[OSList] Now What?

Wed Jan 25 08:29:19 PST 2017

Birgitt – Always out there with some good stuff! But I did have to laugh a bit – Birgitt said… “I think of this as a male orientation approach kind of like 'release enough sperm and hopefully one will land and be fruitful.” I could point out that mass dissemination has been out there for several million years, and seems to work quite well. At least we’re here to talk about it. J  And I rather tab Mother Nature with the approach – most massively demonstrated to any northern pollen sufferer when the White Pines give forth. CLOUDS! But never mind. It works. And then we come the massive number of eggs that are produced, and left to themselves. But we needn’t go there. Point is – Anyway that Works! And it might seem that we need a number of options that we haven’t quite thought of yet.

ho

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From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Birgitt Williams via OSList
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 5:45 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Now What?

My response to 'now what?' starts with 'whatever you feel inspired to do'. However, it is worth taking time to get into personal health and balance to open up some space within oneself and one's heart. Okay...I am on fb and witnessing many people dear to me who don't seem to be in a state of space opened within and within their own hearts. It is time to let go of what is not useful within oneself and return to your beautiful open hearted selves.

And then on the 'now what' journey, I have a perspective.

Some people will use a scatter approach with their energies. These people will do a little here, a little there, sometimes in a reactive way, sometimes in a proactive way, and hope that if they do a lot including getting a lot of discussions going maybe in open space, something will make a difference. I think of this as a male orientation approach kind of like 'release enough sperm and hopefully one will land and be fruitful'.

Other people will use an approach of creating nourishing environments so that all of those great ideas that could make a difference land on fertile ground. There is something in the bible about planting seeds in fertile ground, not on rocks or sand...if one wants to get a harvest. I think of this as a female oriented approach akin to having a healthy womb that can receive a sperm and egg combination for fruitful results.

My 'now what' answer is that we need both approaches to be worked on so that we have the best chance of having something fruitful emerge in a way that makes a difference. I will open space when and where possible, including paying careful attention to keeping space inside of me staying open. I will not use words of judgment as anything being good or bad. I do have preferences of what I personally am drawn to. And for those of you who know me, you know I am deeply committed to nourishing a culture of leadership so that we have the fertile ground for something fruitful to come from all of the great ideas that will come forward when the space is open.

Breathe in, breathe out, and pay attention to the space in between.

Birgitt

On Tue, Jan 24, 2017 at 5:09 PM Harrison Owen via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

Now What ....

In the space/time after the Inauguration when all the marchers have left town, The Question remains. Now what?

Presumably, The Donald and friends will get on with the business of doing what they promised. And it seems that in spite of an embarrassing first several days, they are hard at work. Doubtless others are working equally hard in opposite directions. Some day we will find out the final result which could range from Planetary Disaster to American Triumph (as in Great Again!). Either is possible, neither is probable – and assuming that we are still here to pose the question: What Next?

It might seem that I am treating the Trump Years as a trivial interlude. Truthfully, when considered in the context of the evolution of the species, that’s exactly what it is. Trivial. But somehow significant. Trump is but a blip in the flow of human history – however his significance lies in the fact that he represents one more symptom of the ending of our familiar world order. 

We in the USA, to which I might add Western Europe, much of Asia (including Australia and New Zealand), Southern Africa, and most of South America – have lived in a blessed time. Not without the occasional natural disaster, shootings, civil disturbances, or whatever. But it has been good. Folks in the Middle East and Central Africa will have a different view, but they are a painful, but distinct minority.

My children, and their children as well, have never fired a gun in anger, missed a meal, or wondered if they had a place to sleep... Always there. Maybe not what they wanted – but there. Called: The Parents.

Charlie Kenny, writing in The Atlantic (12/18/2015) said, “The world is better-educated, better fed, healthier, and more tolerant – and it looks set to get richer, too.” Yet The Donald Says: “The American Carnage ends here.” – With his inauguration. The implication is simple. Disaster is immanent and He is the Savior! But from what? If Kenny is right, it looks like we are in pretty good shape. Lots of problems for sure, but definitely headed in the right direction.

It might surprise you to learn that I am more in agreement with The Donald than you might suspect. But my reasons would not be his, and any solution I can see would not include The Donald as Savior. I believe we as a species are truly at a Transformational Moment in which the world order as we have known it for the past 75 years or so is dissolving. The institutions, processes, world views, ideologies that we have lived by, with, and in -- are no longer sufficient for our needs. And. Useful alternatives are not visible – and that would include, The Donald.

Such a view may appear extreme but it is not mine alone. David Ignatius, writing in the Washington Post (Jan 20, 2017), titles his effort , The world order is cracking up. He says: “Donald Trump’s inauguration marks a global inflection point: He takes office at a moment when many analysts see a transition to a new economic and political order — one where the risks for the United States and its allies are likely to increase.” 

Personally, I doubt that the sky will fall tomorrow. However,  I am certain that whatever we may have taken to be “normal” will never be seen again. 

This Transformative Moment may be unique in its qualities, but such moments are by no means unique in human history. The people of Israel found their world torn apart in 400 BCE (The so called, Babylonian Captivity). It was a time of fear and terror. It was also a time of massive creativity and renewal as chronicled, and perhaps led by, such brilliant folks as the Prophet Isaiah (2nd Isaiah). The Renaissance, The Industrial Revolution –  created havoc and innovation in the West, and similar Transformative Moments have marked the lives of all peoples on The Planet. I do believe we are at such a moment, one more time. 

Once again, The Question – Now What? 

In all honesty, I don’t know. However, I think Albert Einstein may assist our wayfinding with the thought, “Problems cannot be solved with the same mindset that created them.” We cannot simply do more and better of what we’ve always done and expect to arrive at a different outcome. 

This really is Open Space –  in the best and deepest sense of the words. Nothing here and everything possible. At once terrifying and verging on ecstasy. But where to start? 

I rather feel that our common experience of opening space together may give us some clues. Hardly the Answer, but maybe the beginning. I wish you well on the journey, which you will take whether you wish to or not. Frankly, I can’t think of anything more exciting!

Harrison

Winter Address

7808 River Falls Dr.

Potomac, MD 20854

301-365-2093 <tel:(301)%20365-2093> 

Summer Address

189 Beaucauire Ave

Camden, ME 04843

207 763-3261 <tel:(207)%20763-3261> 

Websites

www.openspaceworld.com

www.ho-image.com

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-- 

Birgitt Williams

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