questions on OS's form

[Peggy Holman]

I find myself still pondering what feels like a contradiction in my answer
to Birgit's question.  It has to do with the essence and form of Open Space.

Raffi described the meeting he attended saying:
>But the energy of the sessions felt very much like OS. I wouldn't call
>it full OS.

and then said:
>I am inclined to believe that in their hearts the facilitators trusted
>the space would be opened and that internal opening allowed for the
>space to open externally.


Of the two meetings I described, the corporate one didn't even have the
spirit of an OS.  The second one did to an extent, more like Raffi's
description.  So, I would say, these gatherings exhibited a bit of the
essence of OS.

So, on the one hand, I would say form isn't necessary when the essence shows
up unaided.  That said, the form of OST is useful (i.e., the circle, the
law, principles and marketplace) because it just about guarantees that
self-organization happens and spirit emerges.  Without the form, I wouldn't
call a gathering an Open Space meeting, although the space may well be open.

So, don't know if anyone else felt the need for more detail, but I feel
better!

>From still sunny Seattle (and thinking thoughts of travel to Denmark),
Peggy


----- Original Message -----
From: "Peggy Holman" <peggy at OPENCIRCLECOMPANY.COM>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2003 2:46 PM
Subject: Re: questions on OS's form


> Birgitt,
>
> Good question!  You help me test my thinking.  I would not call something
an
> open space event without the circle, the law and the principles.
> That said, taking responsibility for what you care about in the context of
> the whole, is at the heart of what makes open space more than a meeting
> methodology for me.  As a personal life practice, this is essence guides
me.
> As a collective practice, coming together periodically (that design
element
> of breath) in a circle, speaking the law and the principles, and creating
a
> marketplace seems to matter.
>
> Peggy
>
> P.S.  As I re-read my message, one thing that I didn't make clear is that
I
> would not have called either of the meetings I described open space
events.
> To me, it was a misuse of the name.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Birgitt Williams" <birgitt at MINDSPRING.COM>
> To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, July 04, 2003 2:02 PM
> Subject: Re: questions on OS's form
>
>
> > Peggy,
> > along that theme of one more thing not to do, am I understanding
correctly
> > that for you, so long as people "take responsibility for what they care
> > about in the context of the whole" that is enough---no circle needed, no
> > principles stated and so on. Or am I understanding your words correctly?
> >
> > Blessings to you,
> > Birgitt
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Peggy
> > Holman
> > Sent: Friday, July 04, 2003 4:42 PM
> > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > Subject: Re: questions on OS's form
> >
> >
> > Raffi,
> >
> > A comment on the OS you attended with:
> >
> > >no walking in a circle (the two co-facilitators sat at the head of the
> > room)
> >
> > and Harrison's response:
> > >Walking the circle focuses and centers the group. If the group is
already
> > focused, and knows where it is, save the effort and sit down.
> >
> > I've attended 2 sessions called OS where there was no circle or stating
of
> > the principles and the law.
> >
> > One was a corporate setting with lots of tables.  They had some
> > pre-determined topics "just in case".  No surprise: the only topics were
> the
> > pre-selected ones.  The work of focus and centering, which creates space
> by
> > defining its edges was not in their consicousness and therefore not
done.
> >
> > The other setting was the Leadership Institute of Seattle.  This was a
> group
> > in which most people knew each other.  They had common values from
working
> > together over time.  In this setting, while people sat in little circles
> of
> > 3 at the opening, there was no issue with sessions getting posted.  I
did
> > notice that people did not use their two feet at all to travel between
> > sessions.  So something was lost in the mix.
> >
> >
> > So, what is the essence?  I continue to use that wonderful design lesson
> > from Harrison:  what's one less thing to do and have the experience be
> > whole?
> >
> > I've come to believe the essence of open space is taking responsiblity
for
> > what you care about in the context of the whole.  This to me is the law
of
> > two feet.  The principles flow from this way of being.  Circles help.
> > Naming the law and the principles make them much more visible.
> >
> > Peggy
> >
> > *
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