A word from HO

[Harrison Owen]

Raffi -- I hate to tell you this -- but the fact that you represent only
yourself is not a unique phenomenon. We all do, which makes this world the
wonderfully rich quilt of diversity which it is. Having said that, it is
also true that some people carry out the business of representation at
decibel levels that occasionally push the edges :-)

And you got me. Same old, same old! Guilty as charged!! That piece you
quoted from "When the Devil Dances" is something I truly enjoyed writing if
only because it captured something of the profound experience I was
privileged to have in the Land of the Kpelle.  It might also explain why the
thought of sitting in a circle, creating a bulletin board, and going to work
seemed like a very natural thing to do -- with or without Martinis. It just
happens.

Harrison 

Harrison Owen
189 Beaucaire Ave
Camden, ME 04843
207-763-3261 (Summer)
301-365-2093 (Winter)
Website www.openspaceworld.com 
Personal Website www.ho-image.com 
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Raffi
Aftandelian
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 7:37 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: A word from HO

Harrison and all,

One delightful Usual Suspect at the WOSonOS- in a fit of loving reproach,
perhaps, for me being a bit of a loudmouth at times, said, "The only person
that Raffi represents is his himself."

Harrison, I must admit I had a hard time listening to what you were saying
that evening because it sounded like more of the same. : ) It was good to
see you, however! I'd point people to your "Understanding OS" 5 CD series
available through the OS online bookstore. A gem!

Another gem is your first book, the photo essay from your time as associate
director of the Peace Corps in Liberia from '67 to '69, When the devil
dances. Pub'd some 40 (!) years ago, I read it as part of the (his?)story of
the inspiration for OS.

Especially this passage- which may not have been the intended as such- but
seems to describe very aptly the energy of an Open Space Technology meeting
and speaks to the deeper essence of OS:

A very special part
of any village celebration
is the appearance of the various "devils."
The word devil is very misleading,
and was undoubtedly 
the unwanted gift
of an early missionary
The devils are not evil,
but rather represent
a respected (albeit feared)
part of the village.
Nothing of importance happens
unless they appear and dance.
In their appearance,
all aspects of the village
are brought together-dance,
music, government, and religion.
When the "Devil" dances, life goes on.

***

In the village,
all things go in a circle,
and everything fits.
To speak of the drums
is to speak of the dance,
is to speak of the Devils...

Weaving and Forging
Fire and Steel- the Bush
Life, Death and Life again.

__________________

I love this passage because it brings harks to a definition of love you've
offered: "challenge and acceptance." (the "devils" being a respected and
feared part of village life- "What is it that seeks to be expressed?") And
also when reading this piece it recalls that etymologically "conversation"
means "to dance together."-- Thanks to Alan Stewart for pointing that out.

warmly,
raffi

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