The challenge of "luminaries" - and circles

[Deborah Hartmann]

Especially for BarCamps, it can be a challenge to find good venues for 
many people... what if the facilitator walked around the auditorium, 
inviting people to look around and see who's there?  Walk a little, 
stand and speak, draw people's eyes there.... then walk a little more. 
Obviously, this assumes a wireless mic or good acoustics.

This seems (to me) to do a couple of things that are different from the 
circle:
 - the facilitator literally "draws a circle" around the space (i.e. 
clarifying that the space consists of everyone there);
 - the facilitator encourages people to let go of the assumption that 
there's a "front" to each session, by asking them to "turn around!"

When a circle is very difficult to accomplish (for whatever reason) and 
the problem can't be solved creatively, maybe this is an alternative?
deb

Brendan McKeague wrote:
> Hi Kaliya - your approach is really interesting - I had not thought of 
> these dimensions before - especially the notions of being 'fanatical 
> about the circle' or imposing my beliefs, or about working a community 
> into a circle....much food for thought indeed.
>
> In my understanding of Open Space, which my experiences have 
> confirmed, the initial journey of the leader is to open and walk that 
> circle of connection - which, without doubt has created unease and/or 
> anxiety in some or many of the participants....among other aspects, 
> this is about evoking chaos and confusion (desirable, if not 
> essential, for OS to work as well as it possibly can?) and about 
> illustrating or modelling to the gathering that it's ok to walk into 
> this circle of uncertainty, this 'unknown space' and engage with the 
> issues you and others bring.
>
> I don't walk the circle to 'impose my belief' - rather to take a 
> leadership role that invites the group to engagement in this circle of 
> 'open space' - and to embody the reality that all space is boundaried 
> - the space occurs within the parameters of this meeting of people who 
> care about the issue....
> I think that the circle is a fundamental part of Open Space. For me, 
> to have a semi-circle would break the connection and focus. The group 
> can be tempted to look/focus outside the circle for their 
> direction/solutions/expertise, rather than embodying the invitation to 
> recognise the wisdom that is in the circle (whether be expressed 
> through 'really smart amazing people' or others) ....
>
> The circle is not there for 'its own sake' to prove equality - as I 
> see it, it is a configuration for gathering that is deeply archetypal, 
> with many layers of meaning and symbolism. It has the capacity to 
> touch something within people that I agree may have been lost or 
> driven out. In my own Celtic mythology for example, it is a symbol of 
> community connection, hospitality and the nature of infinity (no 
> beginning, no end).
>
> I guess it may well be culturally way out of bounds for some folks - 
> and as facilitators I think it is important for us to recognise this 
> aspect - within ourselves and within the group that gathers.
>
> I wouldn't be without it though!
>
> Cheers
> Brendan
>


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