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I have moved over to my new website - please go to www.beingjackbutler.com 

The Four Horsemen Film

Congratulations to Ross Ashcroft and team for their production the Four Horsemen.  Had the pleasure of a dinner with Ross and Megan a year or so back, and have been looking forward to picking up the conversation again since then...

See here for more info - http://www.fourhorsemenfilm.com/

Trailer below:

John Bunzl interview - introduction to Simultaneous Policy

Jack Butler interviewing John Bunzl, Founder of Simpol, giving an introduction to the organization and its aims.

For more information, visit Simpol at www.simpol.org 

Simultaneous Policy

I spent the afternoon with John Bunzl, Founder of Simpol, the international organization which advocates simultaneous policy as a solution to global issues which cannot be solved by nation state structures.

In the following days, two video interviews will be posted.  The first is an introduction to Simpol, its aims and method of effecting change.  The second is more in-depth and explores how integral and spiral dynamics analysis inform the Simpol approach.

Good luck to John (pictured below) and the Simpol team on a worthwhile effort to raise global civic consciousness.  For more info, visit the Simpol global website - www.simpol.org

Top 5 reading recommendations from 2011

I just had a good friend ask me for my top 5 reading recommendations from 2011, so having done some thinking of it, thought I'd post them here too:

1 - Comparison of Steiner and Wilber: http://rmit.academia.edu/JenniferGidley/Papers/120336/Educational_Imperatives_of_the_Evolution_of_Consciousness_The_Integral_Visions_of_Rudolf_Steiner_and_Ken_Wilber

2 - Great introduction to spiral dynamics from its founder, Don Beck: http://www.spiraldynamics.net/DrDonBeck/essays/human_capacities.htm

3 - Anything from Bill Spady on education - such as his book Learning Communities 2.0 - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-u5enWWFHxYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=bill+spady+learning+2.0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=w5oCT63eHcW2tweCi5n0BA&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=bill%20spady%20learning%202.0&f=false;  anything you can find around the Heartlight work he did in South Africa

4 - the Kingdoms of Consciousness model - Dr Michael Beckwith teaches a version of it here: http://www.meetup.com/Triangle-Center-For-Spiritual-Living/events/40531262/ 

5 - your own inquiry notes - from my time with the Ridhwan School, I think this is a really powerful habit to form to activate your own guidance or allow yourself to be the best teacher for yourself

6 - bonus!  Check out anything by Dr Liana Mattulich from www.innerkey.com

Happy intention setting in 2012!

All good thoughts,
Jack

In retreat

Just back from a fantastic retreat with Sandra Maitri and the Ridhwan School. Marin county weather, some very coherent teaching, lots of inquiry and plenty of meditation. A fantastic group of people, good times. 15 minute monologues in triads on some penetrating questions.

If you haven't, I encourage you to check out the works of Ridhwan founder A H Almaas and Sandra's enneagram books.

www.sandramatri.com
www.ridhwanschool.org

What is effective communication? - speaking with HK Uni Students

I had a fantastic 6 days in Hong Kong two weeks ago.  I got the opportunity to go to IVE Chai Wan, part of the VTC (vocational technical college) university network in Hong Kong, and speak with 6 of the leadership team of the Woofoo student leadership development network. 
Thanks to Dorcas for organising the event and to all involved for their sincere interest and thoughtful questions.  With such engagement in personal development, HK's future is in good hands!
See below for a couple of their questions on effective communication and how best to get input on ideas: