A First Step From Rome

[Meg Salter]

Harrison, Julie and OS friends

Conflict resolution and peace making (with references to Ken Wilber); Wasn't it Einstein who said that a true problem can never be solved from the same state in which it was created? I think conflict resolution is about "translation" - finding more effective ways of being/ doing, while essentially still in the same paradigm. Peace making is about transformation - developing/ growing to a new place from whence the old conflicts dissolve. And in fact, both are our natural state. It's just that they do different things.

And the facilitator as a tuning fork / being fully present - evokes and embodies a subtle reminder of these transformative passageways. Of course passageways, like birth canals, aren't easy. Hence conflict may be magnified, at least for a time. After all, that is what is going on. I wonder if one of the greatest gifts of the facilitator is their appearance of confidence/ faith in the participants. Going through that birth canal, you may not be sure if you can make it. Having someone else provide that sense gives one the hope that their might just be something at the other end!

Meg Salter

MegaSpace Consulting
416/486-6660
meg.salter at sympatico.ca
www.megaspaceconsulting.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Julie Smith 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 12:44 PM
  Subject: Re: A First Step From Rome


  Dear Harrison,

   

  You said

   

  >>  The experience in Rome provides an opportunity for deep learning about this thing we call Open Space, and possibly an even deeper learning about  possible pathways to peace. Since my time 10 years ago in South Africa, it has been clear to me that OS has enormous power for what we might call conflict resolution, but it is a resolution that does not eliminate conflict. If anything the conflict is magnified, but space is provided so that the conflict, and the energy it contains, may become a positive force. All of this takes place without any carefully crafted process or procedure. In a most remarkable way, it seems to happen all by itself. Which leads me to the conclusion that the apparent magic has nothing to do with Open Space Technology, and everything to do with the power of self-organization. All we do in Open Space is to create the conditions under which a completely natural process can start or re-start. If true, this is really good news, for it would mean that we already have at our disposal the "tools" necessary for peace. We have only to be fully what we are. Thoughts?  <<

   

  The distinction between peacemaking and conflict resolution has been germinating for awhile now.. 

   

  It seems to me that conflict resolution is man-made, while peace is our natural state.  (Not peace in the sense of dullness and sameness, but peace in the sense of whatever makes the heart swell with awe and appreciation.)

   

  I think there's a difference between peacemaking and conflict resolution.   

   

  I think the difference is that conflict resolution processes are rational man-made processes designed to address man-made concerns.   I think peacemaking goes deeper.   Peacemaking recognizes who we are.   When we do that, we don't resolve conflict, we transcend it.   And it isn't hard.  When we recognize who we are, there is no conflict to transcend.   Conflict ceases to exist for us.   Hence, joy.   And the peace that passeth understanding.  (I'm curious about where Wilber fits into this... I've only read a bit of his work, but seems like there's something in there about trying to communicate between paradigms, and how that doesn't work.  I'm beginning to wonder if peacemaking and conflict resolution belong to different paradigms.)

   

  OS/OST fits because... hmmmmm.. I keep thinking about tuning forks.  Harrison, I sometimes think of you as a tuning fork (with all due regard and respect, of course! :) ).   My mental image is that you tune yourself to your highest state of being, enter the circle, and hum.   As you speak and walk the circle, you hum.  Because the hum of love, hope, and kindness is irresistible to us, others begin to attune their hum to yours.  Little by little, the collective hum reaches a higher state of consciousness and harmony than it had before it was tuned with the tuning fork (aka Harrison Owen).   And then, you let go and let the musicians co-create the music they came to play.   The music is better than usual because the musicians begin more closely attuned than usual.  The attunement is to our natural state, to peace.. and OST is thus a practice of peace.

   

  Julie

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