Jessica Nichol Thesis
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RUNNING HEAD: MYTHOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN HOLISTIC EDUCATION TOWARDS INTEGRAL ECOLOGIES: MYTHOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN HOLISTIC EDUCATION A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Institute for Transformative Learning In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree by Jessica Fuhr Nichol June 12, 2019 Josette Luvmour, Ph.D. Faculty Mentor Sam Crowell, Jr., Ed.D. Faculty Advisor Fionn Wright Learner Colleague Copyright 2019 Jessica Fuhr Nichol, All Rights Reserved MYTHOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN HOLISTIC EDUCATION ABSTRACT This intuitive inquiry explores the potentialities of ancient cultural mythologies, the universe story as a new mythology, and technology with its role in community connection in the context of holistic education. Intuitive inquiry is a qualitative research methodology that invites an engagement with the unique interests and passions of the researcher. This study looks through the lens of the emerging field of archetypal cosmology to examine how and why mythology and technology can strengthen the soul dimension of holistic education and lead toward integral ecologies. Key words: holistic education, archetypal cosmology, mythology, technology, integral ecologies, the universe story, Journey of the Universe MYTHOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN HOLISTIC EDUCATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With appreciation and thanks to: My family: Brad, Lance, and Zoe, for your patience, support, and participation in this project. My faculty mentors: Josette Luvmour and Sam Crowell, whose guidance shaped this inquiry in ever-appreciated ways. My learner-colleague: Fionn Wright, for your affirmative interest in technology. MYTHOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN HOLISTIC EDUCATION TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………….................……… i Chapter Page I INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 1 The Situation .......................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................... 3 Archetypal Cosmology ..................................................................... 3 Integral Ecologies ............................................................................. 4 The Approach to the Study ..................................................................... 5 Important Definitions ............................................................................. 6 Cycle 1 .................................................................................................... 7 II LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 8 Systems Thinking: The New Paradigm of Science ................................ 9 The Field of Holistic Education ........................................................... 11 Archetypal Principles ........................................................................... 12 Our Place in Time and Space ............................................................... 14 From Ancient Civilizations to the Axial Age and Beyond ............ 14 The Triphasic Pattern, the Spiral, and the Fractal .......................... 16 In Consideration of a Second Axial Age ........................................ 18 Integral Philosophy and Integral Consciousness .................................. 19 Structures of Consciousness Throughout Childhood ........................... 22 Myth and its Role in Culture ................................................................ 22 The New Story to Journey of the Universe .......................................... 24 Look to the Stars: A Path Toward Integral Ecologies .......................... 27 The Historical Dialectic of Archetypal Principles ......................... 30 Understanding Archetypal Principles in Childhood ...................... 31 Care of the Soul in Education ........................................................ 32 Mythology in Holistic Education ................................................... 33 Technology in Holistic Education .................................................. 35 The Potential of the Adult/Child Relationship ............................... 37 Summary and Cycle 2 Lenses .............................................................. 38 III METHODOLOGY ............................................................................... 40 Intuitive Inquiry as a Qualitative Research Methodology .................... 40 Research Questions ........................................................................ 42 Context of the Study ............................................................................. 42 Graduate Institute for Transformative Learning ............................ 42 Fourth Industrial Revolution .......................................................... 43 Positionality .......................................................................................... 44 Procedure .............................................................................................. 45 Triphasic Pattern ............................................................................ 48 Hypnogogia .................................................................................... 48 Study Participants ................................................................................. 50 Data Collection ..................................................................................... 51 Validity ................................................................................................. 55 MYTHOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN HOLISTIC EDUCATION IV FINDINGS/CYCLE 3 ......................................................................... 56 Open Intake .......................................................................................... 56 Open Intake for my Children ................................................................ 58 Sleep/Digestion .................................................................................... 65 Skill/Mastery ........................................................................................ 67 V DISCUSSION ...................................................................................... 82 Cycle 4 .................................................................................................. 82 Cycle 4 Lenses ............................................................................... 83 Open Intake Lenses ........................................................................ 83 Sleep/Digestion Lenses .................................................................. 84 Cycle 2 Lenses ............................................................................... 84 Comparison of Triphasic Cycle 2 and Cycle 4 lenses .......................... 84 Concept: Adult/Child Relationship ................................................ 84 Concept: Technology ..................................................................... 86 Concept: Mythology ....................................................................... 89 Concept: System ............................................................................. 91 Concept: The Unseen ..................................................................... 92 Concept: Our Place in Time and Space .......................................... 97 Concept: Earth/Human Relationship .............................................. 99 Summary ...................................................................................... 101 Cycle 5 ................................................................................................ 102 Integration of Cycle 4 Lenses with Literature Review and Findings ..................................................................................... 102 What is Left Unsaid? .................................................................... 104 Procedures and Plans That Did Not Work ................................... 106 Mistakes Made ............................................................................. 106 The Researcher’s Apprehensions and Puzzlements About the Study and Findings ................................................... 107 The Style of Intuitive Interpretation Used ................................... 108 What Remains Unresolved or Problematic About the Topic or the Method? .......................................................................... 111 Summary ............................................................................................ 112 Summary Implications and Visionary Trajectory ........................ 112 Implications for Practice .............................................................. 113 Limitations of my Research ......................................................... 113 Future Research ............................................................................ 114 Recommendations ........................................................................ 115 Final Reflections .......................................................................... 115 Appendix A ......................................................................................................... 116 Appendix B ......................................................................................................... 117 Appendix C ......................................................................................................... 118 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 119 MYTHOLOGY