\Holding space

[Meg Salter]

Great conversation!

My experience is that holding space can be tiring, and has become less so
over time/ with practice. Interestingly, the quality of the fatigue is
different than what I experience with more traditional methods (which I'm
doing less and less!) Just like there can be "good pain/ bad pain"
(signalling basically healthy events or threatening events in the body), so
with OS the fatigue feels basically "better" and less totally draining than
other kinds of fatigue. More like I've just had a really good psychic/ soul
workout! And as for resistance in letting go, well, that's normal at first
too! Any mothers out there will know that letting go/ letting open in
birthing a baby can be very hard work! At some point, we will have so "let
go" that we hold space all the time - it is just how we live our lives....
breathing in, breathing out......
:):)
Meg Salter

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

----- Original Message -----
From: "john engle" <englejohn at hotmail.com>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 4:43 PM
Subject: Re: \Holding space


> colleagues,
>
> we talk a lot about what it means to open/hold space. we often say that it
> is tiring and that it can be draining. i often find it to be so. i ask if
> these are not characteristics that we put on ourselves as a result of our
> resistance toward letting go.
>
> if this is correct, why do we need to struggle so? what are we resisting
and
> why? as we grow and become more mature, should we not arrive at a place
> where opening space, just like any other activity, is nothing more than
> breathing in, breathing out, ... breathing/nourishing our souls, being
> open/aware to what is happening?
>
> i continue to wonder to what extent we give ourselves, as facilitators,
> greater importance than what we deserve when it comes to
presentation...when
> it comes to being in front of the group. less is more, yes? for sure, it
> often requires time, commitment, and skill in accompanying leaders as they
> consider doing an open space event. determining the theme, creating the
> letter of invitation, and organizing the actual space for the meeting are
> responsibilities which must be handled with care and devotion. yet once
> these important tasks are carried out well, why do i get tired and feel
> drained at times when i open space?
>
> as i have shared before, i never walk the circle in the center of the
group.
> when i have done that in the past, i have felt to much "center stage." in
me
> not walking the circle, participants have never failed to rise to the
> occasion of taking charge when i stop talking. over the years as i have
> observed myself and many others facilitating open space, i have found
> harrison's message to be true: even if the  facilitator fails miresably in
> delivering a polished presentation, the process will still work. the
> participants will rise to the occasion.
>
> i ask that you forgive me if i come across as judgemental. i'm seeking to
> better understand the essence.
>
> sincerely,
>
> john engle
> port au prince, haiti
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Rejoignez le plus grand service de messagerie au monde avec MSN Hotmail.
> http://www.hotmail.com
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> ------------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
> Visit:
>
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html