Caribou Azores

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Caribou Azores

You are welcome to find new impulses in inspiring surroundings on the Azores, where the power of the earth is tangible.

São Miguel island offers an impressive backdrop for deepening the understanding of connections thanks to a holistic approach. Deep experience of nature
Deep connection: purposeful exchanges
Deep reflection

The physical distance from other continents allows a certain "headspace" for transformative experiences here on São Miguel. This island, where the power of the earth is tangible and palpable, offers an impressive backdrop for deepening the understanding of connections and achieving aha-effects; this thanks to a holistic approach through the five core capacities. Deep experience of nature, "impulses" as thought-provoking sparks as well as targeted interactive exchanges in respectful surroundings, offer new perspectives and promote one's own reflection in order to reconsider certain aspects of life. For an enriching experience with fellow guests, you will be encouraged to engage, and in addition to your mind, open your heart and soul to further broaden your horizons. Experience a unique, transformative and memorable week in a historic monument from the 17th century which serves as an oasis.

14/10/2025

Caribou Azores Atumn-Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/caribou-azores/autumn-newsletter-2025

14/05/2024

An invitation to discover beauty everywhere – who wants to look carefully?

Letting one’s gaze wander over the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean encourages reflection: Does the tidal rhythm of nature serve as a mirror image of human existence, with highs (high tide) and lows (low tide), change (transformation) and growth (development)? This metaphorical connection between the tides and the human life cycle invites us to explore the rhythmic nature of life's journey, to recognize hidden forces/energies, to understand connections and to appreciate the almost incomprehensible beauty of both the tidal rhythm and human existence and living in accordance with it. A captivating glimpse into the dynamic choreography of life on a worldly scale!

Spring Newsletter (English): https://mailchi.mp/d6c48c07e40a/2024-new-years-newsletter-12687067
Spring Newsletter (German): https://mailchi.mp/caribou-azores/caribou-news

10/01/2023

Spiral Dynamics – Introduction (Part IV)

This transition … great leap in consciousness…. there is a unifying as well as!

7. Integral Consciousness I (providing harmony)
The path is the destination, therefore the process with open heart-to-heart communication is at the center, which combines novel experiences, other perspectives and even opposites into a new unity and harmony and strives for the common good of all beings. In the process, new forms of personal, inner freedom reveal themselves without harming other people or nature.

8. Integral Consciousness II (providing wisdom)
The world reveals itself as an infinitely enriching stage for experimentation and experience of working for all humanity, life and the "universal/divine", which is recognized/remembered and respected as "mystery". A strong collective of individuals unites and unfolds a minimalist way of living where less is actually more.

9. Consciousness of Unity (providing happiness)
All polarities flow together in harmony and all actions come from inner guidance and intuition – a conscious connection/merger in unconditional love!

In our meritocracy we are taught to judge everything. But – and I emphasize this once again – Spiral Dynamics is without judgement! It is like a neutral map or a navigation device that shows a path of development with levels that build on each other. It is like a river: from the source it becomes wider and deeper with its many tributaries. No one would say that the Danube or any other river is less valuable or important at its source than further down.
Every phase and every development are important.

Full blog:
https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Spiral-Dynamics-Int
roduction

31/12/2022

Spiral Dynamics – Introduction (Part III)

4. Traditional Consciousness (providing beauty)
Now it is important to create an identity through role models strong authorities/leaders/gurus) and guidelines (clear rules and laws) as guarantors of law and order, meaning and morality. Deviations and ambiguities are neither recognized nor tolerated. Religion interprets the world, which follows a divine plan and assigns people their place.

5. Modern Consciousness (providing understanding)
Learning through experience, humans want to improve the world and life for themselves and others in the pursuit of autonomy, independence and personal happiness. Through strategic, efficient action and the search for the best solutions, progress emerges, which, thanks to science and technology, wants to make a "good life" and material prosperity possible for all.

6. Postmodern Consciousness (providing love)
After the outer world, the inner world needs to be explored, which connects psychology with the unconscious, the feminine. With the newly discovered focus on feeling, patriarchal traditions abruptly break down and humans, due to growing social and ecological responsibility, want to promote a sense of community and unity and share the resources of nature and society among all. Alternatives are created in nutrition, religious rites, sexual experience and orientation, ancient knowledge (esotericism) and in new forms of education.

