[OSList] occupy Open Space?!

[Skye Hirst]

I'm so glad you are there and sharing your experience.  I too feel  
this is a most exceptional event of process, and a rich one in the  
history of our "becoming"  as humans.   Skye
On Oct 8, 2011, at 12:35 AM, Raffi Aftandelian wrote:

> dear open space and genuine contact friends (aka spaceniki and,  
> perhaps, "wheelies")-
>
> Tonight marked the spirited kick-off for Occupy San Diego, one of  
> the many local initiatives around the world taking place in  
> solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. Speaking as a process artist  
> (OST facilitator and Genuine Contact Program certified trainer) and  
> a charmingly flawed co-human with a heart who is planning on  
> camping out (occupy?!) on site for  while, I wanted to share some  
> thoughts and observations and also extend an invitation.
>
> First off, taking part in all of this- tonight's march or attending  
> the General Assembly (I was at last night's assembly- 130 people  
> were there!)- really stretches me. I can't align with any of the  
> adversarial language and expression here. So, as we marched today I  
> was just silent, holding my multi-colored sign which read, "What  
> does a wise, compassionate and glocal response to massive economic  
> injustice look like?"  Heck, even calling it "Occupy" make me  
> shudder!!!
>
> It is physically just very challenging to be in the presence of all  
> of that energy. That said, from the the *moment* I heard of Occupy  
> Wall Street, I had an *immediate* intuitive hit that this is  
> something different, that this is something that I have to support.  
> And at the very least this initiative could be supported by bearing  
> witness-- and the simplest way I could do that is just camp there,  
> just sleep there. That's it.
>
> Perhaps the act of sleeping in a public space can be a way of  
> claiming *and* opening space, a way of dreaming the New Story into  
> being?
>
> Also, I'm amazed to see how many different people locally have  
> heard of the local Occupy San Diego initiative and how many  
> different people I know showed up tonight! It's almost as if  
> somewhere deep down there was a part of us that knew this is  
> something we need to support.
>
> One of the things that encouraged me while attending General  
> Assembly last night was the readiness and willingness of people  
> from disparate points of view to hear each other out. What I'm  
> seeing is messy, imperfect, and I know and imagine that ball has  
> been dropped. But overall, it's a rather encouraging picture. It's  
> also encouraging to see meditation part of the picture, too. A 20+  
> minute flash mob still silent sitting meditation took place after  
> the march tonight
>
> And indeed it has a lot of open space feeling to it. The general  
> assembly and committees had been meeting at Children's Park (high  
> play and high learning anyone??) here downtown. The park is made up  
> of large circular patches of grass bordered with concrete. Each  
> committee met in a different patch - marked with the name of the  
> committee. And you just went to the committee you wanted. And from  
> what i could see, if you wanted to create a new committee, you  
> could do that, too! (apparently, there is a process committee here,  
> too).
>
> I'm curious if there are other process artists out there on or off  
> these lists who are also supporting Occupy... where you are. I'd  
> love to enter into conversation (skype call anyone??) on or offlist  
> to explore the ways we as process artists can support this  
> initiative. Drop me a line!
>
>
> much warmth from the pacific coast,
> raffi
>
> p.s. to catch some of the flavor of our local "Occupation," see
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupysd/
> http://www.livestream.com/occupysd
>
> p.p.s. I look forward to circulating widely this piece by zen  
> teacher and peacemaker, Bernie Glassman
> http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/10/we-are-the-100/
>
> p.p.p.s. to borrow a turn of phrase from a fellow spacenik who  
> lives DownUnder-- "What can happen?"
>
> powered by ubuntu 10.4
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Skye Hirst, PhD
The Autognomics Institute
Perceiving the Process Nature of Life-itself


skyeh at autognomics.org
www.autognomics.org
Twitter @autognomics




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