Calling the Circle

[Christopher Kloth]

Larry,

I am glad you have asked for feedback from the list about this book.  I have
skimmed all of it and read some parts closely.  I bought it to think about the
connection with Bohm's work on dialogue, especially as practiced and taught by
Glenna Gerrard and Linda Ellinor (who published a book this year: Dialogue:
Rediscover the Transforming Power of Conversation - which includes an
introductory dialogue including Meg Wheatly, Peter Senge. Joe Jaworski and Dawna
Markova).

Once I began reviewing it I also began thinking about Open Space.  I will look
forward to hearing if others have reactions to either book in the context of
Open Space.

The question/tension that I am trying to understand more clearly in my own work
using any "methodologies" ot "technologies" has to do with how we balance the
intention to gather a group to engage about a question, issue, challenge, etc.
with the suspending of intention to have a specific outcome....for me this
question relates to trying to gain a deeper understanding of what Bohm means by
implicate order, which also seems connected to synchronicity...what do we mean
when we refer to structure, or degrees of structure, to order, to order that
emerges from (apparent) chaos and how do we create enough form (the circle, the
topics listed on the wall, etc.) without stifling the potential for strange
attractors and other random insights and acts.

Clearly I am among the people who believes that Open Space is one of the
settings which allows all of these to occur....even while I ponder how and why!

Chris Kloth

Larry Peterson wrote:

> Why do I have to write such long things. I don't know. This book was brought
> to my attention. Synchronicity and all that. You may have all read it. They
> do their work in Seattle area so maybe it already informs those folks. I'll
> be interested if anyone has experienced PeerSpirit circles. It is a
> "technology" and as such drew my interest and my need to write down some of
> what I found useful. Happy New Year.
>
> Calling the Circle
> Christina Baldwin. 1998. Bantam Books. New York
>
> A Quick Personal Review
> By Larry Peterson
>
> For Open Space Technology practitioners, sitting in a circle is a critical
> part of gathering and bounding of Open Space. We acknowledge the circle and
> that leadership must come from anywhere around the circle where there is
> passion for the theme. We often close the space with a talking piece or
> stick. Shamans and indigenous councils have used this approach for
> millennia.
>
> Christina Baldwin with her colleague Ann Linnea has created PeerSpirit to
> foster the calling of circles in a particular way. They call councils of
> people who create sacred space in order to accomplish specific tasks with
> mutual support. There are some definite connections to Open Space Technology
> and some real differences. I am writing this to help clarify my own thinking
> and feelings about both. Having never experienced a PeerSpirit called circle
> I can only go from what I have experienced through reading the book.
>
> I resonate to some of the conditions they see needing to be present before
> calling a circle:
> * "Creating" a commonly understood context is necessary for the circle to
> function.
> * The person calling the circle invites participants. She or he does this
> best when they have done the following:
> * Set their intention
> * Gathered feedback about the situation
> * Envisioned the group
>
> The process they use with the circle is certainly not Open Space, but has
> some connections.
> * They begin with ritual that clearly differentiates the circle from a
> traditional meeting. The ritual usually includes
> * Having or putting something in the center that symbolizes the divine or
> sacred nature of the gathering. This could include a candle or objects from
> the individuals who are part of the circle.
> * The person who calls the circle states the reason for gathering and the
> principles of the PeerSpirit circle and of the use of the talking piece.
> * A volunteer "guardian" of the circle is sought. This person's role is to
> intercede in the group process to call the circle back to center.
> * The talking piece is passed around the circle once so that anyone who
> wants to say something can and that the rim of the circle is bounded.
> * Then conversations about the topic at hand can begin. At this point the
> talking piece is often (not always) put into the center of the circle so
> that dialogue can take place rather than waiting for the piece to
> circumnavigate the circle.
> * The guardian will interrupt the group when it appears to that person that
> the center of trust and respect has been lost. This may mean a time of
> silent reflection or sending the talking piece around the circle again.
> * Sending the talking piece around the circle closes it along with
> clarifying the administrative tasks of setting the next meeting and being
> clear about responsibilities taken on.
> * They recommend a circle logbook as a record keeping mechanism to be passed
> from meeting to meeting.
>
> They describe the "Three Principles of Circle" as an essential part of
> "holding the rim".
> * Rotating Leadership: Leadership is passed from person to person and each
> person is expected to take one aspect of an issue to explore. The talking
> piece models this in the discussions.
> * Sharing Responsibility: Each person is responsible to pay attention to
> what needs doing.
> * Relying on Spirit: Rituals are used at the beginning and throughout
> multiple meetings
>
> These are not the only principles they feel are critical to holding the rim
> for a successful council. "Council" is the term used for the dialogue, the
> conversations or the words that fill the circle. The "Three Principles of
> Council" are as follows:
> * Speaking with Intention: They encourage circle participants to contribute
> what heart and meaning and this usually means "story" and not just facts and
> figures.
> * Listening with Attention: This is the "active listening" with which I
> assume most of us are familiar.
> * Self-Monitoring Our Impact and Contributions: The do emphasize thinking or
> discerning the impact before speaking. (They are originally from Minnesota).
> To me these principles are similar to those stated by most good group
> dynamics folks.
>
> The author has clearly had those times when the "circle did not hold", when
> the bonds of the community that gathered were not strong enough or the
> connection to the center was not deep enough to contain the struggles. She
> has had circles explode and even wonders if there are some people who are so
> threatened by the bonds that being in a circle triggers the need to break
> those bonds. She recognizes that "being woven" into a circle can sometimes
> trigger rage and desires to find escape routes. PeerSpirit circling does not
> have a "Law of Two Feet".
>
> This approach is more guided than Open Space and I can't see it working with
> large groups. However, it emphasizes the spiritual center of the circle in
> some helpful ways. I have noticed that as a stronger part of OS on OS events
> and it plays more of a role in my own thinking and work now. Their struggle
> with the shadow side of their experience and the metaphor of being "woven"
> into the circle are related for me. People are not forced to be "woven" in
> Open Space but choose to connect. However, participants (even me) get
> frightened when they experience the extent of connection or of when the
> truth of the shadow of an organization emerges. Their emphasis is on the
> circle holding the space, not the guardian (who is one of the group). We
> emphasize that the facilitator "holds" the space by protecting it against
> space invaders. They emphasize that the circle and the commitments made by
> the participants actually hold the circle (rim) with the sacred (and
> purpose) at the center. I hunch it is both in Open Space.
>
> They mention that there is a lot of work now proceeding with circles. They
> acknowledge Angeles Arrien's impact but do not mention Open Space.  I
> learned from comparing Open Space to another sacred use of the circle for
> meeting.


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