Talking sticks and listening sticks

Tue Apr 27 05:56:26 PDT 2004

Thank you, Harrison, for another wonderful idea (see below).

Anyone care to suggest what kind of stick they use? I have seen stylized talking sticks
and have always shied away from them in favour of a simple piece of wood, though I've
always used dead wood. The idea of using a live (or perhaps "freshly killed") branch off
an evergreen (as Harrison suggests below) is a new idea to me. An olive branch sounds
like it has potential (since we're being symbolic with the "talking stick" in the first
place, why not use an olive branch?). I've often thought of a freshly cut magnolia
branch, in flower.

As much as it's not about the physical branch itself, it is. In my experience, women will
shy away from the talking stick, particularly if it is stylized to appear even more
phallic than a bare branch (in my experience). In my experience also, many people will
find it "hokey" or "mystical" or "so much pixie dust" if there's any artifice attached to
the stick.

In short, I've always stuck to a 12-16" long piece of dead, usually barkless wood from a
deciduous tree, usually maple (because they're easy to find near my house, no other
significance). What has anyone else used, what has been your experience; what have you
found "useful"?

Thx for any comments you care to offer.
Phil Culhane

On Apr 27, "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> 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
>
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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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>From  Tue Apr 27 09:56:29 2004
Message-Id: <TUE.27.APR.2004.095629.0400.>
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 09:56:29 -0400
Reply-To: john at theexperiment.info
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: john engle <englejohn at hotmail.com>
Subject: The Do-Gooders Exchange, this Friday and Saturday
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

hi friends on OSLIST.

just a reminder for anyone interested:

(this Friday and Saturday in Washington, D.C.)

The Do-Gooders Exchange: How can we do a better job?
Two day Open Space gathering

Interesting people doing interesting things will come
together to share and learn. Best practices will
emerge.

Here are the details:

http://www.beyondborders.net/Programs/EAL/do-good/do-gooder_invite.htm

Sincerely,

John Engle

http://JohnEngle.blogspot.com - Reflections about Haiti, life, and our work.
http://JohnEngle.info
http://TheExperiment.info

_________________________________________________________________
MSN Search, le moteur de recherche qui pense comme vous !
http://search.msn.fr/worldwide.asp

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>From  Tue Apr 27 09:58:29 2004
Message-Id: <TUE.27.APR.2004.095829.0400.>
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 09:58:29 -0400
Reply-To: john at theexperiment.info
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: john engle <englejohn at hotmail.com>
Subject: The Do-Gooders Exchange, this Friday and Saturday
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

hi friends on OSLIST.

just a reminder for anyone interested:

(this Friday and Saturday in Washington, D.C.)

The Do-Gooders Exchange: How can we do a better job?
Two day Open Space gathering

Interesting people doing interesting things will come
together to share and learn. Best practices will
emerge.

Here are the details:

http://www.beyondborders.net/Programs/EAL/do-good/do-gooder_invite.htm

Sincerely,

John Engle

http://JohnEngle.blogspot.com - Reflections about Haiti, life, and our work.
http://JohnEngle.info
http://TheExperiment.info

_________________________________________________________________
MSN Messenger : discutez en direct avec vos amis !
http://www.msn.fr/msger/default.asp

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