What's Your Signature Color?

Do you have a favorite color? My guess is that most of us do. This week's post will introduce a different perspective, or reframing, of the connection between color and the power of our collective consciousness.

At the intersection of Spiral Dynamics (Beck and Cowan), The Map of Consciousness (Hawkins), and Integral Life Practice (Wilber) is the concept that colors can represent various stages of consciousness or being in the world.

Corresponding to the spiral or spectrum of colors, as shown in the picture (adapted from Integral Life Practice, Figure 5.12), the Map of Consciousness assigns a range of values from 20 to 1000. The lowest end (Infrared to Orange) can be categorized as follows: Feelings of shame (20), guilt (30), apathy (50), grief (75), anger (150), and pride (175).

Moving up the spiral, or map of consciousness, the highest end of the spectrum (Teal to Clear Light) can be categorized by: Feelings of acceptance (350), reason (400), love (500), joy (540), peace (600), and ultimately enlightenment (700-1000).

Interesting? Yes. So what? On any given day, we can experience a range of feelings and colors up and down the spiral or spectrum, depending on situations and circumstances. This is where it gets really cool:

According to Hawkins, approximately 85% of the world's population resides below the 200 level, somewhere between shame and pride on the Map Consciousness and between infrared and orange on the color chart. That's pretty low and negative, right? Based on the research, the remaining 15% of the population has the ability to counteract the negativity of all humankind.

Here's how it works (taken directly from Power vs. Force, p. 282):

• One individual at level 700 counterbalances 70 million individuals below 200

• One individual at level 600 counterbalances 10 million individuals below 200

• One individual at level 500 counterbalances 750,000 individuals below 200

• One individual at level 400 counterbalances 400,000 individuals below 200

• One individual at level 300 counterbalances 90,000 individuals below 200

• Twelve individuals at level 700 equals one person at 1,000

Maybe that's a lot for a Monday. For me, and hopefully for you, it really drives home the importance, impact, and power of positivity. The more acts of kindness, love, joy, reason, and acceptance we can share, the more we can collectively overcome the darkness that seems so prevalent in our world.

This week's reflection: What's your signature color? How many individuals below 200 can you counterbalance?