Conscious Futurist Spiral

Rather than climbing a ladder or ascending stairs, we revolve through stages that we may revisit at different times or in different areas of our lives. The spiral allows for gradual progress, and offers a lens through which we can understand our own futures thinking — as well as that of our audiences, teams, or clients.

The Spiral has five rings or levels, each reflecting a broader time horizon and a widening circle of concern:

1. Survival

At the base is Survival. This is where all futures thinking begins — or ends — in a crisis. The pandemic made this real for many people, but any number of personal or systemic shocks (illness, loss, conflict, displacement) can pull us down to this level. Here, our timeline is short and our concern is narrow: immediate needs, safety, security.

We may not like the word “survival,” but it is honest. And honesty is the first act of consciousness. The most responsible thing you can do for the future is to survive the present crisis.

2. Responsible

As safety stabilises, we rise to Responsibility. Our attention expands to include others — our family, friends, colleagues, or team members. We begin thinking further ahead, perhaps to next month or quarter. Responsibility means shifting from reaction to intention, from victimhood to reclaiming agency. We begin planning again, rebuilding from crisis, and contributing to those within our immediate circle of care.

3. Invested

When we move into Invested thinking, we begin shaping the world beyond our direct circle. Our attention may focus on our business, industry, organisation, or cause. We take on influence, and that influence carries impact. Here, we extend time frames even further, perhaps to years. We also take responsibility for the ripple effects of our voice, decisions, and leadership in wider systems.

4. Conscious

The Conscious Futurist operates from a place of expanded awareness. Time horizons extend to decades. Concern stretches beyond personal legacy to include strangers, systems, future generations. We think in terms of policy, culture, and education. Our influence is not measured by visibility, but by depth. Ego takes a back seat. We are working for futures we may never personally see.

5. Transcendent

The highest level, Transcendence, reaches beyond personal or even generational vision. It is about legacy and transformation. The Transcendent Futurist builds for futures that may never return gratitude. They are motivated not by recognition but by deep values — reshaping cities, organisations, cultures, or ideas for long-term benefit. Their impact might be anonymous but deeply significant.