Finn's bear is safe

Tue Aug 5 02:41:36 PDT 2008

Hi Caitlin, Chris, Finn, Bear and all,

I have been very moved by this story and your ways of telling it too.

As I mentioned in the closing circle I am in the process of trying to  
come down myself, from the aerial heights I threw myself up to and got  
stuck in over recent years, so I, for one, identify with the bear. I  
am encouraged and heartened by his journey (is it a he? Does he/she  
have a name?). Home-coming can indeed take a long time, but your bear  
helps me to trust that it really does happen at the right time.

Thank you Bear, Finn and all of you for helping me have faith in this  
metaphorical ladder I am slowly descending towards home and safety....

Matilda xxx

On 5 Aug 2008, at 05:32, Phelim McDermott wrote:

> Hi Chris,
>
> This email brings on tears for me.
>
> This makes me think of Matilda's slow bear walk at the end of her  
> circle which Wilhem taught her..  a bear,s rhythm has a different  
> attitude to time... and who knows when a bear might come home.. and  
> it also makes me think of Shakespeare's Cymbeline:
>
> Jupiter:
>
> Upon your withering banks of flowers.
> Be not with mortal accidents opprest;
> No care of yours it is, you know 'tis ours
> Whom best i love i cross, To make my gift,
> The more delayed, delighted.
>
> However...  lord knows what i'd do if my Monkey went up and didn't  
> come down!
>
> Phelim
>
>
>
> On 4 Aug 2008, at 18:31, Chris Corrigan wrote:
>
>> Hi Christy,
>>
>> I was thinking of that too - and merging with the "whatever happens  
>> is the only thing that could have happened" conversation that is  
>> floating about.  Holding that principle inside actually helped me  
>> to be fully present with Finn in his emotions when it happened -  
>> that combination of a fully open heart and a mind open to the not  
>> knowing how it would or even should turn out but trusting of what  
>> is happening, noticing how the result was a very strong connection  
>> (being present for Finn, not feeling the need to squash or distract  
>> his emotional response as it moved through various stages of shock  
>> and grief to calm and possibility) and full availability for wise  
>> action (getting the help we needed to get the bear down if  
>> possible).  I was also able to appreciate the beauty of what the  
>> moment was also bringing: of Finn's feelings, what he was learning  
>> about gravity, surprise, being able to be sad and how many people  
>> care about him among other gifts.
>>
>> It also strikes me as an example of trusting and allowing longer  
>> stretches of time for events to unfold and not judging their  
>> rightness or wrongness on what is happening in the moment - thus  
>> less of an impulse arises to control the outcome.  Finn's bear was  
>> with us in our thoughts in a different way on our camping trip,  
>> Finn is now thinking of the people who used some enormous ladder to  
>> retrieve his bear, his new friend Jeff driving to the Presidio to  
>> fetch is beloved bear, carefully wrapping and sending it home to  
>> us.  When the bear arrives - we are all changed by the experience  
>> in our own way - and it takes weeks to unfold.  Sometimes things  
>> take years, decades, centuries and we can't possibly track all the  
>> ways "whatever happened" in that particular moment plays into the  
>> bigger design of it all.  Even things as small or momentarily  
>> disastrous as a lost teddy bear.
>>
>> Anyway - lots of philosophy for a travelling bear.....  but we were  
>> ripe for it after some great days in Open Space.
>>
>> See you soon,
>>
>> Caitln.
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 2:38 PM, Christy Lee-Engel  
>> <cdleee at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Dear Caitlin,
>>
>> How good to know that Finn's bear is on its way home!
>>
>> It makes me think about the place of the Bear in the Open Space  
>> menagerie. Maybe something about patience and endurance in love?  
>> Going away for a while and coming home at last? Something about the  
>> sometimes quick, sometimes slow, cyclical rhythm of exuberance, and  
>> sadness, and celebration?
>>
>> Thank you for sharing the happy resolution!
>>
>> love, Christy
>>
>> -- 
>> Christy Lee-Engel, ND, LAc
>> Seattle, WA
>> 206.399.0868
>> http://lifecultivatinglife.blogspot.com
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Aug 3, 2008 at 11:59 PM, Caitlin Frost <caitlin.frost at gmail.com 
>> > wrote:
>> In the very last minutes of OsOnOs in San Francisco - our son Finn  
>> tossed his teddy bear into the air in a joyful moment and  
>> astonishingly it did not come down again as it had landed in the  
>> lighting bowl way up in the ceiling.  There were many tears and the  
>> summoning of the longest ladders and kind helpers but nothing could  
>> reach his beloved bear, and we headed out on our camping trip sans  
>> bear with a sad boy.
>> This week the big ladders were called in and the staff at the  
>> Presidio rescued Finn's bear, and Jeff Aitken is kindly mailing him  
>> home for Finn.  Thanks Jeff!
>> Just wanted to give the happy ending to those of you who were there  
>> and helping and consoling.
>> All is well and Finn sends out his thanks for all your help.
>>
>> Thanks again for a great time in San Francisco.  It was wonderful  
>> to finally meet so many of you.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Caitlin.
>>
>> -- 
>> "It all turns out to be a gift."
>> Byron Katie.
>>
>> CAITLIN M FROST
>> Facilitation, Coaching, Project Management,
>> Principal - Harvest Moon Consultants Ltd.
>>
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>>
>>
>> -- 
>> CHRIS CORRIGAN
>> Facilitation - Training - Process Design
>> Open Space Technology
>>
>> Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
>> Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com
>>
>> Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.
>> http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com
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