REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED!
8-WEEK ONLINE COURSE STARTING SEPT 22ND 2021
Scientific Materialism means:
The universe, fundamentally, is made of matter and energy (ie: material) that operates under fixed rules
Only what can be physically measured is real. This excludes nearly all spiritual and mystical experiences
What makes life alive is the complex interaction of particles according to laws
In the materialist paradigm we are an isolated being within a vast pinball machine. Seemingly, the purpose of life is to maximize material pleasure.
This worldview is pervasive! Science, academia, business, government and pop culture largely operate from materialism.
A handful of leaders have moved beyond materialism and humanity is nearing a tipping-point for this next paradigm to emerge!
“Beyond Materialism” will usher you into the most profound revolution of our lifetime…
The next paradigm of human evolution is here
Integrated, Systems-thinking, Holarchical
Natural, Ecological, Indigenous, ALIVE
Conscious, Evolving, Ego Transcendent, AWAKE
Mystical, Spiritual, Embodied, Kosmological
The Course
8 Wednesday evenings, beginning Sept 22nd, 6-7pm Pacific Time
5 video lectures
8 weekly live calls
Reading and experiential content
Beyond Materialism is uniquely crafted as college course meets dojo. Weeks 1, 3, 5, and 8 will feature a recorded video lecture and live discussion group via zoom – for these weeks, you will be reading cutting-edge author’s perspectives and submitting a brief summary of your views. For weeks 2, 4, 6, and 7 we’ll be meeting via Zoom for an experiential meditation guided by Matt – we take what we learn cognitively and then step into the direct experience for ourselves. This course is not here to tell you the one right view – rather, we’ll be considering several diverse perspectives so you can develop YOUR New Paradigm.
At the end of the course, you’ll write a brief paper to summarize your learnings.
Free Bonus Session: Philosophy of Organism
- Alfred North Whitehead decimates Materialism
- Organism as fundamental to reality
Start Now! Scroll to bottom of this page to watch
Week 1: Integral Theory Discussion
- Ken Wilber’s developmental models for the evolution of consciousness
- Fact: learning about consciousness is psychoactive!
- Systems thinking, growth hierarchies, and holarchies
Week 2: Holarchy Meditation
- Finding structures of consciousness within ourselves and learning to “see the lens”
- Evolving our worldview into Integral
Week 3: Realms of Consciousness
- Ralph Metzner’s alchemy for consciousness
- Expanding our Life-World and Self-System
- Ancestors, conception, and birth
Week 4: Pre-Birth Meditation
- Contacting our guides and ancestors
- Recalling our time in the womb
- The birth process and our first impressions of life
Week 5: Life and Nature
- Robin Wall Kimmerer’s indigenous wisdom
- Integrating science and natural beauty
- Re-belonging with life
Week 6: Nature’s Voice Ceremony
- Adapted from A Council of All Beings by Joanna Macy
- Listening to and speaking for the natural world
Week 7: Surprise Meditation
- No spoilers!
Week 8: Synthesis
- Pulling together all the themes into one coherent perspective
- Integrating the teachings into your daily life
- Resources to continue deeper into consciousness studies
+ PLUS +
A Wealth of Materials
We’ll be reading small parts of some very big books that I encourage you to explore in more depth. You’ll have life-time access to the course videos. You’ll have a Bibliography of recommended reading and resources for further study.
Our Exclusive Online Forum
You’ll have access to a private online forum to connect with members of your cohort. Share successes, get support, and collaborate to become more impassioned leaders in this New Paradigm.
Your Host
Matt Sturm
Teacher and guide for transformational experiences. Matt has studied within a diverse array of traditions and practices and his passion is to share them in a way that’s accessible, experiential and empowering. His background spans Hatha yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, somatic psychotherapy, sacred sexuality, Reiki energy-work, and indigenous rituals for expanded states of consciousness. Prior to “going spiritual,” Matt had a career that included corporate and start-up work in solar, climate change and international development.
Course Cost
*Note: You will also need to purchase ~$50 in course books.
Matt has been incredible at helping me learn the tools to access my own emotions, feelings, and boundaries. I feel much more in-tune with my own sense of self since working with him and am able to handle emotional turmoil in more constructive ways. Working with Matt feels like having a guide to your own inner wilderness. He does not give answers so much as makes the space for you to find your own answers (and reflects back when you are not being fully honest with yourself).
Since working with Matt, I was able to quickly dive into topics and parts of myself that it took me years in talk therapy (CBT) to uncover. If you’re a logical thinker or “rationalist” and are interested in improving areas like sex and relationship, self-awareness, mindful communication, Matt is the perfect person to show you a path forward. His ability to talk in a way so I could “get it” was critical in opening my mind to a whole new world of self exploration.
Talking to Matt is like talking to a friend who is grounded and who you trust. There is an ease in exploring what presents itself in the moment. I was able to look at my life and behaviors in a new light and make changes that were long overdue. There are intuitive lessons I learnt that I use regularly.
Matt’s style and approach is one centered and kindness and support and patience. That helped me feel grounded once more and helped me get in touch with who I truly am as a human being. Before I met Matt, I was totally lost. I felt profoundly betrayed, severely anxious and very depressed. Matt helped me uncover myself and to see and feel who I was under the pain and loss. He helped me quiet the voice of self criticism that I had lived with for decades.
Module 0: Philosophy of Organism
Free pre-course lecture