WOSONOS - feeling of a missed opportunity.

Mon May 17 14:42:02 PDT 2010

Karolina - no doubt about it. The circle turned inside out is powerful
indeed. In the very early 90's, pretty much on a whim, I did just that and
will always remember the moment. This was a gathering of The Together
Foundation - a multinational with positive visions for the world. I think
there were 24 countries, but who was counting. And after two days of intense
and rich conversations we gathered for the closing circle, which happened
just like usual with the Talking Stick. As we came to the end, I asked
everybody to link hands and I led a marvelous procession outside. And what
an "outside" it was! We were meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming at the feet of
the Grand Tetons. Nearby was a small hill and I made for the top with 250
people in tow. When we reached the summit, I circled the troops - and over
the soft mountain winds I said -" We have had two wonderful days of being
with each other, and if you look around this circle you will know how
wonderful it has been. But there is a morrow, and if you drop your hands and
turnabout in place you will be there. We are now facing 360 degrees of the
compass, and very shortly we will follow our compass. If it feels a little
lonely and strange, just remember all the love at your back." They did and
we did. How could you go wrong with the Tetons as a background 360 degrees?

I don't know that there is a "right" way to end an Open Space - but that is
certainly my favorite. 

And Yaris - I surely hear your question, "if os is white and rich."  But I
rather suspect that our friends and colleagues in Haiti, East Africa and
West (Liberia most recently - where it all began), India, and Asia might be
a little puzzled. Doubtless their skin shade is a little different and
darker than most of those assembled in Berlin. And I am absolutely positive
that they consider themselves as "part of the circle." As a Navaho Chief
(who's skin was several shades darker than mine) said at the conclusion of
an Open Space on something I can't remember - "What took you so long White
Man?" He was there first, and I am eternally thankful.

Which I guess takes us back to the beginning of this response. The circle is
always open and eventually it MUST turn inside out. And this also takes us
back to the "rich" part. Airplane tickets cost money. Some of us have it,
and some don't. But those who do (have money) have a special obligation, I
think - to turn the circle inside out. We might also remember that Open
Space is NOT Berlin, Chile, or wherever. That is just a touchdown point of
the community as it moves around the  planet - rather like a cyclone with
all the destructive/constructive possibilities. Shiva doing the Dance!

Dance on Baby - definitely cool!

Harrison

Ps - And of  course we need to find resources for other good folks to join
us. Just remember, a  lot of them already have (joined us) - even before we
knew anything about Open Space! J

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Dr.

Potomac, MD 20854

USA

Phone 301-365-2093

www.openspaceworld.com

www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)

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From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Karolina
Iwa
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 12:46 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: WOSONOS - feeling of a missed opportunity.

coming back home from the wosonos made me sad.

trying to figure out where it comes from

i realised there was something i was missing a lot in this meeting.

and i find it a pity i just realised it in the closing round and could only
verbalise it on the way back, but i take my chance and still would like to
share it with you here over the list.

i had this impression we all as a group / community during this meeting

were mostly busy with topics related to the method 

and to us in various roles and relationships with others while using the
method 

and to our personal and organisational growth and development.

i had this visualisation of us standing in a circle, shoulder to shoulder,
facing inside,

feeling the power, the confusion, the energy, the movement. focused on the
centre and its content.

maybe feeling / sensing the world outside, but neither relating to it a lot
nor taking common actions in its direction.

there were so many people, so much energy and emotions

and i guess i just miss us turning our backs to the centre of the circle,

turning our faces and fronts to the world outside,

feeling the energy behind our backs 

and with it feeling empowered to take common action and send a message to
the world,

use the resources we have and see how we can use what we are blessed to be
experiencing and having.

if the collecting of issues or action planning was to happen again

i wish i had posted for example an idea for each of us

to offer an open space to the community we belong / relate to or are
connected with for free.

that we would create and share a gift.

share the energy, the spirit so often referred to with the ones who need it
but cannot afford it or don't know where to ask.

and i know many of us do it anyway, i am totally aware of that.

i just wish we had taken the chance for using the collective we were

for making a big something, a big action, sending a lot of invitations to
the world 

to enjoy and spread and have fun and love and development and support the
self-organisation...

i am thinking as well of yaaris question in the closing round 

if os is white and rich.

i wonder what to do to break the impression i share. what can i do?

i wonder how to invite people who cannot afford coming to wosonos because
they are missing resources.

as i work with european funds i came up with the idea of applying for a
grant which would co-fund the participation of people who would come to the
wosonos, but for whom the participation fee and all related costs are an
barrier in participating.

this is just a small idea,

but i would like to give with it a shot and try to support a tendency 

and make os more inclusive and make us a more diverse and welcoming group.

as i know more about european funds i could take care of coordinating such a
project 

and try to get additional funds for the 2012 wosonos in london.

i am quite anxious of people misunderstanding my point,

and it takes quite some courage of me to write this email,

but i still want to share it.

with everybody who was and was not there and with everybody here. 

karolina.

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