Participant Driven Open Space Principles and Laws

Tue Nov 28 22:09:29 PST 2000

I've been following this thread with some interest.  It occurs to me (prompted by your response, Peg) that we may see something of ethical principles (values) in this law and 4 principles.  There is one prime principle--autonomy expressed as the law of two feet.  The 4 principles are different manifestations of that autonomy (two expressed as person to time relationships and two expressed as relationships between each of us and what we said/did).  I also am convinced that less is more...and that autonomy once given is always assumed (which is why experienced practitioners go right to work).

Doc

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Peggy Holman 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 6:09 PM
  Subject: Re: Participant Driven Open Space Principles and Laws

  <snip> from Artur:

  But can we obtain the some results if we suppress all or some of the "principles"?

  Have any one tried that? What do you think?

  Actually, at this talk Harrison did this morning, it seemed he wasn't going to mention the principles and the law to this group of people new to OS.  I must admit my first thought was he was experimenting with doing one less thing.  As has been said in several ways already (but I'll add my version), for me, the gift of OS is making the principles and law explicit.  Yes, they're part of the natural order of being human, but it seems when they're consciously brought forth, people behave differently.  And they take them home with them, never to be the same again...

  On another note, over the last year or so, I've come to see the two principles -- When it starts...and When it's over...  as one principle about time.  It has to do with our relationship to the clock.  It is a reminder that clocks are recent constructs; they're a mere convenience that have a role.  They just don't need to hog center stage in how we make decisions.  In truth, time does go fast sometimes, slow sometimes, and even stands still.  So this is a principle to invite people to pay attention to their own natural rhythm, noticing what has passion for them and to follow that path.  After all, that's when spirit emerges.

  I haven't figured out a sleek way to state this as one principle, so I still mention them both but talk about them as a result of this different relationship to time.  any ideas?

  Peggy

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