integrate polarities. These are described as "perception organs" of a universalis human, enabling the integration of contradictions, passionate focus, and a dispassionate, spacious interiority.

The origin of "Portals of Perception" is then shared. It emerged in October 2019, inspired by Shahar's commitment to making the future brighter for his newborn granddaughter. The project is configured around the question, "Where does the future come from?"--a project that Shahar believes can never be fully completed, ensuring a continual journey of inquiry. This central inquiry has led to explorations of the epoch, units of study, current opinions, healing, and "Internal Human Orchestra Work" (i how), which involves embodying ideas through movement.

Shahar addresses the concept of "basic trust" and the feeling that support from creation is not always 100%. He shares his own experiences of not always being fully present with trust and fear, highlighting the practice of "