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Deep Intention

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Spiral Dynamics Levels of Development

Beck's Spiral Dynamics Levels of Development

Notice the difference in the presentation of the differences in SD colors. 


  • Turquoise – womb of the ocean; head with heart
  • Yellow – sunlight; heart with head; survival of whole planet
  • Green – environment; green with envy
  • Orange – rust, industrial 
  • Blue – police, rules, "blue bloods"
  • Red – power; "he saw red!"
  • Purple – crystals, magic 
  • Beige – sand, foundation


Listed below from the highest level down to lowest level. Note, Integral levels go higher than Spiral Dynamics levels. The eight-stage spiral of development from “The Never-Ending Upward Quest,” interview with Don Beck, 2002 –


Second Tier “Being” value MEMES


TURQUOISE Holistic MEME – starting 30 years ago

Basic theme: Experience the wholeness of existence through mind and spirit

  • The world is a single, dynamic organism with its own collective mind
  • Self is both distinct and a blended part of a larger, compassionate whole
  • Everything connects to everything else in ecological alignments
  • Energy and information permeate the Earth’s total environment
  • Holistic, intuitive thinking and cooperative actions are to be expected

YELLOW Integrative MEME – starting 50 years ago

Basic theme: Live fully and responsibly as what you are and learn to become

  • Life is a kaleidoscope of natural hierarchies, systems and forms
  • The magnificence of existence is valued over material possessions
  • Flexible, spontaneity, and functionality have the highest priority
  • Differences can be integrated into interdependent, natural flows
  • Understands that chaos and change are natural

First Tier “Subsistence” value MEMES


GREEN Communitarian/Egalitarian MEME – starting 150 years ago

Basic theme: Seek peace within the inner self and explore, with others, the caring dimensions of community

  • The human spirit must be freed from greed, dogma, and divisiveness
  • Feelings, sensitivity, and caring superseded cold rationality
  • Spreads the Earth’s resources and opportunities equally among all
  • Reaches decisions through reconciliation and consensus processes
  • Refreshes spirituality, brings harmony, and enriches human development

ORANGE Achievist/Strategic MEME – starting 300 years ago

Basic theme: Act in your own self-interest by playing the game to win

  • Change and advancement are inherent within the scheme of things
  • Progresses by learning nature’s secrets and seeking out best solutions
  • Manipulates Earth’s resources to create and spread the abundant good life
  • Optimistic, risk-taking, and self-reliant people deserve success
  • Societies prosper through strategy, technology and competitiveness

BLUE Purposeful/Authoritarian MEME – starting 5,000 year ago

Basic theme: Life has meaning, direction, and purpose with predetermined outcomes

  • One sacrifices self to the transcendent Cause, Truth, or righteous Pathway
  • The Order enforces a code of conduct based on eternal, absolute principles
  • Righteous living produces stability now and guarantees future reward
  • Impulsivity is controlled through guilt; everybody has their proper place
  • ​Laws, regulations, and discipline build character and moral fiber

Red Impulsive/Egocentric MEME – starting 10,000 years ago

Basic theme: Be what you are and do what you want, regardless

  • The world is a jungle full of threats and predators
  • Breaks free from any domination or constraint to please self as self desires
  • Stands tall, expects attention, demands respect, and calls the shots
  • Enjoys self to the fullest right now without guilt or remorse
  • Conquers, out-foxes, and dominates other aggressive characters

Purple Magical/Animistic MEME – starting 50,000 years ago

Basic theme: Keep the spirits happy and the tribe’s nest warm and safe

  • Obeys the desires of the spirit being and mystical signs
  • Shows allegiance to chief, elders, ancestors, and the clan
  • Individual subsumed in group
  • Preserves sacred objects, places, events and memories
  • Observes rites of passage, seasonal cycles and tribal customs

Beige Instinctive/Survivalistic MEME – starting 100,000 years ago

Basic theme: Do what you must just to stay alive

  • Uses instincts and habits to survive & “live off the land”
  • Distinct self is barely awakened or sustained
  • Food, water, warmth, sex and safety have priority
  • Forms into survival bands to perpetuate life

return to integral theory

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