Properties of circles

[Chris Corrigan]

Hi Michael, and others:

Okay, let me rephrase this.  I'm not looking for a script for opening,
I'm looking for more perspectives on what circles do for process.  It's
a theoretical question, not one of practical significance!  How's that
for candour?

Seriously, I am interested in this primarily because I am currently
looking at how process is a significant arena of colonization and why
recovery and transcendence of indigenous process is a truer and deeper
form of decolonization than simple systemic change.

As part of this inquiry, naturally I have been working with circles,
both in Open Space and in other process, including many indigenous
processes here in Canada.  And I have noticed that circles have
important impacts on process both from an observational view and from
the perspective of a participant.

And thus my inquiry about what other have observed circles "doing."

So?

Chris


---
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Bowen Island, BC, Canada
http://www.chriscorrigan.com
chris at chriscorrigan.com

(604) 947-9236






> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Pannwitz, Michael M
> Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 3:18 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Properties of circles
>
> Dear Chris,
> just walk the circle and get people to focus on each other.
> Skip the rest.
> Greetings from Berlin
> mmp
>
>
> On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 15:00:48 -0800, Chris Corrigan wrote:
>
> >Hi folks:
> >
> >I was writing out the basic script that I use for opening OST
meetings
> >last night and while reading it I noticed that I spend a lot of time
> >introducing people to the ideas and properties of circles.  I think
> >circles are fundamentally important to process, and so I'm collecting
> >other people's notes and properties of circles.
> >
> >So here is my script with the three things I usually do to bring the
> >circle to awareness.  Have a read and then ask yourself what you can
add
> >to this.  What are the other cool properties of circles?
> >
> >                Circles are really rather neat forms of geometry
because
> >they force us to have a look at things in a particular way.   For
> >example in a circle, we don't really know who "the leader" is.  In
fact
> >we may be forgiven for thinking that the leader is either not here,
or
> >is each one of us.  And as a leader who is not here cannot do
anything,
> >it must be that each one of is a leader.
> >
> >                Also circles teach us that there are some things that
> >can only be done by groups.  For example, you will notice that this
> >circle of chairs isn't really a very good circle.  It's actually a
> >strangely distorted ellipse.  That is because for one person to set
up a
> >perfect circle of chairs on their own is a nearly impossible task.
But
> >I'll show you a small miracle.  I'll stand in the centre here and ask
> >all of you to stand by your chairs.  Now square up so that you are
> >facing me and when you've done that check to see that you are sitting
> >slightly behind your two neighbours.  Now sit down.  Have a look
around.
> >You have just made a perfect circle.  This is something only a group
can
> >do and it took only a few seconds.  If I had had to do that it would
> >have taken me hours.  This is important to note.  It's as if we all
> >carry the coordinates for calibrating a circle within us but they can
> >only be activated by acting along with several others.
> >
> >                Finally, here's one more thing about a circle.  If I
> >stand in the middle then you will all agree that you are looking at
me.
> >But none of you will agree that you have the same view of me.  You
can
> >see me, but your perspective is absolutely unique.  It is not shared
by
> >anyone else.  We agree on the object of our observation but none of
us
> >share the same perspective.  Remember that today as we work on these
> >issues.  Without each perspective we would not have a full picture.
If
> >you were all behind me then none of you could say with certainty that
I
> >had a face.  By surrounding me we have the whole picture, but we have
to
> >ask one another about the pieces that we are missing.  If you folks
> >sitting behind me want to know how many fingers I'm holding up, you
have
> >to ask this person I'm facing.  That's how it is with problems too.
> >Remember that today.
> >
> >
> >So what else can we build into our openings about circles?
> >
> >Chris
> >
> >[PS Florian.some of this probably qualifies as "even"]
> >
> >
> >
> >---
> >CHRIS CORRIGAN
> >Bowen Island, BC, Canada
> >http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> >chris at chriscorrigan.com
> >
> >(604) 947-9236
> >
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