Soul to Spirit: The New Spiritual Psychology

This post continues the series of comparisons between the Alice Bailey/Wisdom levels and those of Integral/Wilber taking us into what Integral calls Magenta and compares it with Bailey’s Group Two.

As mentioned before Alice Bailey lists 10 Groups of human beings in her book Esoteric Psychology, II (written in the 1930’s but completed and copyrighted in 1942).  These groups are extremely close to what is written about in the Integral community making me wonder if what is written about in Integral is even inspired at some point by what she taught.  In this post we will compare what is said about Group Two and the Magenta Integral level.

NOTE: The below blog post was written in 2016! Since then the ideas and comparisons have been advanced substantially and as of 8/11/2021 turned into a 62 page book! To get an in-depth understanding you are invited to purchase the book below. Also, as of 8/11/2021 the charts used on this blog have been updated. 

Integral Levels of Development

Again let’s look at the Integral Map to orient ourselves.

As a reminder in Esoteric Psychology II, pp. 203 – 207, 10 groups of evolving humanity are presented. Now, I will draw parallels between the second level in Integral known as Magenta and Group Two talked about in the Alice Bailey model. Note: these parallels will be very brief.

10 Soul Groups of Alice Bailey & Integral Connections. 

Group 2 & Magenta.

In the Alice Bailey model, we are told in Esoteric Psychology, Vol II, pp. 203 – 204 that Group Two is said to consist of people who are aware of life and physical sensation, but who are slow, inert, and inarticulate. They are also said to be bewildered by their environment and by events. Michael Robbins in his  Egoic Lotus Webinar Commentaries 3 Series starting at around 22:00, talks about Group 2 as being confused by events around them usually because they are not able to put these events into any kind of meaningful context. Esoteric Psychology, Vol II (EP II) goes on to say that those in this group have no sense of time or purpose and cannot really plan.  They usually have little skill in any direction, but can “dig and carry” under direction.  (Hmmm. Sounds like the Orcs from the Lord of the Rings.  I think I will do a featured picture on this post of one of them!)  EP, II also tells us that they eat, sleep, and procreate following the natural instincts of the animal body.

Michael Robbins in his Commentary 3 (referenced above) goes on to say that they have very primitive emotions usually only getting emotional when their instinctive life is frustrated. Robbins says, “There may be memories and images, but no tendency to focus on them or cultivate them.” EP II says they cannot respond to “emotional and mental training and culture.” And, as of the 1930’s to 1940’s when this was written, EP II says there are only about several thousand of humans in this group found on the planet. Robbins also says that this group of people tend to be amoral, but not in a sociopathic sense, which involves more forethought, cunning and planning.  Rather, they seem more in the moment compulsive and impulsive trying to get their instinctual needs met.  They are also said to be connected to the late Lemurian stage where magical beliefs dominate.

Integral and Magenta

In the Integral model we read this about the Magenta level.

This group is mostly concerned with safety and security and getting their basic survival needs met.  To quote directly from An Overview of Developmental Stages of Consciousness compiled by Barrett C. Brown, Integral Institute April 3, 2006, “What’s important: allegiance to chief, elders, ancestors, and the clan; obeying the desires of spirit beings and mystical signs; preserving sacred objects, places, events, and memories; rites of passage, seasonal cycles, and tribal customs; kinship and lineage Where seen: Belief in voodoo-like curses and good-luck charms; family rituals; ancient grudges; magical ethnic beliefs and superstitions; strong in some less developed countries, gangs, athletic teams, and corporate ‘tribes’ Self-Identity.  Main focus: safety and gratification of basic needs; following one’s impulses.

Brown (2006) also goes on to say that this level is, “Often found in very young children, who are governed by their impulses; adults at this stage have an inadequate conception of the complexities of life and may easily feel confused and overwhelmed; have an expedient morality (actions are only bad if one is caught) How influences others: Temper tantrums, taking (stealing) what they want, withdrawal.”

The Two Models Compared.

Again these teachings have close parallels with Bailey’s writings existing 70 – 80 years before other modern authors developed their own conceptions of these.  Some of the similarities are striking, though the Integral level may be speaking of some more advance features than those in Group Two possess.  For example when Brown (2006) says this group is, “strong in some less developed countries, gangs, athletic teams, and corporate ‘tribes’ Self-Identity,” this kind of tribal orientation and identification seems to go beyond how Group Two would be described in the Ageless Wisdom teachings.  Gangs, athletic teams and corporate tribes’ Self-Identity is far more clan like than Group Two would suggest. Group Two might be herded into a group movement, but again they have has no real sense of mental planning or forethought.  They also possess little skill.  And, there are only a few thousand of them on the planet.  So, here the parallels seem to break down. Or, perhaps the Integral people might want to rethink certain aspects of how they describe their model here as perhaps they are jumping too far and too fast regarding stages of development for the human race.

Also, Integral likes to state that every person born goes through all the stages that humanity has been through before. This is the same as what the Bailey model calls recapitulation. The notion of recapitulation is also found in the writings of Rudolph Steiner and Lucille Cedercrans. Recapitulation states that when we are born we relive or go through all the stages of human development that have ever been across time. (This is the same exact idea that Integral has).  When Brown (2006) is talking about a child having temper tantrums (a phase that usually emerges at age two), he is referring to recapitulation here.

It’s just that if there were only several thousand of this level of human being alive about 80 years ago in the Bailey model describing Group Two, then it is hard to imagine that Magenta people might be found in corporations, athletic teams and gangs. That requires a lot more mental coherence and development, leaving a gap between the two models.

Once again here is the map of terms that we are using throughout the rest of this blog.

Have comments, questions, suggestions?  They will be posted so long as they are civil and expand the discussion.

Namaste,

Lisa

Copyright ©2016 by Lisa Love. All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, computer, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.