This transition is followed by "a great leap in consciousness": instead of competition, there is cooperation (collaboration), instead of a focus on conflict, there is a new focus on …(part IV)

Full blog:
https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Spiral-Dynamics-Introduction

30/12/2022

Spiral Dynamics – Introduction (Part II)

After Mandela, however, the work with Spiral Dynamics could no longer be continued because his successors Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma could not muster any understanding for it; an understanding that usually sets in during the transition phase from Modern (5) to Postmodern (6).

1. Archaic Consciousness (providing life)
At the beginning of life, still completely unconscious and without a distinct individuality, i.e. in a quasi "paradisiacal state", the human being lives entirely in the moment, in being, in the web of life[3] in unity and in a natural, symbiotic connectedness. The only thing of importance is to somehow get by and survive.

2. Magical Consciousness (providing connection)
The cohesion in the extended family, tribe or clan with its customs, traditional myths and rituals offers sufficient protection and familiar security. This makes people feel part of the larger order of the forces of nature, the environment and their ancestors. Wise men, elders and shamans interpret the world and the cosmos.

3. Warrior Consciousness (providing power/strength)
Because life is experienced "as a struggle of the strongest for power, honor, respect and wealth", it is always necessary to be superior to others and to prove oneself in self-chosen heroism and unscrupulous struggle against enemy images, to break constraints and to assert one's own interests immediately. As a doer, I shape "MY world" and build "MY empire“.

4. Traditional Consciousness (providing beauty)
Now it is important to create an identity through role models (authorities/leaders/gurus)… (part III)

Full blog: https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Spiral-Dynamics-Introduction

29/12/2022

Spiral Dynamics – Introduction (Part I)

All life wants to grow and develop on a personal, collective, societal and organizational levels.

Our individual and collective path of development

"Why do people react so differently to situations?" – "Why do some people predominantly like appearances and are oriented towards them, i.e. labels, luxury, celebrities, whereas others seek the depth of existence and focus on being, are interested in and committed to nature and society, life and death?" – These were the questions posed by the psychologist Clare W. Graves.

Thus, in the course of the 1950s, he collected relevant data and created a model[1].
Building on Graves' research and following the developmental psychology of Jean Piaget, in the mid-1990s Don Beck and Chris Cowan developed a spiral-shaped, upwardly open model over 9 levels (with fluid transitions), which shows an individual as well as a social-cultural development of consciousness, which they called Spiral Dynamics©.

Each level has its strong/bright and its weaker/darker sides, which is only an observation and not a judgement. Their gifts are indicated in brackets in the title of each level.

When a new level (stage/step) unfolds, we also change our behavior and habits[2] to adapt to these new conditions. Furthermore, a change in consciousness can promote a change in values.

An example of practical application: In ending Apartheid in South Africa in the mid-90s, Don Beck worked with Nelson Mandela and Frederik De Klerk, among others. After Mandela, however, the work with Spiral Dynamics could no longer be continued because… (part II)

Full blog: https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Spiral-Dynamics-Introduction

22/12/2022

Trinity – three yet one (Part III)

Doing or saying something three times has been present in all cultures since humans have existed, but hardly ever consciously. This is how all 3 planes of life are reached. That is why in spiritual practice a blessing is pronounced three times, an apparition is tested three times, and a soul-spiritual transformation step needs three days and three nights, because only through this is a life-changing "resurrection/redemption" possible. Biblical examples of this are: Jonah is in the belly of the fish for 3 days (Jonah 2:2), Saul is blind for 3 days before he becomes Paul (Acts 9:9), Christ is in the tomb for 3 days (Luke 24:7 and 24:46), Peter denies Jesus 3 times before the rooster crows (Matt 26:75), Mágoi (stargazers/wise men) brought 3 gifts to the baby Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matt 2:11). – More on the number of life is in a list with trinities.

For our inner balance we need this conscious 3-fold connection with the earth (3rd dimension), with heaven (5th dimension) and with the original source/origin (7th dimension). When we begin to perceive our multidimensionality, an access to life and to the "divine/universal" opens up, which is very fulfilling and enriching.
This access can also be more easily developed in the diverse nature of the island of São Miguel.

https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Trinity-three-yet-one

11/12/2022

Trinity – three yet one (Part II)

In addition, there is everything that we cannot touch and is therefore more difficult for us to grasp, such as feelings, thoughts, ideas, inner images, dreams and "the great circle of ancestors" as well as angels and other light beings: metaphysical worlds[1]ethereal dream levels – the "hereafter". Both planes, the 3rd and 5th dimension, have a more or less clear form and shape and appear dual for our development of consciousness, i.e. (at least) two-fold, like up/down, dull/shiny, fast/slow, black/white....
Behind it, in it and in front of it ("through it, with it and in it") is the soul plane that lies beyond all dualism: the formless, enlightened and infinite – the divine original source from whose emptiness/fullness everything springs – the indescribable 7th dimension. The only thing that could perhaps be said about it comes close to the words being, eternal being, eternity or primordial ground of all being.
Everything that we can experience as human beings exists on all 3 panes, the 3rd, 5th and 7th dimensions simultaneously and in the same place, i.e. "in one another", because it is one.

