Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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Why we don't actually want to eliminate our shadow... 👤
The shadow isn’t just our “dark” or disturbed parts. As Carl Jung described it, the shadow is the unconscious, and much of it is functional, adaptive, and necessary. We want an unconscious. It’s what allows skills, habits, and responses to operate efficiently without constant awareness.
Shadow becomes problematic when what’s been pushed into the unconscious was formed under conditions that no longer apply — early adaptations that once made sense, but now quietly shape behavior, relationships, and perception in limiting ways.
That’s why shadow work isn’t just about insight. It requires working across multiple modalities — cognitive, emotional, relational, and somatic — to reach the different pathways where these patterns are held.
Listen to the full conversation with psychotherapist Kim Barta and Teri O'Fallon, a leading expert on adult development: youtu.be/l2tIw444LcE?si=5cSCJd8G_pQ4Smmf
Free Email Course on Building Your Integral Life: integrl.link/course
Our website: integrl.link/site
Participate in our daily Integral Life Practice sessions: integrl.link/calendar
Follow our news on Facebook: integrl.link/fb
Integral thoughts on Twitter: integrl.link/tw
Why we don't actually want to eliminate our shadow... 👤
The shadow isn’t just our “dark” or disturbed parts. As Carl Jung described it, the shadow is the unconscious, and much of it is functional, adaptive, and necessary. We want an unconscious. It’s what allows skills, habits, and responses to operate efficiently without constant awareness.
Shadow becomes problematic when what’s been pushed into the unconscious was formed under conditions that no longer apply — early adaptations that once made sense, but now quietly shape behavior, relationships, and perception in limiting ways.
That’s why shadow work isn’t just about insight. It requires working across multiple modalities — cognitive, emotional, relational, and somatic — to reach the different pathways where these patterns are held.
Listen to the full conversation with psychotherapist Kim Barta and Teri O'Fallon, a leading expert on adult development: youtu.be/l2tIw444LcE?si=5cSCJd8G_pQ4Smmf
![Ready, Steady, Grow: The Art and Science of Vertical Development [Preview]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tCEajcTXdzU/mqdefault.jpg "Ready, Steady, Grow: The Art and Science of Vertical Development [Preview]
In this insightful conversation, Corey deVos and Beena Sharma explore the concept of vertical development and its importance in todays world. Beena, with over 30 years of experience in the field, shares her journey and evolving understanding of vertical development.
The discussion covers several key areas:
- The difference between horizontal and vertical development
- Common challenges people face when growing into later stages of development
- How vertical development can help address global challenges and metacrises
- Practical advice and practices for fostering vertical development
- The importance of polarity thinking in personal growth and understanding complex issues
Beena emphasizes that vertical development is not a goal but an outcome of how we live and make sense of the world. She stresses the importance of integrating earlier stages of development and warns against complacency or self-congratulation at later stages.
The conversation also touches on the application of vertical development to global issues, the role of AI in development, and the importance of having both power and perspective to effect change.
Beena introduces her VEDA training programs, which offer in-depth exploration of vertical development for personal growth and professional application. The dialogue concludes with an invitation to the Integral community to engage with these programs and continue their developmental journey. To learn more about these training opportunities, click here:
https://integrallife.com/veda-training
Throughout the discussion, Beena and Corey highlight the transformative potential of understanding and applying vertical development principles in various aspects of life and society.")
![Healing the Infosphere: How Integral Journalism Can Elevate Public Discourse [Highlights]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tXkhvsficac/mqdefault.jpg "Healing the Infosphere: How Integral Journalism Can Elevate Public Discourse [Highlights]
Watch the full episode here: https://integrallife.com/healing-the-infosphere
In todays digital era, the infosphere is a vast and tumultuous sea of information, where news and data churn through the collective consciousness at breakneck speed. This relentless flow presents profound challenges as individuals and societies grapple with the complexities of discerning truth from misinformation, genuine discourse from manipulative rhetoric, and enduring values from fleeting trends. Amidst this chaotic backdrop, the need for a transformative approach to journalism becomes clear — an approach that not only navigates these turbulent waters but also seeks to calm them, providing clarity and insight in a world overwhelmed by the noise of perpetual connectivity.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Corey deVos talks to Stefan Schultz, a journalist at Der Spiegel magazine, about his model for integral journalism that he has been developing over the past few years. This model, staggering in both its depth and its breadth, examines journalism and media literacy through a developmental lens, looking at how the infosphere shapes society and how journalism can positively influence this process.
Stefan outlines the four key problem areas he sees in journalism today: frustration among reporters, dissatisfaction in audiences due to lack of perspectives/empathy/positivity in coverage, challenges for media companies in retaining subscribers, and polarization in society. To address these systemic issues, Stefan convened an interdisciplinary team to examine the problem from all angles and prototype solutions. He views journalism as one part of a larger ecosystem that also includes both the infosphere and society. Every developmental stage, from Amber to Teal, has beneficial and detrimental impacts on this ecosystem. The goal is to amplify the positive contributions of each stage while minimizing the negatives — for example, having journalists at different stages collaborate: Amber focuses on group cohesion, Orange on investigation, Green on empathy, Teal on synthesis, etc.
Ultimately, integral journalism aims to facilitate development by exposing people to more complex information, healthier discourse, and inspiration for transformation. While the infosphere has become decentralized and overwhelming, journalists can still act as beacons to promote greater wisdom and maturity in public dialogue. The integral model provides a roadmap for how journalism can evolve to better meet the needs of a complex world.")
