[OSList] Sacred Space

[Harrison Owen via OSList]

…And I meant to add. I don’t think you can create Sacred Space. But you can acknowledge it. Everywhere.

 

ho

 

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From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Colette Street via OSList
Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2016 1:29 PM
To: Birgitt Williams; World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Sacred Space

 

Hello everyone.  I am super new to this community, and I would like to learn more.  Sacred and profane spaces are of immense interest as a child protection practitioner.  I am researching and looking how to "take in" the spaces if children, and I want to discover how practitioners can be more in-the-moment during home visits.  

This also includes the liminal transitions from office to home visits, and the changes that often occur within the practitioner.  I made my initial presentation on the matter recently, and I'd love to know how open space might inform my research and practice.

I am open to ideas and concepts.

Warmly,

Colette

Colettestreetphd.blogspot.com 

Colette M. Street, MSW, PhD 
Fellow, Institute for Social Innovation,
Fielding Graduate University

Click below to learn more about furthering
your education at Fielding!
http://programs.fielding.edu/phdhdhos-street/

 

On Nov 12, 2016 6:48 AM, "Birgitt Williams via OSList" <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

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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