How can we foster sustainable outcomes?

Sun Jun 28 07:26:37 PDT 2009

Lenore - Thanks for the kind words. And your mention of "the rest of the
whole thread" reminded me that I had really intended to link what I had to
say to the theme: "How can we foster sustainable outcomes?" In fact I think
the heart and soul of "sustainable outcomes" is when they (the outcomes)
emerge from the heart and soul of the people. Reminders are always helpful,
whether they be written, graphic, musical, or inscribed on the astral
planes. But none of that can ever match the deep commitment of a people who
live from their experience when that experience is one of invention,
creation, collaboration. That, I think, is the real substance of
sustainability.

ho

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 

OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options
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  _____  

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Lenore
Mewton
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:07 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: How can we foster sustainable outcomes?

Thank you, Harrison, for speaking the real power in 'em'powerment. ( I am
just jumping in here without reading the rest of the whole thread~)

While your comments about process below offer the best practice of OS, (in
my few OS experiences- I have seen this magic at play - genius emerges when
the rest of us 'get out of the way'..) This simple wisdom (prefer not to see
it as lazy or nasty..!) is guidance for living our lives everyday- OS,
family, relationships and in whichever role we play: parent, facilitator,
significant other, child. -And for those of us in "helping professions'-
HELP- ! We go into that work to "help others"- duh, as you say, we forget -
or perhaps never realize- what constitutes true 'helping.  I'll take a leap
and say that without knowing the intracacies of all global cultures- we are
'masters' of this forgetfulness in the U.S. In education (OS being a
form/venue for self- knowledge to emerge), we know that real learning takes
place by 'doing'- vs. being told, shown, memorization.  Yet, as
facilitators, because we are providing an "Open" environment we believe
we're making space for 'whatever wants to show up will show up'- . 

As a parent who firmly believed in all of the above- the intellect in me
did/does, I recall sitting on the floor with my then toddler son- and
forcing myself to put my hands behind my back so that I would not interfere
with his play! And whenever he would cry of being 'bored"- I forced myself
not to give into his pleas for help by reminding him that he would think of
something if he just gave it some time. Never failed - regardless of his
cries- within about 10-20 minutes at the most- he would become involved in
the most creative play that I could have NEVER provided!

(Ah, I wish this wise self would visit more often!).

Original Message ----- 

From: Harrison Owen <mailto:hhowen at verizon.net>  

To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 

Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 8:51 AM

Subject: Re: [OSLIST] How can we foster sustainable outcomes?

Raffi -- alternative harvesting, if I can call it that, has been around for
a bit. There was a marvelous OS done with a group of Arts Councils where all
the "reports were sung, danced, drawn, whatever. The use of graphics in OS
started, I suppose with the "father of Group Graphics" David Sibbet, an old
friend. I always loved what he did (drew) -- but would chide him gently by
pointing out that it really wasn't "Group Graphics" -- but it was David's
Graphics (which were superb!)  Were we able to make it truly the Group's
graphics that would be a different thing. 

My experience has been that the more you do for people, the less they do for
themselves (duh). Obviously things we do for each other can be very nice,
indeed wonderful. And it is also true that things we do for others are to
some extent, disempowering. In small doses this is great, but much of what
passes for facilitation takes this "helpfulness" to an extreme, I think. At
worst, the facilitator takes on the whole burden and is totally exhausted --
and the people are reduced to the level of incompetent children. This of
course makes them quite dependant, and thereby insures the facilitator's
continuing employment.

My aim is always to do as little as possible, not because I am lazy or nasty
(although I may well be both:-)) - but because I have complete confidence
that the people can and will take full responsibility for what they care
about. In doing this, they will usually manifest a level of inventiveness
that I never would have thought of - and no matter what, their invention
will be appropriate to their situation. In a word they have that great
sensation of experiencing their own power - that is called empowerment.
Empowerment is not something you can do for another - you must claim it for
yourself. Indeed, if I "empower" you - you remain in my power.

Or something

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 

OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Raffi
Aftandelian
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:09 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: AW: How can we foster sustainable outcomes?

Reinhard thanks much for this thread.

The idea of the participants themselves visually harvesting the essence of

what has emerged sounds really exciting.

>From the standpoint of designing such DST (Doodle Space Technology) events,

where does the ancient wisdom of KISS (Keep it Simple, Senorita) and "Think

of one less thing to do" come into play?

And this has me thinking, does the practice of facilitation/harvesting with

the other senses also exist?

Aural facilitation? Harvesting with music, a song? (a poem takes us part
way).

Olifactory facilitation?

Proprioceptic facilitation- capturing the physical sensations of the shared

body of the group?

Facilitation from the other realms? (perhaps integrating a processwork

(Arnold Mindell?) perspective?

movement-based harvesting? using dance, drama, aikido (?), and other

expressive arts to harvest.

Many possibilities here!

appreciatively, 

from this southern suburb of Tehrangeles (aka San Diego),

raffi

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