Integration entails differentiation.
Integration refers to:
- Internal defragmentation (within an individual)
- External defragmentation (within a collective, between individuals)
Internal defragmentation involves recognising, accepting and unifying all aspects of ourselves, many of which we try to suppress, disown, and hide (from ourselves and others). It’s about becoming and developing our “true”, “whole” self.
External defragmentation involves transcending arbitrary, unnecessary division perceived (and then activated) between ourselves, to recognise and celebrate the unity in our diversity (and diversity in our unity).
Not unrelatedly, integration also refers to the state of being in which oneness is realised, which is accessible to any being, at any moment. All beings (can) experience this state of integration, but currently, the frequency and duration of each “period of integration” varies vastly between beings.
So, integration refers to both a state and process, which are mutually reinforcing.