[OSList] HO walking the circle in the Already Always Open Space / Dance

Tue May 28 06:26:32 PDT 2013

Thank you Harrison, the image of the danse and of the hero who creates a
safe space (just because he went through the chaos already, and came back
safe and sane) speaks beautifully to me.
Yesterday I attended a lecture more or less related to group dynamics where
a therapist explained that rituals were a way to connect to the sacred.
Opening and closing the circle is for me indeed a ritual that helps people
connect to what they most cherish, without being afraid of the "wild part'
in them, which can be safely expressed and maybe transformed thanks to
boundaries that the opening and closing provide.
I am also becoming more and more aware that our work with groups relates to
helping to define the frontiers : Who are those who care ? who are "we" ?
who needs to be there if we want this to happen ? How do we want to relate
to each other ? how can we make a "we" of those who care ? what are our
ties ?
Maybe this has also something to do with the fact that we as facilitators
went through the big "we" , survived, and it helped us found who we (as
individuals)  really are ?

christine

On Sat, May 25, 2013 at 12:52 AM, Spark Stanley Park <spark.osk at gmail.com>wrote:

> The sacred emerged once again!^^
> 2013. 5. 25. 오전 5:44에 "Suzanne Daigle" <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>님이 작성:
>
> And this is why Open Space is neither a tool or a process!
>>
>> Have not watched the video...I fear I would cry if I did in gratitude for
>> the privilege of walking the circle and of knowing others doing the same
>> around the world.
>>
>> I soon imagine young leaders in Florida, in Serbia and in other places
>> experiencing this dance and in so doing, the middle will appear more
>> inviting and then perhaps we will truly find each other living and being in
>> Open Space together.
>>
>> Harrison and others, thank you for sharing!
>>
>> Suzanne
>> Suzanne
>> On May 24, 2013 4:11 PM, "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Christy – You caught me! What did I learn?  (“But, wait - you didn't
>>> say: *what* did you learn??”)
>>>
>>> ****
>>>
>>> – Well I guess it was more re-learn, or better… remember. It was all
>>> about the dance. There is a dance in our opening moments, and I rather
>>> suspect it may communicate more than whatever words may be spoken. It is a
>>> simple but elegant dance beginning with a full slow sweep of the circle, a
>>> cut to the center, followed by random crossings of the circle, and ending
>>> at rest somewhere between the center and the edge. Early on, there was no
>>> conscious intent on my part to do or create a dance, it just seemed to
>>> happen as a natural expression of my relationship to the circle and the
>>> people who create it. In truth it took more than a few years before I even
>>> realized that it was a dance, repeated at every opening – and even more
>>> years until its primal forms and meanings became apparent to me. The
>>> interesting thing to me is that as I have watched my friends and colleagues
>>> over the years, seems like we all do pretty much the same things, which
>>> speaks, I think to the natural and emergent quality. At some level it is
>>> without intention. It is simply called forth as an organic expression of
>>> the moment, and our (as facilitators) place in that moment. ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Interpreting a dance is always a dangerous thing, but in this case the
>>> forms are so archetypical and manifest that it seems less about
>>> interpretation than a naming of the obvious. Part I (The circle sweep) is
>>> perhaps the oldest shamanic act going, which travels under various names,
>>> but is often called “bounding the circle.” It is all about defining and
>>> claiming a safe space. In West African bush villages the shamans actually
>>> bound the whole village with a vine rope that they weave in the night and
>>> encircle the village. Nobody sees them, but in the morning the villagers
>>> arise to see the village defined. It is always interesting to see what is
>>> “inside” and what is excluded – so it is often the case that the school
>>> house (a western/modern addition) is often on the “outs.” What is safe, and
>>> what is questionable? Who, what, where are WE?****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Part II (Cut to the Center) takes a little more explanation. I have
>>> always thought of it as a ritual re-enactment of The Hero’s Journey. Joseph
>>> Campbell, whose epic works on global mythology re-introduced the power of
>>> myth to the modern world, wrote a book of the same name. In the book he
>>> argues that all major traditions have a common theme story which he calls,
>>> The Hero’s Journey. In it a common man rises up one morning and departs on
>>> a far journey through many dangerous places and situations. He is
>>> essentially transformed by the experience and his common consciousness is
>>> expanded in ways he could never have imagined. But he is not a hero yet –
>>> not until he returns to his fellows and shares his expanded insight with
>>> his fellows(offers a boon). Think: Jesus in the wilderness, Moses in the
>>> desert, etc.  If Campbell is right, and I think he is, this story is part
