[OSList] occupy Open Space?!

Mon Oct 10 07:04:59 PDT 2011

Of course I agree with you about conversation giving deeper meaning and
understanding to the experience and that reflection is essential for that to
happen well. There was a powerful lesson for me yesterday though.  As I
watched the circle grow on its own and in its time rather than suggest a
widening and then witnessed the widening happen I thought about the
incredible diversity of beliefs and experiences that called these people
together.  I think that like the circle taking a bit of time to widen the
same thing is happening to the people themselves.  They are stretching their
abilities to listen and hear others.  They are making space inside
themselves for other view points and that takes some number of breaths.  I
was reminded about the space required for people to breathe themselves into
a larger space. I was reminded that it is best for those expansive breathes
to be taken so that all experience the space before we talk about it.  For
those who have never really experienced space they don't experience the lack
of it until they are given it.  I am appreciating that in a new way.  I am
also wondering if experiencing space, knowing that it is there and what it
feels like is not the best grounding of all.

Experiments for sure.  I find myself always confined with a certain time
parameters that are imposed on me and participants.  These time parameters
don't exist in this situation because they are prepared to stay until
whenever.  There is a luxury there I don't usually get.  I am wondering if
it not an essential component.  As people discover for themselves what space
feels like and how it may influence their doing and thinking.  It is new for
me to hold space without the use of words, just be present with space and
the circle and then see what happens.  Lots of space for experiments.  Lots
of opportunity to do less.  It is exciting.

Pat

On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 8:28 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Pat – of course the circles occur naturally!  J (“Wherever it happens is
> the right place.”) And I think the point of learning will be how to help the
> people understand the power of what they are doing naturally. One problem
> with “natural occurrences” is that they feel “so natural” that nobody
> notices. I think we have the same issue in Open Space. The whole thing feels
> so natural that many participants don’t fully realize just how powerful and
> different it is. A little reflection helps – which was my point in using the
> Medicine wheel. Nothing heavy – as in Sit down and Listen! Just some soft
> pointers serve to deepen and ground the experience. So then the question is
> can we do the same sort of thing in situations such as you are
> experiencing??? I think so, but I am not quite sure how. So a little trial
> and error might be in order.****
>
> ** **
>
> A second area of exploration might be how to encourage “better circles.”
> Something simple like – “leave plenty of space in the middle.” And/or How to
> encourage the growth of a circle. You said that the circle eventually
> expanded – is there some way to help that subtly? ****
>
> ** **
>
> A great opportunity for experiment!****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison Owen****
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> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Pat Black
> *Sent:* Sunday, October 09, 2011 6:27 PM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
>
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] occupy Open Space?!****
>
> ** **
>
> I sat at the general assembly today and a circle formed with a smaller
> group.  More came to sit in the circle but it didn't open up.  After
> sometime people gradually started to slide out, as if the circle itself was
> pushing them out to make space for others.  After a time the circle grew
> enough to hold all. The power of circles has taken hold on its own I think.
>  ****
>
> Pat ****
>
> On Sun, Oct 9, 2011 at 5:05 PM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:*
> ***
>
> Circles, Pat, Circles! Help them to see the power of circles. It happens
> naturally, of course, but with a little nudge it becomes “the way we do
> things.” As you know that changes the ethos dramatically. Have fun.****
>
>  ****
>
> Harrison****
>
>  ****
>
> Harrison Owen****
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.****
>
> Potomac, MD 20854****
>
> USA****
>
>  ****
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)****
>
> Camden, Maine 20854****
>
>  ****
>
> Phone 301-365-2093****
>
> (summer)  207-763-3261****
>
>  ****
>
> www.openspaceworld.com****
>
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)****
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST
> Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
> ****
>
>  ****
>
> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Pat Black
> *Sent:* Sunday, October 09, 2011 4:47 PM
> *To:* Raffi Aftandelian; World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] occupy Open Space?!****
>
>  ****
>
> The Occupy Minnesota is happening at the People's Plaza formerly known as
> the Government Plaza.  This is a whole range of people that range from
> anti-capitalist to Ron Paul supporters.  There were several hundred people
> there Friday and Saturday, fewer today.  The mayor of Minneapolis spoke
> through the people's mic on Friday and so did Jessie Ventura the former
> governor / wrestler.  The police are relaxed and have been ordered to leave
> people be within the constraints that have been set up.  There is lots of
> learning about process going on.  The participants are mostly young and just
> beginning to claim their space but there are a few old timers there as well
> and of course the people who live on these streets normally.  They seem to
> have their food and logistical pieces functioning well and are currently
> looking for ways to get more folks out so that their presence can be
> sustained especially when the weather turns.  We have been lucky weather
> wise so far but the season will turn before long and when it does it could
> be drastic.  I have seen 3 feet of snow and 20- zero on October 30th here,
> so this can be a life threatening concern.  ****
>
>  ****
>
> It has been great to be out there.  The energy is intense and full of
> possibility.  There are lots of sentences that include the word space and
> that is exciting.  I am hoping to spend a lot of time out there.  They are
> going to create something akin to an agenda wall with the causes that have
> brought people there.****
>
> Pat Black****
>
> On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 11:35 PM, Raffi Aftandelian <raffi_1970 at yahoo.com>
> 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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