FW: Talking sticks and listening sticks

[Harrison Owen]

Somehow when you hit the reply button the message seems to go back to the
author and not the OSLIST. Weird! But anyhow. . .

ho

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20845
Phone 301-365-2093

Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 8:41 AM
To: 'pculhane at magma.ca'
Subject: RE: Talking sticks and listening sticks

I think the key is not what you call it, but how you introduce it.
Historically, it is a "Talking Stick" so I don't think you can change that
(but then again, why not?) -- Anyhow, when I introduce it I say something
like "This is a Talking Stick. Whoever holds it may speak. Those who do not
will listen. In either case, talking or listening will be done with
respect." That said, everything seems to work out just like usual. And for
whatever it is worth, I personally prefer a living branch (usually
evergreen). A stick always seems a little on the dead side and more than a
little male (not to say phallic). A fresh evergreen (pine, cedar) is softer,
and has the added benefit of having sap, which when warmed by many hands
runs a bit and smells good. In Rome, with the Israelis and Palestinians, I
used an Olive Branch. I was worried that it might be a little over the top,
but I guess I shouldn't have. Certainly made the point and did the job.

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20845
Phone 301-365-2093

Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Phil
Culhane
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:00 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Talking sticks and listening sticks

Choosing the stick - when I first put the stick in the centre of the circle
and invite people to pick it up if there is something they'd like to say,
there's always that pregnant pause. I've never had anyone jump on the stick
(yet!) like they sometimes jump on the markers at the beginning of day one.

Some people pick it up reverently and carefully, and replace it just the
same. Others pick it up like a loose football and toss it back when they're
done. Some groups will only pick up the stick once, and it's a fairly solemn
experience. With my group last week, there were some playoff-hockey jests
made back and forth, several individuals holding the stick three and four
times - yet they used the stick each time, no one speaking out of turn. Some
hold it like a torch or a baton, tightly gripped in one hand. Others seem
almost to caress it, noticing the texture and brailling it as they speak.

Is the difference between a "talking stick" and a "listening stick"
philosophical or semantic, Doug? Would I notice a difference were I refer to
it as the latter? Would I and the attendees perhaps react with it
differently if it were named differently?

Phil Culhane

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Douglas D.
Germann, Sr.
Sent: April 26, 2004 11:23 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Summary of a recent single-day event


Phil--

Sure, I'd love to talk about the listening stick!

Tell us, please, what you mean by "choosing the stick?"

                              :-Doug. Germann

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