<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 5.50.4522.1800" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks Harrison for that; especially about the non
verbal "space holding". A nice addition (at least for me) to ways to be
"present while being invisible". I suspect it is a good idea even when you do
understand the language...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Winston</FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=owenhh@MINDSPRING.COM href="mailto:owenhh@MINDSPRING.COM">Harrison
Owen</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, October 17, 2001 9:04
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: So now what.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>At 10:29 PM 10/16/01 -0400, you wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite type="cite">So, I would greatly appreciate
anyone's wisdom about using OS in this kind of<BR>third world context.
I will get a translator for when I walk the circle,<BR>etc. I think we
can get enough computers, and a space. I expect that
many<BR>participants will be illiterate. The politics will range from royal
loyalists<BR>to Maoists. Humility and responsiveness to those with power is
a big part of<BR>the culture. I have worked for a couple of weeks in Nepal
about 18 months ago<BR>but that was my one and only time in
there.</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Based on a number of similar experiences, I can tell
you will have a wonderful time, and congratulations on venturing out -- in
Space! I can also tell you that you will come face to face with what I have
always felt to be the core essentials of Open Space -- creating and holding
space without understanding a word of the discussion -- and equally "core" --
without being able to contribute a word (directly) of direction/intervention.
And guess what, it works just fine. I have found, however that my own,
personal preparation becomes (if possible) even more critical. For 99.999% of
the folks in the circle, it will be your "being" that speaks. If you can enter
that circle in a state of clear presence -- as best as you can -- everything
else just moves along. A good translator will help, but I find the process so
intuitive that even a poor job of translation seems to work. You will also
find the opportunity to experience modes of presence that words ordinarily
cover up, and modes of perception that our thirst for "the detailed facts"
retard. To be a little more specific, I find that in order to comprehend what
is going on it is sometimes helpful to shut your eyes and ears and ask your
self "How does it smell?" Or," What are the colors?" With a little practice, I
think you will find that the nose knows -- and the activities of the group
create fields of colors. I don't mean to be weird, and maybe this is all about
auras or something -- but all I can tell you is that when I consciously
operate in these non-verbal channels I feel totally connected to what is going
on so that I can effectively do my space creating/holding function. And the
carryover once you return to an English speaking (or whatever your native
language might be) environment is also very useful. It keeps you "above" the
words. Which becomes essential, particularly when you are dealing with a
large, disbursed group. <BR><BR>Have fun.<BR><BR>Harrison<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite type="cite">Harrison Owen</BLOCKQUOTE><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP>
<DIV align=center>7808 River Falls Drive<BR>Potomac, MD 20854 USA<BR>phone
301-469-9269<BR>Open Space Training <A href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/"
eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</A> <BR>Open Space Institute <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/"
eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</A><BR>Personal website <A
href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh"
eudora="autourl">www.mindspring.com/~owenhh</A><BR><BR><FONT
color=#0000ff><U>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR></U></FONT>To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options,<BR>view the archives of <FONT
color=#0000ff><U>oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu<BR></U></FONT>Visit: <A
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"
eudora="autourl"><FONT
color=#0000ff><U>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</A><BR><BR><BR><BR></FONT></U></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>