[OSList] Circle of One (was OSList Digest, Vol 19, Issue 5)

Mon Sep 17 16:15:32 PDT 2012

Dear Tova, it’s incredible. From the beginning of this thread I was thinking
to post practically the same. Do you know that Eugene Gendlin and his
“focusing” was the theme of my thesis about 32 years ago? This, I think is
the principal cause why because I'm captured in all this collective journey
called Open Space.

My two cents on this is the following video where Gendlin speaks of it:
http://youtu.be/j7PEC5Mh5FY

A big hug,

Juan Luis

De: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] En nombre de Tova Averbuch
Enviado el: sábado, 15 de septiembre de 2012 8:09
Para: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Asunto: Re: [OSList] Circle of One (was OSList Digest, Vol 19, Issue 5)

Another beautiful way to “open space for the interiors” is called
“focusing”( look for Eugene Gendlin ) I find it to be the twin of Opens
Space Technology. As a matter of fact I was hoping to experiment with it in
the London Gathering

Tova Averbuch

Tova.averbuch at gmail.com

From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Brendan
McKeague
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2012 7:00 AM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Circle of One (was OSList Digest, Vol 19, Issue 5)

I think there are many ways of activating my imagination around the notion
of inner village Harold - and Matilda's idea sounds wonderful also.

I have heard about but never experienced the 'empty chair' process - that
sounds intriguing as well. 

My own preference at this stage in life has emerged out of my own lived
experience and deepening connection to my Celtic heritage. I am continuing
to explore other avenues of access to the richness of my inner life - and
acknowledging myself as some sort of system within systems...all
self-organising of course. 

I also think that my growing awareness of my many selves has enriched my
practice of Open Space...and helped me to more fully present for the service
I offer.

cheers brendan

On 14/09/2012, at 9:14 AM, Harold Shinsato wrote:

Matilda, thanks for your reply. I look forward to learning more about the
Hal and Sidra Stone 'Voice Dialogue' technique.

Brendan - I remember you very well as an important part of my experience of
Berlin - especially your statement about letting go of needing to make a
difference, so that you can make a difference. Your response was worth
reading a few times. If you're familiar with Gestalt therapy's "empty chair"
technique, how do you think this Celtic wisdom might apply? A coach led me
through the process a few times, and it has been quite intriguing. I even
got a bunch of different hats to try doing the work on my own. It seems to
help to give these different elements of the psyche some space to express -
open space and let the inner conflict be visible so that these elements can
be more in communion. It's one of the things I enjoyed most about studying
improv and acting. Playing with different persona's made it easier to be
less rigidly identified with the ego.

So much of theater and acting seems like deep shamanistic psyche work. This
seems very rich territory for exploration.

    Harold

On 9/13/12 5:42 PM, Matilda Leyser wrote:

Hi Harold and Brendan and all, 

Joining this thread late, or just at the right time :-)! - I am a little
slow on email these days since my circle of one has become a circle of
three, with our 8 month year old son wriggling round it all day. Yes,
Harold, you remembered the session in Berlin well and Brendan's description
of how he opens space for himself is wonderful, as is that quote of John
O'Donohue's. My own process has also been influenced by a body of work known
as 'Voice Dialogue,' developed by Hal and Sidra Stone, which is precisely
about the many selves we carry inside our self, and developing the ability
to hold space for all of them. 

Hope to see some of you soon in a circle in London,

Love

Matilda and Riddley and Phelim and the cuddly toys xxx

On 12 Sep 2012, at 14:43, Brendan McKeague wrote:

Well Gijs...what a lovely memory you're triggering from the Presidio..and
Matilda's creativity in Berlin 

Here is a the context, best expressed for me by John O'Donohue in his
inspirational book, Anam Cara...Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World

"Individuality is never simple or one dimensional.  Often it seems as if
there is a crowd within the individual heart 
 At the deepest level of the
human heart, there is no simple, singular self.  Deep within there is a
gallery of different selves.  Each one of these figures expresses a
different part of your nature.  Sometimes they will come into contradiction
and conflict with each other.  If you only meet these contradictions on the
surface level, this can start an inner feud that could haunt you all the
days of your life.  Frequently, you see people who are sorely divided.  They
are in a permanent war zone and have never managed to go deeper to the
hearth of kinship where the two forces are not enemies, but reveal
themselves to be different sides of one belonging.

We cannot embody in action the multiplicity of selves we encounter in our
most inward meditations.  But without a knowledge of these numberless selves
our existence is severely diminished and our access to mystery is blocked.
We are talking here of the imagination and its riches; too often we degrade
imagination to a problem-solving technique. 

We need to develop a new sense of the wonderful complexity of the self.  We
need thought models or patterns which are fair and appropriate to that
complexity.  When people discover their own complexity, they become afraid
and with the hammers of second-hand thoughts they beat this rich internal
landscape into a monoscape.  They make themselves conform.  They agree to
fit in; they cease to be vivid presences, even to themselves."  (pp146-48)

This notion got me to thinking - how would it be to facilitate an Open Space
meeting for my 'inner village', or 'inner family'...or 'inner tribe'....

A colleague of mine had introduced me to the Jungian 'thought model' of
'Active Imagination' where we can create a space for conversation with these
inner-village people by intentionally engaging our imagination. These
characters often appear in dreams and I had been setting time aside to have
a yarn with each of them in response to the purpose behind their appearance
in my subconscious world. I would sit quietly with journal and write out the
conversation as it unfolded...a kind of imaginary dialogue with 'part of me'
that needed to be given voice in my conscious, ego-controlled presence.
This was very useful for me in surfacing and addressing some 'shadow issues'
with a trusted companion (spiritual guide, therapist...). 

I then wondered what it would feel like if I invited whoever wished to come
along to an Inner VIllage Open Space meeting - and guess what, it was very
similar to an outer-world meeting...issue an invitation around a theme
that's significant for me at the time, see who shows up, post topics, host
conversations, converge and plan actions....with me (ego state) the
sponsor/facilitator recording the proceedings and getting more in touch with
the deeper recesses of my 'truth'....and I must confess that some quite
shady characters often show up - an old/familiar acquaintance, a shy
stranger, a domineering autocrat, a frightened child, a passionate
activist....all the right 'people' of course!

So, maybe its the leprechauns in me...regardless, I love it - even tho some
of these meetings can be very draining and last for a couple of hours...its
a rich experience.

Cheers

Brendan 

(and his village)

-- 
Harold Shinsato
harold at shinsato.com
http://shinsato.com <http://shinsato.com/> 
twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush> 

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