Doing or saying something three times has been present in all cultures since humans have existed, but hardly ever consciously. This is how ass three planes of life are reached….. (part III to follow)

https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Trinity-three-yet-one

08/12/2022

Trinity – three yet one (Part I)

As a continuation of the theme of "Dualism" (2), "Trinity" (3) shows that our existence is multi-dimensional and that with the 7th dimension there is an ever enlightened "being" beyond dualism, a formless original source from which everything that exists and thus appears dual is born.

"All good things come in threes!", so they say. Where does that come from? – The 3 planes of life is a view that interweaves all 5 core capacities and is as old as it is revolutionary, like the expansion of perspective in painting from the bi-dimensional perspective of meaning to the 3-dimensional central perspective during the Renaissance (15th century).

For most people, (only) what they can grasp and measure with the five senses does exist: the physical world with its amazing micro- and macrocosmic universes, experienceable as a material everyday plane – our "worldly existence" in 3-dimensional space.
In addition, there is everything that we cannot touch and is therefore … (more: part II)

https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Trinity-three-yet-one

30/11/2022

Dualism – two yet one (Part Il)

With the onset of individuation and socialisation, dual perception expands into the view of "either-or": either light or dark. This distinction and separation into partly irreconcilable opposites on the one hand, and partly conditioning and complementary polarities on the other, forms the prerequisite for conscious, intellectual thinking and cognitive learning in our Western culture and society (this in the red, blue and orange memes hereafter).

In the course of ageing, a young person drifts out of the flow of natural connectedness, so that the memory of the former unity begins to fade. What remains is a feeling of lack/emptiness and a deep inner longing for this original unity. Both feelings often remain unconscious for many years or even for a lifetime[3].

These pairs of opposites are evident in the nature of this Azorean volcanic island, in people, in manifold forms and colours, and in our two hemispheres of the brain with their different functions. Like two sides of a coin or like siblings which is also referred to by Caribou Azores: for example, through silence, meditation as well as the 5 core capacities, these polarities can be brought closer together again and the initial unity and natural connectedness beyond the subject-object separation can be experienced again to some extent – no longer unconsciously like as an infant, but now consciously – according to the development (in the green, yellow and turquoise mem) through holistic learning, perceptive thinking and the reconnecting "as-well-as".

For foot notes
[1, 2 and 3] please go to full blog: https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Dualism-two-yet-one

23/11/2022

Dualism – two yet one (Part I)

>> Dualism states that one can recognise two sides of things and perceptions, which appear to be either opposite or complementary, such as day and night, sun and moon, light and shadow, dream and reality, loyalty and betrayal, affection and aversion, good and evil.

Dual perception begins with the development of the ego (around the age of one) through the demarcation of "ego" and "non-ego". Until then, the infant lived entirely in symbiosis with its mother and its environment, completely unconscious and still without distinct individuality – quasi "in a paradisiacal state". At that time there were no questions, no distinctions and no polarities. Completely in the moment, in being, in the web of life[1] in oneness and in natural connectedness, life flows, if survival is assured, quite simply. In Spiral Dynamics[2] it is the first, beige mem.

On the long path to an independent awareness and personality, the child (now in the purple mem) detaches itself from this dependency. Still entirely controlled by impulses, the brain gradually learns to recognise, interpret and separate the initial correlations: subject or object – people and things are either good or bad, clean or dirty, nice or mean. With the onset of individuation and socialisation … (more: part II)

https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/Dualism-two-yet-one

22/10/2022

The Spiritual Core Capacity (Part II)

These multifaceted perceptions and experiences of renewed connection and reconnection form the roots of all religions – from the Latin religio = to reconnect, to reunite with the divine "original source" from which everything arises.

The spiritual includes the joy of life and what we experience and feel in everyday life, which leads to a perception of happiness as well as a sense of inner fulfilment.

Blog: https://www.caribou-azores.ch/en/The-Spiritual-Core-Capacity

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