Metaphors for the magic?

[John Rapp]

One of my favorites is "creating a space for the truth to descend".
This may be a little too left-brain to qualify as a true metaphor, but
it does imply some of OS's real magic.
J

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Douglas D. Germann, Sr.
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 7:56 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Metaphors for the magic?

Dear friends--

In the last few weeks I have been increasingly frustrated by the
responses I get from people to my descriptions of a community OST event
I am otherwise having fun dis-organizing. <grin>

When I try to describe the magic of OS, I get responses like the one the
other day: "Oh, you mean it is a networking event?"

So I have been thinking of what kinds of metaphors might communicate the
magic, mystery and awe we find in experience.

What concrete metaphors can you think of for something that produces
unexpected results, out of all proportion--quantitatively or
qualitatively--to what the initial conditions were (that is, people
gathering to converse)?

Here are a couple I have come up with, so far:

This is like shaking a bottle of pop--and then popping the lid. It is
like popcorn--a little corn, a little oil, a little heat--soon a
reaction gives us enough food for a party! Or who could predict, without
knowing humanity, that a party in the back seat of a '56 Chevy would
lead to dirty diapers at 4 am? This is a boiling roiling pot; a darkroom
where pictures of the future can be developed; a germinating kettle for
works new and wonderful. A few seeds in the wind, a collection of
moisture, a little time, and soon even the desert blooms. A little dirt,
a little manure, a few seeds, some rainy days, and in no time you get
flowers all over! A little dollop of batter in the paper becomes an
overflowing muffin.

This is a creative group--I am sure you will be able to come up with
greater metaphors than these.

                              :-Doug. Germann
                              Seeking people making community change.

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