[OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Sat Sep 3 08:35:22 PDT 2011

Dear Harrison,

I appreciate the document as a questing document and the sharing of your
reflections. I think I misunderstood when I saw the word 'invitation',
thinking you were asking something of those of us who cared to make some
type of commitment to the undertaking. I have learned the importance of
asking clarifying questions so that I can move beyond assumptions and into
what is really being said. As you know, I have a deep loving passion for
working with OST where and when possible, and have devoted a significant
amount of my life energy to moving this work out into the world. From my
perspective, I responded to a number of invitations, and so I was deeply
curious about this one, like the raccoon who sees a piece of something shiny
in the water, picks it up, and then examines it from all angles to determine
what it is. I do recall you commenting on my raccoon type behavior before.

My story with the invitations goes something like this. Of course, it
doesn't begin with me as a blank slate but a whole person already living a
vibrant adventurous life. I think all persons who 'discover' this work of
OST come with a lot of unique gifts and interests. By the time I attended
your first workshop in Canada in 1992, I had worked myself up to being the
senior leader in a social/health service, had a love for the Medicine Wheel,
the wisdom of Native American Elders, the ICHING, the Tarot, comparative
religions, wise use of power as a female leader and the era of the
resurgence of feminine energy in leadership, process theology, process
facilitation, circle work, and I was questing for the missing ingredient to
bring about the organizational transformation that was my mission from my
Board of Directors. It was a heyday of excitement about the fairly new field
of organizational transformation and how to achieve it. And so I embraced
Open Space Technology and magical things happened. For those of you reading
this in countries where it is important to distinguish between white and
black magic, I mean white magic. Powerful and life nurturing. And so I
accepted a number of invitations from you.

First, the invitation to sponsor OST trainings.I think I sponsored and
co-sponsored about 7 of these. I also seemed to need to attend your training
seven times.

Second, the invitation to use OST frequently in my organization and from
frequent use, to study what happened. This experiment has been recorded and
went on from 92 through 95. This work continued on for all these years in
other organizations, taking what we had learned and assisting others to
achieve the same, learning new competencies and capacities that were needed
to lead in constant change and emergence.

Third, the invitation to the first few OSONOS that you sponsored in Dulles,
where initially about 30 of us came together and agreed that an annual event
would be worthwhile and fun. Larry Peterson and I then hosted the first
OSONOS that was not in Dulles, moving it internationally to Toronto
Canada.and the journey began.

Fourth, the invitation to fulfill your desire of having Open Space
Institutes around the world. I was one of the four who declared the first
Open Space Institute alive and well, December 1994 or 1995, in Canada,
followed some six months later by the Open Space Institute in the USA at
which I was also at the start up celebration.

Fifth, the invitation to the Expanding our Now event in Oregon, I think in
1995. At that time, you were very keen on assisting people to 'expand their
now' as a way of living and working. The 35 or so of us who gathered had
quite an expanding experience, one which none of us is likely to forget. My
'now' expanded considerably beginning at that time so that I could see the
visible worlds and the invisible worlds and that personal journey continues.
I think some of what happened at that event informed your book by the same
name and the guided meditation that you recorded. 

Sixth, to use OST frequently anywhere and everywhere.wherever there is an
opportunity. Still going on for me, almost twenty years worth of hundreds of
OST meetings, some large, some small, some nationwide, some in private
business, some in public sector. The ones that fascinate me the most are not
the one time ones for conferences of some sort, but the ones inside of
organizations when they  have to figure out what to do with the outputs and
outcomes in the face of an already existing organization with its policies
and procedures and governance mechanisms..and how in the face of it all to
achieve sustainable results.

Seventh, to offer trainings in OST and indeed I have done some dozens of
these trainings in a number of countries. We have even now developed our
training as on on-line offering.

There are probably more invitations in there that I responded to. I know one
was an invitation to friendship. Another was an invitation to create
"Harrisy's"..doing things differently than Harrison would do them. And I
responded to the invitation to 'open space' so Spirit can show up. The only
invitation that I know of that I did not respond to was the one to embrace
'self organizing systems'. As you know, I am not on that particular page
with you.self organizing behaviors within a 'whole' but not 'self organizing
systems'.  And so, Harrison, after about 20 years of responding to different
invitations, some thoughtfully, others by plunging right in, I was truly
curious about this invitation and to figure out what you were hoping for
from people like me beyond what we are already doing. I was ready to 'play'.

