QC

I got fired from an ayahuasca center due to this. Boss fixated on the healing power of belief, and there wasn't room for clear thinking. They didn't want to dwell on the "negative", and so couldn't adequately prevent or mitigate risks. Inadequate first aid kit, etc.

And the key is -- what is the purpose of the group, and is the approach well-aligned with its environment? An air traffic accident investigation group, probably makes sense to lean dour. A musical improvisation troupe, makes sense to lean a bit manic.

Many groups need both! For example: "Action hippies" can be found building infrastructure at Burning Man, Ephemerisle, etc - making spaces for spontaneous, creative play, and also dead serious about material tolerances, fire safety, supply lines, etc.

And, I'd say that humans need both, in our lives as a whole. I guess the fluid mode might be to respond to circumstances dynamically, with a rational, focused, critical approach, or free-flowing, emergent, optimistic -- as needed.

Like different tools in a toolbelt, or... maybe more like a spectrum of attention. Like how you can turn the hose on a narrow stream to blast something clean, and then turn it back to a wide gentle shower to water plants.

Thanks so much for your reply Sarah! Loved the links and examples you gave. This has weighed on my mind because of the feeling of whiplash, living in both very skeptical and very wacky / “woo” groups and having to express myself between the two.