[OSList] Why I Actually Like Calling it "The Law of Two Feet"

Sat Dec 10 19:17:15 PST 2011

I just read through several months of OSlist messages and am picking up this old thread because it inspires me to tell a story.

Phelim, like others, I like your naming the movement "toward" and "away" in the Law of Two Feet.  

When I introduce the Law of Two Feet, I speak of these dynamics because of an exchange I had the privilege to witness shortly after I ran into Open Space.

It was a conversation between the two people who have most influenced my thinking and practice of opening space: Harrison (of course) and Anne Stadler.  For those who don't know Anne, she has been involved with Open Space since the OS in Goa India.  I think that was in 1989.  Shortly after that trip, Anne, who was a TV producer at the time invited Harrison to make the first video on Open Space Technology, called Learning in Open Space.  I'm not positive about this, but I think Harrison and Anne then offered the first OST workshops.

Anyway, a few years after that, probably around 1996, during a trip to Seattle, Anne and Harrison were talking about the Law of 2 Feet.  Harrison spoke of it as a safety valve.  He said something similar to this OSlist message by him from Nov. 24, 2001 [I put some text in bold]:

... I would guess that there are situations where a more active role might be required, but I have never run into one. Even when the level of conflict is very high and the issues are old and deep. For example, in South Africa in the days shortly after Mendela's release from prison we  did Open Spaces with such folks as Zulus, Hausa, Afrikaners -- all together, and no problem. I have often wondered why this is true, and my best guess is that The Law of Two Feet provides the needed "safety-valve"  Folks come together because they want to solve some issues. At the same time I think it to be true that nobody (save for a few pathological types) really like to blow their cool, so to speak. The desire to solve the issue brings them together, and the Law enables each individual to judge when they need a walk around the block to "cool off." I have seen this lots of time, and never seen it to fail.

That made sense to me!  Then Anne talked about the Law of Two Feet as a reminder to stand on your two feet for what you believe in. (Unfortunately, I don't have a comparable "in her own words" message.)

As I listened to their exchange, all I could think was, "they're both right!"  I had a sense that between them, Harrison and Anne had expressed the yin and yang of the law.  Sometimes the ability to walk away and cool off is useful.  And at other times, remembering the importance of taking a stand is what's called for.  

That conversation influenced how I've opened space ever since.  When I introduce the Law of Two Feet, I talk about these two actions.  

Sounds a lot like moving towards and moving away, yes?

appreciatively,
Peggy

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On Oct 31, 2011, at 10:14 AM, Caitlin Frost wrote:

> Thanks for articulating this Phelim.
> 
> For me the Law of Two Feet is definitely about movement.  Nice to notice the "toward" in balance to the "away from" - and underneath that for me is just the invitation to wise movement to follow my flow - to open space for that for everyone.
> 
> And my practice can be in noticing what would stop me from moving when that feels right, and working with that.  I can see how that serves me in life and work both in and beyond Open Space.
> 
> Your post here sharpened my ear for the phrasing - and in two recent Open Space openings I heard more clearly the speaking of this law as "away from" without the equal balance of towards.  I will be more mindful now - when offering it myself, or teaching it to others.
> 
> I like to think of it like I sometimes see little kids moving around.  Not even needing a story to explain why they are moving.  There doesn't have to be a reason or problem to leave - they just go when they are ready and find themselves in the next place.  Eager faced - 'hey what's happening over here?'
> 
> Thanks for offering some attention here.
> 
> Caitlin.
> 
> On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 2:19 PM, Phelim <phelim at mac.com> wrote:
> 
> In open space technology there is only one law. It’s know as “The Law of Two Feet” Some people don’t like calling it this and it is objected to on the grounds of diversity/disability issues. So it gets re-christened “The law of mobility”. However, I think it’s a very useful metaphor and as such think all should have access to it. However that’s not what I want to talk about today.
> 
> Sometimes people concentrate on “The law of two feet.” as being about leaving somewhere: it might be a session, a person who is dominating a conversation, a topic that goes off somewhere you are no longer interested in, all these are things one might want to move away from.
> 
> However it’s good to remember it’s a law of TWO feet. Let’s say the first foot or step is away from. Then the second step in terms of our metaphor could be what we are moving towards. If the emphasis is just on the first step the potential energy or even an awareness of the second step can get overwhelmed. Veiled in issues of possibility or social politeness.
> 
> So remember both aspects of the Law: “away from” but also “towards”. Where have you already taken yourself or your mind? Where inside yourself have you already taken your next step somewhere else?
> 
> This is a useful thing to remember not least because it might support you over the threshold of your imagined impoliteness or arrogance when you find yourself worrying about the fact that you are leaving somewhere and being rude.
> 
> Maybe if you focus on where you are going to or where your presence has gone.. Then you could realise it might be rude to have already left a less than present self amongst the group. Or perhaps it’s even arrogant to assume people will even notice that you left.
> 
> So whether you are attending to “The Law of Two Feet” or “The Law of Mobility: Focus on the TWO feet of the dynamic and as Hal and Sidra Stone say “Sweat the choice”.
> 
> 
> Love Phelim
> 
> http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/clusterform
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> 
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