Holarchy of the Human Mind

The reptile within

Only wants our survival,

An ancient desire

And an important one…

But not the only.

We breathe and feed

Thanks to the single-mindedness

Of these ancestors…

But we exist beyond.

The mammal within

Expands survival into nurturance.

Safety and shelter,

Familial bonds,

Beliefs and emotions.

We gather and feel

Thanks to the emotional drive

Along the limbic edge of reason…

But we exist beyond.

The human within

Builds upon these instincts

With language and art,

With science and reason,

Advancing with foresight.

We understand and create

Thanks to the cognitive skills

That make us unique beings…

But we exist beyond.

The spirit within

Is interconnected to all,

Receiving input from instinct

And inspiration from insight.

Overseeing all functions of the whole.

We perceive beyond what we know

Thanks to the orchestration

Of the higher mind…

And we exist in everything.