>>> of the tradition and consciousness of virtually all the peoples of the
>>> earth. In short it doesn’t have to be told again (but that is always nice)
>>> – it is part of who and what we are. Now back to Open Space and The Cut to
>>> the Center.****
>>>
>>>                 The physical open space in the center of the circle we
>>> create is a dangerous place. Even worse, it is pure Chaos. Nobody goes
>>> there willingly. Who knows, there might be dragons! Sounds a little weird
>>> and far out, I guess, but the next time you have an opportunity watch how
>>> the people (participants) treat that space, particularly if it is a large
>>> group, with a large circle, and a LOT of space. People will walk all the
>>> way around it rather than crossing. And if they do cross, they often do it
>>> in pairs (safety, you know). Watch how they treat the edge of the circle.
>>> They will come right up to it, and then back away. No sane person would
>>> willingly go to the center of such a circle! You can prove this to yourself
>>> just by remembering the first time you ever facilitated an Open Space. OMG!
>>> ****
>>>
>>>                 So the Cut to the Center is a journey to hell – and
>>> guess what? The Facilitator survives! At this point, the circle has been
>>> bounded and the space claimed – but the story is not over. The boon (gift)
>>> has yet to be given. We come to Part III – Random Crossings.****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> From the center of the circle, the facilitator moves to the edges in a
>>> random pattern, making contact with the people on the edge and then
>>> crossing again to make contact with others on the opposite side. Back and
>>> forth, back and forth – weaving a pattern of meaning and safety. Trails in
>>> the desert wilderness, so to speak. ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> And then it is over. The facilitator moves to a resting position part
>>> way between the center and the edge – and invites the people to come (with
>>> their issues). Under usual circumstances (read just about every time) – the
>>> people show up with alacrity, “following the trails in the desert.”  And
>>> the Hero (facilitator) essentially disappears. The boon has been given and
>>> the people have claimed it as their own. Time for a nap! ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Oh yes, a few words have been spoken, but I really think the dance says
>>> it all.****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> So that is my story, and doubtless more than you anticipated, Christy.
>>> Who knows if it is true, but it works for me. And if it works for you –
>>> consider it yours.****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Harrison  ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Harrison Owen****
>>>
>>> 7808 River Falls Dr.****
>>>
>>> Potomac, MD 20854****
>>>
>>> USA****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)****
>>>
>>> Camden, Maine 04843****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Phone 301-365-2093****
>>>
>>> (summer)  207-763-3261****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com%20> ****
>>>
>>> www.ho-image.com <http://www.ho-image.com%20> (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 *Christy Lee-Engel
>>> *Sent:* Thursday, May 23, 2013 12:32 PM
>>> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
>>> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Rough little video of HO walking the circle in
>>> the Already Always Open Space****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> You are always welcome, dear HO. But, wait - you didn't say: *what* did
>>> you learn??
>>>
>>> curious to hear more,
>>> love, Christy
>>> ****
>>>
>>>
>>> Christy Lee-Engel, ND, EAMP ****
>>>
>>> Director, Center for Spirituality, Science and Medicine<https://www.facebook.com/BastyrSpiritualityScienceMedicine>
>>> ****
>>>
>>> *Bastyr** **University*
>>>
>>> Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine practice: Core Chiropractic and
>>> Wellness <http://corechiropracticseattle.com>
>>> 206.708.7172
>>> *
>>> We're all just walking each other home - Ram Dass*****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> On Sun, May 19, 2013 at 4:04 PM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
>>> wrote:****
>>>
>>> Christy – I really learned something. Thank you for your experiment.
>>> Weird, I guess, but it really was a “classic” moment, and you got it all.
>>> The fact that it was something less than a PBS Special made it all the
>>> better, I think. Thank you.****
>>>
>>>  ****
>>>
>>> ho****
>>>
>>>  ****
>>>
>>> Harrison Owen****
>>>
>>> 7808 River Falls Dr.****
>>>
>>> Potomac, MD 20854****
>>>
>>> USA****
>>>
>>>  ****
>>>
>>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)****
>>>
>>> Camden, Maine 04843****
>>>
>>>  ****
>>>
>>> Phone 301-365-2093****
>>>
>>> (summer)  207-763-3261****
>>>
>>>  ****
>>>
>>> www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com%20> ****
>>>
>>> www.ho-image.com <http://www.ho-image.com%20> (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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-- 

[image: Christine Koehler, créatrice d'espace de Dialogue et de Coopération]
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