Birgitt

From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at verizon.net] 
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 8:11 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Birgitt - I guess I am out of clarifiers. My intent was not so much a "call
to commitment" as "reflections on life's changing scene" with some thoughts
about where we are, where we are going and what we might do along the way.
If it had an intended audience that would probably be some of my diplomatic,
military and executive friends - but the truth of the matter is that I just
wrote it for myself. I have shared it with all sorts of folks, OST folks
included. Maybe it is a "Questing Document?" - and the interesting thing
about quests is that if you actually knew where you were going, you probably
wouldn't take the trip.

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 Birgitt
Williams
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 3:03 PM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Thank you Harrison for the clarity sharing, and for your patience with me as
I seek clarity. I understand the first three points you make as deep beliefs
that you have.  And oh dear, I still struggle with the invitation part. I
really want to find my alignment to the invitation so that I can figure out
how I can contribute. As you said in your third point, with OST we have
learned to initiate intentionally the opening of space as an essential
condition for continuing life, indeed inspiring the seizing of life. Some of
us have been at this a long time, and others for a short time. I think that
there are a lot of people working at this, each for their own unique
reasons. I believe this work will continue, emerge, and expand, again with
each person involved bringing their own passion and expertise to the task. 

I get that you are looking for commitment of people in the OS community to
go beyond better meetings and to further enhance the naturally occurring
opening of space. Are you speaking of what some of us talked about a long
time ago.that in the ideal the OST facilitator and meeting wouldn't be
necessary as this way of 'being' would occur naturally? Or are you thinking
of something else with the power of OST harnessed in a grander scale
somehow? A little more guidance on this point and I believe I will
understand.and I thank you.

I will add a tale of my own which might be linked to some of my confusion.
In the beginning with Creation and our Creator, the big open space of the
world was set in motion for humanity. We cluttered this space up and then
got trapped by some of what was created. Along came OST, and when we
facilitate and participate in OST meetings, we see what is possible when we
get rid of the clutter. There is space for more/new creation..hopefully of a
useful and life nurturing nature. That new stuff, albeit quite exciting,
then clutters up the space again. It seems to be part of our pattern as
humans, with each iteration of the creation being seen by the creators as
better than before.

With that tale in mind, is it that you are looking for commitment to create
more space, or to find ways to sustain the open space that has been created
for longer and longer periods?

Birgitt

From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at verizon.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 1:24 PM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Birgitt - Clarity? I'll try.

Story goes like.

>From 50 years of thinking and looking, two conclusions and some follow-ons.
I don't know that they are "true" but they account for my experience.

1)      All Systems are open. All systems, human and otherwise are open to
each other, interconnected, interdependent and always moving. 

2)      All systems are self -organizing. The open, interconnected systems
interact and co-evolve, each system making demands and offering gifts to all
other systems. The result is a living community which dies, in whole or in
part, when it runs out of time/space in which to grow.

3)      Opening space provides the essential condition for continuing life.
When space is opened for human communities, life can be renewed. This is an
ongoing and natural process. And we have learned to initiate the process
intentionally - which is what happens with Open Space Technology.

4)      To this point, our efforts have been limited to "better meetings"
and a little bit beyond. Next act is enhancing the naturally occurring
opening of space, the Tahrir Squares of this world. and much, much more.
That's the quest, I think - and the invitation. 

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 Birgitt
Williams
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 11:33 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Thank you Harrison.I appreciate the few sentences as this assists me in
understanding what the invitation is that you are extending. My view of our
present situation as Homo Sapiens is that we are, at this time in history,
at one of the most important decision points we have ever faced. We have the
choice, right now, in how we believe, act, and choose, to have the outcome
of tyranny run rampant on the planet and humans subjected to it in a drama
of predator and prey, or to believe, act and choose that which is life
nurturing resulting in dignity, respect, and more. Open Space Technology and
frequent use of it in all countries will make a significant contribution
towards that which is life nurturing. This is already set in motion. I
remember when you were in the early days of taking your training out on 'the
road', often lugging a big box of self published books on top of your
suitcase, finding friends to assist you to get this out into the world, and
now having achieved world wide use of OST and still growing. There is
nothing you would need to do to move this forward.it is in continued motion.
You an amazing job my friend and that part of the legacy is going to be
quite an interesting set of tales.

And so please help me to understand what you are asking of us at this time.
Yes, as you guessed, despite your careful words, I am still wanting clarity
about what you are inviting us to participate in.

