[OSList] [GC] Re: Angie Arrien

Wed Apr 30 08:44:28 PDT 2014

So sad…and Angie lives on.

I first met her through her book, The Four Fold Way. It was the backbone of Spirited Work, an Open Space learning community that met four times a year for seven years using the themes of the Four Fold Way for each season:

Winter - The way of the Warrior: Show up and be present
Spring - The way of the Healer:  Follow what has heart and meaning 
Summer - The way of the Visionary: Tell the truth with compassion (or, as Angie said it, tell the truth without blame or judgment)
Fall - The way of the Teacher: Be open, unattached to outcome

That first winter I attended Spirited Work, we had a weekend-long conversation around "what war for what peace?" I came away with the insight that the energy of the warrior and the energy of the lover contain the same passion. They are simply focused differently.

A few years after that first encounter, I met Angie in person. That memory always makes me smile. We were on a ferry riding back towards Seattle from the Whidbey Institute. I am 5’2” tall. I was standing next to Angie and realized that she was the first adult I could remember being with who was short enough that I could see the top of her head. We both had a good laugh about that.

Just a few years ago, I had the opportunity for a deeper interaction as part of a gathering of elders and fellows. She told me how much she enjoyed my book, Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity. Wow! That was an unlooked for vote of confidence. I was deeply honored.

Like many of the 20 people at that gathering, I was in the midst of a transition. Angie, with her incredible story-telling gift, told us of a traveller reaching a turn in the path (not too far away), crossing a bridge, and meeting three guides along the way to a destination. That the story gave me heart, as it did others in the group. A turning point was near (it was) and support of all stripes — material, emotional, spiritual, intellectual — was there for me. (It was.)

To this day, speaking the four practices of the four fold way is part of my daily practice.

So Angie lives on in me and in the many thousands whose lives she touched.

I wish her well in whatever forms she now exists.

open-heartedly,
Peggy

_________________________________
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On Apr 30, 2014, at 12:36 AM, Eiwor Backelund <eiwor at gatewayc.com> wrote:

