Keepin' Busy

Sat Jan 14 07:34:45 PST 2006

From: Birgitt Williams [mailto:birgitt at dalarinternational.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 9:34 AM
To: hhowen at verizon.net
Subject: RE: Keepin' Busy

Harrison,

What you are describing with the analogy to gravity, in my perspective, is
not self organizing, but self organizing within universal laws (givens).
Great philosophers and others have attempted to understand and write about
such laws. Law of gravity, law of attraction, law of allowing.

I am wondering about your opinion of the relationship of these universal
laws and Open Space. Are they in the open space, do they govern the open
space, do they create a boundary for the open space.

I am wondering about your opinion of the necessity of a facilitator for an
Open Space Technology meeting. If we are self organizing, it seems to me we
don't need a facilitator. And yet, the presence of a facilitator (even if
off taking a walk)  even though he/she might 'do' nothing, appears to be
essential throughout the event.

And finally, I am wondering about your opinion of why we do not have world
peace if we are self organizing.

No need to answer any of this if you don't care to. These are just my
wonderings.

Birgitt

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:36 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Keepin' Busy

Marie - I can understand your feeling that my conversation about
self-organization may seem a tad technical, and that for some of us (most of
us?) the experience of Open Space is intensely personal. But I guess where I
am coming from is a (growing) conclusion that we live in a self-organizing
world which has certain operative forces and mechanisms - and how we feel
about all that is to some extent a different issue.  The analogy for me
would be the force of gravity, which effects, in one way or another, just
about everything we do (at least in this physical realm). If I see a
beautiful woman and run towards her, that probably has a lot to do with my
heart, but the fact that I am running and not flying (like a bird) has
everything to do with gravity.

To me it is important to understand that much of what we take to be
wonderful and magic in Open Space is still magic and truly wondrous - AND is
all very much part of a larger process which was here long before Open Space
and would continue to exist were Open Space (Technology) to vanish. This
thought also extends the magic to every day life, or if you like, makes it
very clear (to me) that Open Space is a 24X7X365 business. Yes it is true
that we may intensify/focus the experience when we "do" an Open Space - but
we could "do" the same thing every day of our life.

In dealing with clients and other such people, I start from the position
that doing an Open Space is nothing strange, new, or different. It is all
Open Space. It is all self organization - the problem is that we ordinarily
just don't do it very well. What happens in an OS event, I think, is that we
do what we always do, but now with clearer focus and intention and so it
works a lot better and feels a lot better.

As for where my heart is relative to my client, I guess the answer is that I
am of two hearts (two minds) - and I will let you know when I figure it out.
It is also true that this particular client situation will demand everything
I have and a lot more. The good news is that I will grow with the occasion.
The other side is that there will doubtless be moments of pure terror and no
small amount of pain. The thought has occurred to me that maybe at the age
of 70, I don't need to take that sort of trip any more. But I have never
been very good at avoiding such "opportunities" before, and I see no reason
to expect that prudence and sanity will suddenly be mine.

Harrison   

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20854

Phone 301-365-2093

Skype hhowen

Open Space Training  <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com

Open Space Institute  <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org

Personal website  <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Marei
Kiele
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 7:27 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Keepin' Busy

  "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net> schrieb: 

The operative power (as I see it) is the power of self organization, and I
am therefore led to the conclusion that what you see in Open Space is the
well functioning self-organizing system - which in turn is naturally
productive of an appreciative approach, dialogue, and real community.

Since some time I got a taste of "but that's not the essence - that is to
technical" when reading about "the power is because of the
self-organization.

To me the essence of and the beauty of open space is based on the freedom
and the total acceptance. 

"I am okay, you are okay" ~ whatever interest's or not interests me ~ I am
okay. No need to pretend, no need to fake, no need to try to find out what
is being expected from me. When I am in Open Space (or when I create my life
in an Open Space way) I can honestly and fully be me. And by honestly and
truly and fully being me, so much energy which in another environment would
be spend on hiding, covering, protecting, self-controlling, justifying,
argueing, fighting and fearing is being liberated. And all that energy is
being used FOR something instead of AGAINST something. And all the energy
being alive in me is aligned with who I am. Very powerful!

AND by following the law, or in other words following what has heart and
meaning for me, I get out of the mode of being thinking driven (mind) into
feeling or intuitive mode ~ and by that acess whatever fits with you
belief-system, calling it my higher self, my intuition, my inner wisdom. And
together with other participants experiencing the same, following the same
path, we all together reach another level of consciousness.

THIS for me is the operative power of Open Space. 

Don't know if this works as an explanation for every client but I will try
and share.

And regarding your question, Harrison: 
"And what are our obligations to the client and the participants? And to our
selves?"

My personal answer: There are no obligations. If we do what we really (= in
our hearts) want to do, everything is fine.

You wrote: "Part of me just can't wait to get on with this show. And there
is another significant part of me that desperately wishes that they would
decide that Open Space is a nice idea -- but not for them. As you say," a
great gig for you to be able to say you turned down!" 

What part is your hearts voice speaking?

Marei

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