by Alan Briskin | Empathy, Photography, Spiritual Intelligence
Does spirit exist in all forms of life? Is there a divine spark within us if we look closely enough?
Some scholars speculate spiritual intelligence requires an intellectual capacity to contemplate the Cosmos. So it is not surprising humans speculate that only other humans can have spiritual intelligence – especially given the reluctance of apes, whales, dogs, and cats to hold seminars on the subject.
Last May, I had the great fortune of being welcomed into a community of macaque monkeys in Nagano, Japan. They are the famous snow monkeys, called by this name due to their ability to live in arctic conditions while lounging around in heated pools.
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by Alan Briskin | Collective Folly, Collective Wisdom, Politics
One of the core practices of collective wisdom is seeing whole systems. This requires us to step out of our particular bubble and ask essential questions, to diagnose critical relationships within a system, and to work in subtle realms, including what is not immediately apparent. Most significantly, seeing whole systems asks us to embrace both the light and shadow of human interactions, having faith that greater coherence and healthy functioning communities can be a result.
On February 1, Iowa voters will cast ballots in caucuses throughout that state. Political and media pundits will be making grand pronouncements and throwing confusing percentages around like darts in an English pub. In the context of seeing whole systems, I question whether the Republican caucuses are a valid reflection of our democracy or a dangerous distortion. The national consequences are significant, as is our own ability to make sense of the chaos. Please share with friends as a healthy dose of medicine during feverish times. Read More.
by Alan Briskin | Collaboration, Collective Folly, Politics
For the past weeks, I’ve been writing with a growing sense of urgency on the rising levels of fear and divisiveness evidenced in our political process here in the United States and around the world. It occurred to me that I was witnessing a beauty pageant for demagogues. What is a demagogue? This piece is a result of that reflection and concludes with the suggestion that we do not have to be passive participants. The demagogue’s cry for polarization must be our call to honor what we value. Read, like, comment, and share as you please. Read my new Huffington Post piece:
Demagogues: Leaders of Collective Madness.
by Alan Briskin | Books, Business
My publisher, Berrett-Koehler, is featuring my book, Bringing Your Soul to Work, as a free e-book over the next 48 hours. They also offering 40% discount and free shipping on all their publications, including my other books, The Power of Collective Wisdom and The Stirring of Soul in the Workplace. Great as gifts for friends. Get your free e-copy now.
by Alan Briskin | Business, Collective Folly
Mixing in Leonard Cohen, Fortune Magazine, the Amida confession on Yom Kippur, Pope Francis, Volkswagen, and metaphors involving apples, I cooked up a hearty stew published on Huffington Post that I hope you will enjoy.
