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<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>Harrison wrote</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>The Open Space Experience, for
me, is an important and powerful educator in terms of our capacity to "live with
and use" the principles (or maybe I could say Laws?) of Self-Organization. We
learn, amongst other things, that the one way to close things down is to attempt
to organize it (control). This can be a painful lesson, particularly to the old
ego, which thought it was in charge. But there is good news as well, for it
turns out that much of what we used to work very hard to accomplish will pretty
well take care of itself, and we can go on to do some more useful things. Down
the road, as we get better at it, I think we can learn to skillfully surf the
waves of our collective self-organizations in order to achieve some pretty
remarkable stuff. For me, this is where the excitement lies, and the learning
curve is a steep one to be sure.</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>Yesterday I came across this quote
from Carl Jung:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2><BR>"The art of letting things
happen, action through non-action, letting go of oneself, as taught by Meister
Eckhart, became for me the key opening the door to the way. We must be
able to let things happen in the psyche. For us, this actually is an art
of which few people know anything. Consciousness is forever
interfering...."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>This seems to resonate well with what
you are saying, Harrison. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>It seems to me that your thinking
about things is also very similar to a style of mediation called Transformative
Mediation. In most styles of mediation, the mediator is encouraged to let
go of the <STRONG>content </STRONG>of the discussion, but in varying degrees
to lead in (control) the <STRONG>process </STRONG>of how the discussion
will unfold. In Transformative Mediation, the mediator is encouraged to
follow rather than lead in both the content and process of the
discussion. The role of the mediator practicing Transformative
Mediation is to support empowerment of each individual and recognition of the
relationship. In other words, to support each individual (empowerment) and
to also support the relationship (recognition). With just this bit of
presence, support and encouragement, many people who have been unable to resolve
their differences find a way to do so. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>Perhaps there is a continuum
here...... how to be helpful with individuals experiencing internal conflict
(psychology), how to be helpful with small groups experiencing external conflict
(mediation), and how to be helpful with large groups experiencing external
conflict/need for problem-solving (facilitation). Within each of these
sets, we have many choices..... many ways of practicing psychology, mediation,
and facilitation. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>If we are interested in looking at
choices that are infused with certain characteristics, like spirit, or letting
go, or self-determination, or openness, or whatever it is we're trying to
express, then we can look for how those values are being expressed at other
places on the continuum, and then we have the opportunity to transfer
knowledge across disciplines. Maybe we can consciously engage in the
fractal dance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>Off to make stuffing I go.
Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who are celebrating this
holiday!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2>Julie</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800080 face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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