Survival Stage

Survival lessons focus on food, clothing, shelter, a safe base of operations, and occasionally sex, if the situation permits. Most adults in Survival lessons are found in the tropics, where this process is greatly facilitated by the environment andrarely found in highly populated or technological areas. We can identify individuals in Survival by a lack of ability to connect with others in any meaningful, energetic way. In this stage, we are unconscious and unable to construct a framework that differentiates us from our environment. We primarily react in a primitive and fearful ways, learning through trial and error. Since we have very little flexibility in coping with the sophistication of higher WorldViews, we tend to be marginalized and look for simple ways to exist where other people have minimal impact. One of the main aspects of our Survival lessons is to ground ourselves in our physical body and to accept that we are, to a degree, dependent on others and the world around us.

Most of us operate in this stage for approximately the first 18 months of life. We are learning: Where am I? Who are you? Others do best if they engage us by reachingour intuitive, mystical connection to the earth. One of the best ways is by honoring that while we may know little of the details, we have an untapped, comprehensive wisdom. The most important thing is to not impose or ask us to change our point of focus. In short, others need to learn to recognize the integrity of our situation. We need to be seenas capable of finding our own solutions. As infants, it is important that we be allowed to see how far we can go in learning to establish our own energetic connectionswithout the expectations of a pre-defined response. In this way, we can give our parents positive feedback when they do things that work for us. When we are not seen and we perceive danger in exploring our own Truth, we can become fixated at this level, which means that we will not likely trust human interactions. We can be recognized at this level by how we automatically “tune out” other’s desire to connect.

When we are operating at the Survival level, we have an animal-focused consciousness, where we attempt to adapt to the environment. Our focus on what is needed to survive occupies our complete attention, making it very difficult to interact with other people. What an individual learns at this level is to be selfish and self-centered in order to guarantee personal survival. Unconscious imitation behavior often builds a sense of safety and “simple belonging.” Individuals at this level find it difficult to look into the eyes of others. Typically, we do not see Survival oriented people in industrial societies. Most Survival oriented people are in equatorial environments where they can fish and gather fruit. Survival level individuals do not necessarily have the mental capacity to deal with farming because of the time and the planning required. It is important not to confuse non-technological with unconscious. Many aborigine societies that are still living in traditional ways are actually manifesting Relationship Lessons and above.

CHECKLIST FOR SURVIVAL LEVEL

•   Operational status: we are unconscious, helpless and clueless about how to take care of ourselves. We learn dependency here. Develop strong coping skills—primitive, fearful, and pragmatic. Survival at all costs. If traumatized and we remain at this stage, we will tend to avoid city life and live in the country.
•   Learning method: through blind experimentation. Our strategy in terms of the sea is to be a minnow, so we will not be noticed.
•   Dimensions of experience: One. Instinctive; me and not me. Do not respond effectively to emotions or thoughts.
•   Focus: where am I, and who are you? (initial body awareness)
•   Responsive characteristics: simple, earthy, naive, intuitive, unquestioning, mystical.
•   Reactive characteristics: animalistic, frightened, ignorant, goes through personality extremes, aggressive.

Percent of adult population falling into Survival Level: 8%.

Examples: Not usually famous

Survival Lesson countries: usually found in tropical zones where food is plentiful.