[OSList] Another Way of Ending an Open Space Meeting

[Brendan McKeague]

Hi folks

I've just revisited the delightful conversation on the use of the Medicine Wheel and thought I'd share a way of ending that now sits comfortably within me...the Medicine Wheel, as some others have mentioned, never has.  I think this may be due in part to me not being from North America. I'm also not from Australia where I currently facilitate most of my Open Space meetings.

So here is what I usually do at the Closing Circle, after everyone has spoken and the Sponsor, being the last one to speak in the group, hands the talking stick/mic back to me...
I rise and slowly walk the circle with some words of description around what people came to do and what they actually did during the meeting (number of topics, action plans...) and then I invite folks to reflect on how the principles showed up for them during the meeting experience - usually beginning with a question, followed by a pause, like: 

"Did you notice the right people came here here today?" - pausing while I walk another few steps, then 

"How did whatever happened...appear for you today?"...pause...

"Did you start at the right time?"...pause...

"Did you recognise when it was over - or not over?"...pause..

"Did you use the Law of Mobility at all...or notice others using it?"...pause..

"Did you butterfly a bit?"...pause...

"Did you buzz a bit?"...pause...

"Did you need a billabong space for yourself at any time during the meeting?"  (billabong being an Australian word referring to a 'watering hole/oasis')...pause...

"And finally, were you surprised at all about what happened here today, in yourself, observing others, topics raised, anything?"...pause...

In the tradition of the OS Closing Circle, I then invite the group to stand, look around the circle and acknowledge what has been given and received to/from each other, and the work that has been done here today, and when you're ready, take a 180deg turn and step out of the circle...and we're done.

That's it...until the next one!

Cheers
Brendan