Birgitt

From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at verizon.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 11:19 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Birgitt - I think Open Space Technology is just a beginning, but definitely
a useful place to start. As for hoped for outcomes, I'd settle for the
continuation of Homo sapiens with dignity and respect. No small task, but it
should be fun. As for the legacy bit - I don't really know what my legacy is
or will be. I think it is in the nature of such things that they are best
determined by others. One way or another - including nothing at all. Or
something. And now have I totally confused the situation? J

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 Birgitt
Williams
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 10:44 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Dear Harrison,

I have given your reflections and invitation a lot of thought, not wanting
to rush with a response, and wanting to search my heart. I find that before
I can respond, I wish for more information from you. You see, there is the
tale and there are the details. I can see the details, but I am unclear of
what the tale is. I wish to respond to the tale, and not the details.

1.       Is the tale that you are telling here your desire to leave a legacy
beyond the legacy of leaving Open Space Technology in the world? 

2.       If this is a request regarding the legacy you wish to leave in the
world, could you please put your desire of what you wish the legacy to be,
into about three sentences for clarity. This would assist with the tale.

3.       What is the outcome for humanity that you wish to achieve with this
legacy, assuming that the details of who works on it and how are taken care
of without you needing to concern yourself with details?

Love to you, Birgitt

From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at verizon.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 8:41 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Suzanne

Not to put words in Chris's mouth - but I think what he had reference to was
all those "Grand Summits" that were going to solve the problems of the
world. Seems like everybody is doing it. I agree with Chris that their
success rate is minimal at best, and that is being charitable. The reason,,
from where I sit was that everybody got together and talked about what they
had always been talking about, in the way that they had always been talking.
Not surprisingly, doing more and more of what they had always done brought
them to the same old places. But it is not so much the content as the manner
of speaking. The Chair ruled and papers were presented. Genuine and useful
conversations were at a minimum. So I don't think it is a matter of "big" or
"small" - but how it is all done. A conference for 7 Billion is not exactly
a small one but for sure no Chair could rule.

I understand your feelings of overwhelm. And I strongly suspect that anybody
currently living on the planet and even remotely connected to something more
than their family or village will have those feelings. I sure do. On
especially bad days, I find it useful to remember that - Given all the
things that have happened, might have happened, shouldn't have happened in
the history of the species Homo sapiens, it is totally remarkable that we
are still here to complain about how bad things have gotten. No doubt we
have a full plate, and clearly no single person, small group, or even Grand
Summit is going to come up with the magic bullet. That said, I know we have
assets and resources we haven't even begun to use. Definitely not the "same
old, same old," but that is what makes the present moment about as exciting
as it gets. So don't weaken and for sure you can't do it all yourself -
nobody can. But collectively, calling upon the wisdom of all the people, I
think we have a damn good shot. A deep conversation with 7 Billion folks!
Now that is something to conjure with and it is more than a theoretical
possibility. 

So Keep the Faith Baby - and for sure it ain't boring.

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 Suzanne Daigle
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 7:57 AM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Chris thank you for sharing these insights, 

So much of what you said resonates especially what Eleder also mentioned
that "None of us are innocent bystanders anymore...".  

For days since you wrote what you did I haven't been able to get something
out of my mind. I fear that I risk confusing myself and others as I think it
out loud struggling for clarity on the matter. Perhaps that is Harrison's
invitation.

My pondering refers to the 2 thoughts in bold:

1.	 "Big meetings aren't going to change things." and "In working with
clients these days I make sure that they aren't in love with the idea that
their big Open Space is going to change the world.  It's not."
and.....
2.	"Instead billions of small and connected conversations,
self-organizing their own insights and futures, hanging together and
learning how to deal with the new reality and then sharing their stories
with others"

  I am often conflicted by this "big" and "small"!

Like so many people these days, I feel overwhelmed by the magnitude and
complexity of issues that are out there at a national and global level. As
hard as I try, I cannot ignore these. Whether it is sadness, fear and the
feeling that my (our) efforts are like a small drop in a very big bucket or
the feeling  I have of hope and and bliss mixed with purpose and gratitude
as we connect in small group conversations finding each other in the
vulnerability of who we are and giving each other courage to create
possibilities for a better future...

 I think a lot about this "big" and "small".

It often seems that we cannot be satisfied making small changes in our small
piece of the world be it our neighborhood, a department in a company, one
hospital or one school, etc.  

