In family systems therapy, the sphere of influence most addressed is generally the nuclear family, although it could easily expand to extended family members, i.e., grandparents, aunts, uncles…. But, it does not really stop there. Permeating the home environment is the neighborhood, which itself is contained within the community. Family systems therapy often includes these extended spheres as many resources needed to bring about positive changes are contained within the neighborhood and community.

Spheres of influence extend even beyond the community. The city, state, nation and even the global sphere all have their influence on the community, neighborhood, and the home. A single person, at any age, exists within a complex multidimensional field of influences not all of which are conscious. A child of 7 years is significantly influenced by, and at least partially conscious of, the home and neighborhood, but not at all aware of the influence the state, or nation, has upon his/her growing consciousness, even though it is very present and active. As an adult of 56 years, there is much more awareness of the influence of city, state and nation, and even a consciousness of how the global sphere impacts his/her self, as well as how that global sphere influences the nation, state and city. And, at 56, the earlier spheres of home, neighborhood and community, although subconscious, continue to exert a significant influence.

If we refer to the traditional stages of psychosocial development, popularized by Eric Erikson, and couple those stages to these spheres of influence, it presents an interesting view of how our developing consciousness can parallel these spheres. In the chart below, the developmental stages are linked to the ever-larger spheres of influence.

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Of course, even as an infant, we are influenced by the higher spheres; but, we are not conscious of that. As we mature, we become more conscious of, and involved in, the larger more encompassing spheres of influence. Ideally, we mature from being a citizen of the neighborhood, to a citizen of the global community – a citizen of the world.

But, that aside, it appears that God was bound by a seven day work week, the last day of which was rest;  how relaxing.  Or, is it that, as suggested in previous posts, and most likely suggested in occult mystical teachings, that 7 represents a developmental archetype, a blueprint. There are 7 major stages or phases of development, of manifestation, of creation.   As a developmental archetype, we can then postulate that our school of life has 7 Lessons learned repeatedly ever more thoroughly through 7 Grades of 7 Classrooms. Or, if you prefer….our school of life has 7 Chores, repeatedly completed, in ever more thorough degrees,  over 7 Hours of 7 Days. Its about the archetypal structure…..

We can use this archetype to understand developmental stages of psyche-socio “spheres of influence” – which develops, or expands, beyond the personal to include the neighborhood, the community, the city, state, nation and globe. The 7 spheres of influence….

For the first 7 years of life, the neighborhood, of which the home is an integral part,  forms the content of influence….but, after that….the community…and then the city…..state, nation…..and, eventually, global influence is the dominant theme in patterns of living. Of course, the larger, broader,  more expansive spheres of influence contains the smaller, more narrow,  less expansive spheres of influence. We are all contained within, and influenced by, the national, and global, spheres, at whatever level they might be operating.

The personal sphere is kind of like Classroom #1. The global sphere is kind of like Classroom #7.  The national sphere is kind of like Classroom #6, but the grade level in that classroom could be 1, and the lesson could be 3:  a person learning to identify with and be an integral part of the community , during a period of globalization.

It’s a long haul to be a conscious part of global influence….; and it doesn’t end there….solar and galactic influence become 8 and 9…..and then, the whole, all encompassing, cosmic  sphere……

And yet, just as the state is contained within the nation, can even be considered a manifestation of the nation, is an expression of national consciousness like a wave is an expression of the ocean,  so even our personal consciousness is a manifest expression of cosmic consciousness, just as is  galactic, solar, global, national, state, community and neighborhood consciousness.

As Shakespeare’s character Hamlet said…

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”