Properties of circles

Sat Jan 10 07:55:08 PST 2004

Hi Chris,
for years I went in circles trying to understand circles. My exploration
took me to wonderful books and discussions about sacred geometry. I love the
power of circles in our world and I am in awe of their power from their
simplicity, in working with Spirit/Universal Energy. I experience them as
resonant energy generators, and as such creating a field of energy for
opportunities to dance with Spirit to emerge. This field 'holds space'.

Blessings to you and to all with whom you make Genuine Contact,
Birgitt
Birgitt Williams of Dalar International Consultancy
www.dalarinternational.com <http://www.dalarinternational.com>
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Chris
Corrigan
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 11:09 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Properties of circles

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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>
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