When small groups achieve amazing things, it is often with an eye on the
whole. It is where we find the greatest inspiration (or is that ego?). Where
we bump into problems is when others in the whole, who are not involved,
perceive we are fixing, imposing or intimating that something should be done
for which they feel no ownership or connection.  That we are better than
they are. It seems we all want to invent and create for ourselves and yet we
need each other so we are not forever re-inventing the wheel or worse being
exclusive rather than inclusive towards each other.  Bottom line, we're all
connected. 

 Which takes me to the "big meetings". For right or for wrong, I cannot give
up on those big Open Space meetings.  I have attended/facilitated some
(300+) where it seemed there were pockets of magic in the room. Granted some
sessions seemed better than others. Big groups less effective than smaller
groups. Whether is was the exhiliration of watching people write their
topics or the intimacy felt in the big whole at closing circle, I know there
is something courageous and special happening when people let themselves be
seen and heard where many are present. Where things unravel is afterwards at
least from the perspective of being able to replicate this feeling of the
whole connected as it was.  What I can't always know  however is how many
hubs connected, how many individuals were moved, touched and inspired
leading them to initiate things they would not have had the courage to do
before. What I do know is that I have been affected much in small and in
large groups. 

These days, on the basis of what I learned working with the Creative New
Jersey Open Space team, I am initiating and planning an event that has the
potential to be big (150 - 200 or more people) working with a large planning
group. Until New Jersey, I had never worked with such a large planning group
(12 - 15 people) over many months to prepare an OS event before. It was not
always easy but there were elements of greatness that stayed with me 

Now I see that by having many people involved in the planning, it's as if we
are all hosts creating the invitation, knowing more deeply the intent of
what we want to create with others, imagining those who will attend,
speaking of them with the anticipation of friends meeting friends,
colleagues meeting colleagues, struggling together about what will happen
afterwards trying hard not to predict and control, being playful, working
through conflicts and frustrations, etc. 

I smile thinking that as we do this planning work now, few on the committee
have experienced Open Space which was also the case in New Jersey. It is
truly a giant leap of faith for them to invite people they know to a 2-day
meeting where there are no speakers, power point presentations or even an
agenda. Lots of bonding and trust happens because of this. 

In summary then, on the big and the small, I hope there are ways that we can
have it all. I'm still learning and experimenting. Maybe in the end, I will
come to the conclusion that small is beautiful and where I most want to be. 

In the meantime, permit me to wish that WOSonOS in Chile be as big as it can
be!  

.  

Suzanne

.  

. 

On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 11:41 AM, Chris Corrigan <chris.corrigan at gmail.com>
wrote:

Thanks Harrison for these reflections from the Maine coast.  I have given up
on the power of the convened conference to make the changes that are needed
in the world.  Copenhagen was the final straw in that line of thought.  Big
meetings aren't going to change things.  Instead billions of small and
connected conversations, self-organizing their own insights and futures,
hanging together and learning how to deal with the new reality and then
sharing their stories with others.  This is the power of the web and the
social architectures that surround us now: we are all potential authors of
our future and present states.  None of us are innocent bystanders anymore,
and thus we all have a stake in creating the solutions that are needed for
the myriad acute problems thrown at us from the present moment.

OST is a gift in this sense, but beyond that, it gives us a sense of how it
feels to work in that unfamiliar, strange and ultimately empowering way.
OST points the way to a skillful and hair-raising way to address the
emerging future.  

In working with clients these days I make sure that they aren't in love with
the idea that their big Open Space is going to change the world.  It's not.
But it might activate enough leadership that a community or organization
ends up finding a way out of whatever pickle they are in.  Come to this
gathering...you are invited to start something, and who knows where it will
go...

Much love to you my friend, and my friends.

Chris

---

CHRIS CORRIGAN

http://www.chriscorrigan.com

+1 604 947 9236 <tel:%2B1%20604%20947%209236> 

On 2011-08-28, at 8:09 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

While waiting for Irene - she has now come and largely gone - but the
waiting went on for a week or so. And in that time I started to write a note
to myself. That note took on a life of its own and led me to some places I
have been pondering, but never quite reached. I shared it with a few friends
and they seemed to enjoy. So I make bold to offer it to you my friends on
OSLIST. I guess that is appropriate, for the note has a lot to do with Open
Space, our collective learning, and where we might go from here. Actually it
is an invitation. and if curious go to:

http://openspaceworld.com/August%20Morning.pdf

Enjoy!

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

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-- 
Suzanne Daigle
NuFocus Strategic Group
7159 Victoria Circle
University Park, FL 34201
FL 941-359-8877;  
CT 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com
s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
twitter @suzannedaigle

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