Recently, I had some time to do thinking about Integral Practice and I've realized, that I have strayed a bit from my earlier thoughts about what I was going to do with this site.

Partly, because my thoughts have evolved, and my interests go to other things besides simply practice - right now, Holistic and  Integral Theory, Non-Duality, and evolving technology.

So, getting back to the basics of Integral Practice, here's the beginning of a series of posts, regarding what are the ESSENTIAL practices to take up, to be a productive, loving, integral practicioner in the world. 

1st Tier - Essentials - or The Five Petals

Career and Money
Health and Exercise
Spiritual Practice
Interpersonal Relationships (Romance, Family Friends, Community)
Psychological Health and Stability

2nd Tier - Self-Improvement and Self-Actualization
Creativity
Productivity
Individual Passion Projects  (Intellectual Research, Spiritual Retreats, Community Service, Website and Design, Auto Mechanics, Carpentry, Gardening, Hiking, Adventures, Travel, etc, etc.). 
Volunteerism, Environmental and Political Action

3rd Tier - Mastery

Of any of the above subjects, whether money, creativity, building, growing communities, spiritual understanding, leadership etc.

4th Tier - Genius, Improvement of world's conditions, Realization

Profound impact and improvement in the lifeworld.  Example - Ramana Maharshi, Gandhi, Einstein, Berners-Lee, Dali, etc.


My own inclination, is that the five areas above in essentials are the building blocks of what needs to be practiced, in order for 2nd through 4th tier flowering to arise.

Now, there's a caveat to this - and the caveat is, if one's area of expertise/genius is evident, and one's dedication to this area so fierce, then life usually excuses a person from having to be "well-rounded" in having all five areas flowing.  However, this is usually apparent, because you will have "backers" who will be willing to fund your genius - or you have gone out of your way to learn/study/teach in the optimal "social centers" for your genius.  So your life centers around that and nothing else, and it has always been so.

Even still, greater happiness usually will occur, in paying attention to all the 5 areas, no matter who you are.

In the next few weeks, I'm going to be examining each area of life, with the following template:

a.  Personal self-evaluations regarding each area, that actually result in some self-knowledge.
b. A recommendation of a basic practice, that one can do daily, and also an "all-in" path, that utilizes the retreat or "basic training" style of grounding a new practice.
c. Directing, through links, to the type of online support, community, and volunteerism, that is essential for "regular people" to be successful in taking on and sticking with a new practice.