> Chris, thank you for this inspiration. I will right now take a break and go out to my Medicine Wheel and step into the four fold way. My MW is on the rock behind my house, with a view over the valley and overlooking what I call the Cherry Tree Valley (from Brother Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren), where the trees right now are blooming, looks like white skyes of flowers. The world is beautiful and Angeles Arrien has contributed a lot.
> Eiwor
>  
> Från: genuine-contact at googlegroups.com [mailto:genuine-contact at googlegroups.com] För Chris Weaver
> Skickat: den 30 april 2014 07:49
> Till: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> Kopia: GC list
> Ämne: [GC] Re: [OSList] Angie Arrien
>  
> Thank you all for your words honoring Angeles.
>  
> Reflecting on Jeff:
> ...to bring indigenous wisdom into modern institutions in a braided way...
>  
> and on Thomas:
> The four ways of spirit: 
> Show up and be fully present
> Tell the truth without blame or judgement
> Follow what has heart and meaning to you
> Be open to outcome, not attached
>  
> ...I am thinking of what kind of honoring she would appreciate.
> Next week I will be high in the NC mountains on a secluded grassy riverbank, camping out with 44 third graders.  We keep a fire going all night for two nights - our "reflection fire."  We also choose our activities using Open Space.  I am thinking that by the fire I'll weave Angie's journey into a little story for the kids, and end up with one of her gifts - the four ways of spirit - which I have no doubt that the children will understand...& those who find it useful will remember.
>  
> Thank you to this community for introducing me to her work.
>  
> Sparks, rising into the night sky ~
> Chris
>  
>  
> 
> On Tue, Apr 29, 2014 at 11:07 PM, Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken at gmail.com> wrote:
> I had the privilege to study with Angeles for a few years at CIIS and to interview her for my dissertation on open space. 
>  
> Rooted in her Basque mystical tradition, she was uniquely gifted in braiding the indigenous worldview with the modern western in a way from which all could learn.
>  
> Early on, she noted that the four principles of OS are "principles of detachment" that are central to the fourth thread of her Fourfold Way. 
>  
> Seemed to me that OS is a method that supports a collective to engage the entire Fourfold Way together. With the minimal appropriate structure needed to support such a collective "wayfinding" journey. Michael Herman, Chris Corrigan and others have written on this too.
>  
> She showed me how the OS closing circle is congruent with the "return and giveaway" which culminates many indigenous ceremonies; a spiritual and practical harvest from our individual and collective journeys 'across the open space' as Harrison wrote in his book on Spirit.
>  
> This all allowed us to consider OS a kind of Trojan Horse (or the new formulation Trojan Mouse - among the dinosaurs?) to bring indigenous wisdom into modern institutions in a braided way.
>  
> We were and are blessed by her gifts and her amazing storytelling and warm hearted presence. 
>  
> Jeff
> San Francisco
>  
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Thomas Herrmann 
> Date:04/29/2014 2:17 PM (GMT-08:00) 
> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list ,GC list 
> Subject: Re: [OSList] Angie Arrien 
> 
> Oooh what a loss. Angeles has been with me for many years, although I never met her. I had hoped to meet you soon to grasp more of your profound wisdom. 
>  
> The teachings of "The fourfold way" have meant a lot to me
> The four ways of spirit: 
> Show up and be fully present
> Tell the truth without blame or judgement
> Follow what has heart and meaning to you
> Be open to outcome, not attached
>  
> Still working on it…and will keep on...
> Thanks Angeles Arrien
> With love
> Thomas
>  
> 29 apr 2014 kl. 22:02 skrev Christine Whitney Sanchez <christine at innovationpartners.com>:
> 
> 
> Angie's presence on this earth was a blessing.  Because of her robust legacy, those blessings will continue.  But I'm missing her spunky presence already.
>  
> Christine
> 
> Christine Whitney Sanchez
> +1.480.759.0262
>  
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Apr 29, 2014, at 6:58 AM, "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> Many of you will remember Angie Arrien. Delightful lady with many gifts that she offered freely. She has died, and she will be missed.
>  
> Harrison
>  
> *******************************
>  
> Forwarded Message
> From: Angeles Arrien <office at angelesarrien.com>
> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:27:02 -0700
> Subject: In Memoriam: Angeles Arrien
>  
> 
> Dear Beloved Fetzer Friends of Angeles,
> 
> I am so very sorry to inform you of the sad news that Angie Arrien passed away last Thursday afternoon April 24, 2014 of complications after a long bout of walking pneumonia. Her family members around the country and in the Basque Country in Spain were being notified over this past weekend; and this week we will be informing her many colleagues, friends, and students of her recent passing.
> 
> I know how much Angie contributed to the Fetzer Institute, asnd how deeply she cared for and loved all the members of the Board, recognized the immense support of Staff, and was so dedicated in her stewardship of the Fetzer Fellows Groups and Community over the years.  She wholehertedly believed in the vision and mission of John E. Fetzer and the true power of love and forgiveness to be a transformative force for good in the world.
> 
> For those who wish to honor her memory, she asked that they light a candle once a month on the anniversary of her passing, for one year. At Angeles' request, there will not be a public memorial, her family will have a closed private service at a later date.  Angeles' business office will be closing by early summer.  
> 
> I know she will be missed terribly. Thank you so much for all your support and friendship to her over all these years, it meant so much to her.
> With deep gratitude for all you have provided for her over these many years as friends, colleagues and especially allies in your good work in the world.
> 
> Lhadron
> 
> P.S. At her family’s request, cards or letters of condolence can be sent to Angie Arrien’s office at the address below.
> 
> ==================
> Office of Angeles Arrien
> P. O. Box 2077 
> Sausalito, CA 94966
> 415-331-5050
> www.angelesarrien.com <http://www.angelesarrien.com> 
> ==================
>  
>  
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> USA
>  
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>  
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>  
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