[OSList] Wave Riding in OZ

Tue Nov 26 15:18:08 PST 2013

Harrison,

You summed up so well why one would do an Open Space.  
You said: 

...always two goals in “doing” an Open Space. First there is whatever issue or opportunity the assembled folks want to pursue... And then the most important one: To awaken an ongoing passion for responsibly growing life 24X7. When that goal is achieved, you can forget about OST.

As to when one doesn't need to do an OS anymore, "responsibility' is right on.  I would have added: when one is truly attentive to how they relate with others, although that could be included under responsibility. So at that point, one could do OS just because it's such an effective way of getting things done….the 1st goal  you described. It's all there.

Diane

Diane Gibeault & Associe.es-Associates 
Canada, Tel 613-744-2638, diane.gibeault at rogers.com

________________________________
 From: Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 11:59:10 AM
Subject: Re: [OSList] Wave Riding in OZ

There are a lot things that I love about what Michael Wood is doing, but the heart of my affection goes to his concluding line: “On the third morning of our time together, after they’ve actually experienced a couple of days of self-organised action learning,  I invited them to reflect on the question, ‘was Jesus a Waverider’? Then the pennies start to drop at a really deep level. When we drop it down to that level I hope it will help them to hang in there with the living experiment. No longer just a passing ‘fad’ about how to run a meeting,  but a more profound way of going with the flow of reality.”

Whether or not the question, “Was Jesus a Waverider” would resonate in your circle depends on a lot of things, but the act of reflection, which Michael invites, is critical I think. The strange thing about working in Open Space is that prospectively it appears improbable or impossible to many groups. And almost without exception (no exception in my experience), the same groups of skeptics find the experience in Open Space so productive and natural that they will often hardly notice what has taken place. This is just wonderful, if for no other reason than that it would seem to prove that Open Space is a natural act. Nothing new, nothing strange – just living at the cutting edge. All to the good, but there is a loss.

When people fail to take notice, or more importantly, reflect on what happens in Open Space, it is all too likely that they will think of it as just a momentary high, a one of a kind...the sort of experience encountered with fads of all sorts. Even worse, they may attribute it all to Open Space Technology and never take a look under the hood where they might discover that OST is really something of a fraud. It really doesn’t “do” anything, except to remind us of what we already know. With this realization, the “momentary high” can become a lifetime experience. Nothing new, nothing strange – just life.

For me there are always two goals in “doing” an Open Space. First there is whatever issue or opportunity the assembled folks want to pursue... build a building, create some software, renew an organization... And then the most important one: To awaken an ongoing passion for responsibly growing life 24X7. When that goal is achieved, you can forget about OST. No longer needed.

Bringing people to this point is not hard, but it does take a little reflection. There are many ways to do this, and my personal favorite is to claim 5 minutes at the close, then using The Medicine Wheel (see User’s Guide pg 153) as a guide, I point out the passing scene for their reflection. They always get it, and some may want to explore more deeply, which may be done at a later date. Your way will be different, and of course you can make a longer program out of the effort, as Michael has apparently done. And not incidentally Michael, we are waiting to hear about your efforts. What you’ve told us so far was just a tantalizing teaser J

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
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 Harrison Owen
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 3:44 PM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: [OSList] Wave Riding in OZ

Our friend, Michael Wood, dropped me a note with a wonderful story. By all rights I should have asked him to share, but the story is so good, I just couldn’t wait, and Michael, if I need to apologize, please consider it offered. J

So it is all about Wave Riding in OZ with a most unlikely set of characters. Anglican (Episcopalian) clergy! Being one of those, I can tell you from personal history and experience that there are few groups in this world more staunchly conservative and resistant to change. This is not surprising as we have had many hundreds of years to perfect our stance, and in an odd sort of way, we do it rather well – staying exactly the same. Thank you. The thought that such a group could find meaning and purpose in the arcane art of Wave Riding is marvelous...not to say mind blowing!

And to all you folks who may wonder whether or how traditional sorts in business and government might respond to opening a little space and hopping a wave I can tell you that stranger things do happen. Case in point. And actually, those business and government folks are just pussy cats and late comers when it comes to resistance to change. 

But enough of that. On to the story... (with many thanks and apologies to Michael)

“Over the last few months it’s been fun to support some Anglican Church folks (lay and ordained) in Brisbane get into Waveriding  mode (Brendan McKeauge has also been working with some Catholic Education people in Brisbane), and I have another program in February. As you know, clergy generally and certainly Anglican clergy, were taught the intricacies of control. Now, increasingly  they know it doesn’t work. If they don’t know it, then a lot of them are moving into internal melt down as the external system of the church unravels around them. Fortunately a few of them are recognizing that control doesn’t work and it’s some of those guys and gals that I’ve started to work with, sharing OST and Waveriding principles and a bit of work with Talking Circles. They’re lovin’ it. Saying they’re feeling revitalised already.

It’s early days of course and plenty of potential to be swamped by the existing culture. But so far I’ve worked with 30 people, 45 by the end of February. They are keen to support each other and have already started to do things differently, and see the world differently. On the third morning of our time together, after they’ve actually experienced a couple of days of self-organised action learning,  I invited them to reflect on the question, ‘was Jesus a Waverider’? Then the pennies start to drop at a really deep level. When we drop it down to that level I hope it will help them to hang in there with the living experiment. No longer just a passing ‘fad’ about how to run a meeting,  but a more profound way of going with the flow of reality.

The primary sponsor in Brisbane, Peter Catt is the Dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Brisbane. He has been the local champion and sat in on the first program. In the closing circle Peter said, ‘some people ask me how I can be Dean in a place the size of St. John’s and look so relaxed all the time [I’d been thinking precisely that]…it’s because I believe that reality looks like that [pointing to the four principles and one law on the wall]. I think the definition of wisdom is to run with the way the world actually is, and stupidity is to fight against it’.  Sums it up pretty well doesn’t it.”

And don’t you just love Peter Catt, The Dean! 

Thank You Michael!

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 
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

_______________________________________________
OSList mailing list
To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20131126/75b2b4a2/attachment-0008.htm>