[OSList] Sacred Space

[Birgitt Williams via OSList]

Dear friends and colleagues,
I am thinking more about 'opening space' and 'holding space'. I am sitting
here preparing the design for training in Whole Person Process Facilitation
(WPPF), a method complimentary to OST, and designed by me to be a companion
to OST for when OST was not suitable for the situation. I wanted a method
that would open as much space as possible, in which the facilitator would
hold the space to the degree possible for maximum choice and maximum
freedom while simultaneously and without harming the feeling of open space,
could provide content and guidance. This dance between the two, while
providing a congruent experience for the participants, is an art.

In this module of WPPF, we draw the attention of the participants to the
four principles and one law of OST and the importance of conveying them to
the participants both as concepts and as a way of being together. We are
clear in letting participants know that these come from the meeting method
OST and yet, they apply to any situation of opening and co-holding space.

We draw attention to the participants of the Four Immutable Laws of Spirit
as documented by the late Dr. Angeles Arrien in The Four Fold Way. These
four laws of Spirit provide the context for holding and respecting open
space, while simultaneously providing guidance for the facilitator to show
up with full presence, tell the truth without blame or judgment, follow
what has heart and meaning. And so content in the meeting, to the extent
that it needs to be delivered and processed, is done so based on this
guidance.

I personally believe that there is no empty space and that Spirit fills all
space. Within this belief, Spirit is not outside of me nor am I ever
separate from Spirit. This has implications for my thoughts about opening
space to 'what is in the infinite sea of all possibilities'. For me, what
we refer to as space is always Sacred Space, and rich in what is
contained.  Within this context, I continue to ponder about what it means
to 'hold space' and why facilitators might refer to themselves as 'space
holders'. My lived experience with both OST and WPPF is that I have a
function in opening the space, or at least bringing the existent space into
awareness (bringing Spirit into awareness; bringing the sea of
possibilities into awareness) and then inviting the participants to co-hold
the space with me as quickly in the process as possible. And yet, in true
confessions...after more than twenty years at this, I still am wondering
what I really mean when I think of 'holding space'.

Our online WPPF training begins Monday. I can already feel this will be a
weekend of my joy in my deep reflections. I welcome your input and thoughts.

Blessings and hugs all around,
Birgitt
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