Keepin' Busy
Phelim McDermott
phelim at mac.com
Sun Jan 15 06:02:58 PST 2006
Hi there,
Intereresting that Arny Mindell''s current definition of what war is
(which he says isn't true but he likes), is..
"Any conflict that doesn't have a facilitator" :)
Phelim
On 14 Jan 2006, at 16:30, Harrison Owen wrote:
> Hello Wonderer!
>
>
> 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 suppose where I come out is that in addition to the other
> universal forces that we recognize; we are now learning about yet
> another one, which for lack of better words is being called “self-
> organization.” Or you might call it the lifestyle of a Complex
> Adaptive System – which would include all of us individually and
> collectively, along with everything else. And it would seem, if
> people like Stuart Kauffmann and others at the Santa Fe Institute
> are correct – that Complex Adaptive Systems come into being in
> response to certain very simple pre-conditions, which if present
> lead naturally to order, organization, and systems. This, as I
> understand it, constitutes the matrix or environment in which just
> about everything takes place. So – while it is quite true that we
> as individuals may make best effort to “organize” something
> (business, social system, whatever) we always do that in the
> environment of self organization. To the extent that we understand,
> cooperate with, and leverage the phenomenon of self-organization,
> our work will work well. To the extent that we try to swim against
> the stream, we are likely to end up on the rocks. And should we
> ever think that there are no forces in the world but our own effort
> (I am in charge and do all the organizing – after all it is MY
> organization!) we are basically deluding ourselves. In this
> context, Open Space (Technology) becomes a wonderful training
> ground in which to learn how to do what we do anyhow – just better.
>
>
> 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 think I just dealt with this one above… Open Space, and our
> experience in Open Space is, at one level just same old, same old
> (self-organization). What is different, or can be different, is
> that in Open Space we learn to do consciously (and maybe better)
> what we are doing all the time anyhow.
>
>
> 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.
>
>
> I would agree that the facilitator is helpful, but by no means
> necessary. After all, we have been getting along for about 14
> billion years without a facilitator in sight. And all sorts of
> highly complex organizations emerge and do their business every
> day, thanks to self-organization – and with no facilitators. For
> example the “feeding organizations” in human communities, even very
> large ones like New York City emerged with out a planning group,
> executive committee, or CEO. Nobody created them, and nobody is in
> charge. Some folks try, and they may help around the edges (Health
> Depts. limit food poisoning) – but at the end of the day, the
> system (as a total complex organism) runs pretty much by itself.
>
>
> But facilitators can be helpful – in general and in Open Space.
> However, I think it is important to notice what they actually do,
> and don’t do. They don’t organize anything, or at least not much of
> anything. What they do is to remind us of what we already knew but
> tend to forget (Four Principles and One Law) and then (under the
> heading of Holding Space) stand as a (usually) silent witness to
> the focus and intent of the group. Actually, it may go a little
> deeper than that. I think they stand as a silent witness to the
> integrity of the group, reminding everybody (without a word) that
> they must be true to themselves, follow what has heart and meaning,
> connect their passion to responsibility – and then it will probably
> occur that the group will get where it needs to go, even if nobody
> had a clue in the beginning where the destination was. Or something.
>
>
> And finally, I am wondering about your opinion of why we do not
> have world peace if we are self organizing
>
>
> I truly believe that the process of self-organization drives
> towards Peace (under the heading of Searching for Fitness with
> ourselves and our environment). The fact that we have some bumps
> along the road usually come from very natural causes, all of which
> are essential parts of the process. Things like Chaos, Confusion
> and Conflict. However, there are also very natural, built in
> mechanisms which enable us to deal with the painful aspects of
> Chaos, Confusion, and conflict – all called Griefwork. Where we get
> in trouble, and the cart heads for the canyon is when we think we
> are in charge and attempt to gain control as in My Plan, My Way.
> And should MY Plan, and My Way take over, space shuts down, and
> life ceases. Just runs out of room.
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 7808 River Falls Drive
>
> Potomac, Maryland 20854
>
> Phone 301-365-2093
>
> Skype hhowen
>
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
>
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
>
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> 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 www.openspaceworld.com
>
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
>
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
> -----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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