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At 10:03 AM 12/29/2001 -0900,
<font face="arial" size=2 color="#333399">Julie</font> wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><font face="arial" size=2 color="#333399">It
isn't that Open Space allows for expanded consciousness, perhaps, but
that it invites us to more fully express our current level of
consciousness. (And what a gift that is!) It is unlike many other
group processes in that it doesn't erect artificial barriers to our full
expression of our present consciousness. (I get it,
</font><font face="arial" color="#333399">Harrison.... we are invited to
more fully express our Now, our current state of consciousness.... to the
extent that we express it and share it, we individually and collectively
expand.) The experience might lead us on a spiral of expanding
consciousness, and it might not. That part is up to each of us to
choose. What Open Space offers is simply the invitation to more
fully express who we are in the present moment.</font><font face="arial">
</font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#333399">Is that
closer?</font></blockquote><br>
I think so. It is all about an <i>invitation to expanding consciousness
-- </i>with the emphasis on <u>invitation</u> and expand<u>ing</u>.
Nobody has to take the trip. But we can. The choice is ours -- first,
last, and always. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><font face="arial" size=2 color="#333399">This
piece about taking another look at how we think about conflict is also
important. There is a growing profession developing around this
question, of which I am a tiny part. I don't hear OS practitioners
talking much about conflict resolution, but I wonder whether there are
some important lessons for conflict resolution professionals in the work
you're doing. I think the answer is yes, but I haven't quite
figured out what the lessons are. </font></blockquote><br>
For me there are indeed lessons here -- and by no means have they all
been figured out. But it could be a very useful and exciting project,
given the state of the world. At the risk of misunderstanding and
appearing as a bomb-throwing revolutionary in the halls of conflict
mediators -- maybe the first thing we need to do is stop trying to
resolve conflict? I am by no means suggesting that we simply stand aside
and cheer the combatants onwards. That tends to get bloody, and if for no
other reason than pure self interest, the thought is not a wise one.
After all, the blood could eventually be our own. But I find certain
considerations suggestive of an alternate approach. <br><br>
First, conflict, in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing. It
shows that people care about something, they have some passion.
Approaches that resolve the conflict by eliminating the passion remove
precisely the ingredient of constructive change. Nothing will be
different until people care to make it different. <br><br>
Second, when people are in conflict, the issues and inter-relationships
are so incredibly complex that I as an "outsider" don't have a
prayer of understanding the true dimensions of what is going on. Which
means for me that the possibility of developing a rational process to
straighten out the mess is a nice idea, but beyond the realm of
possibility. Of course, those with the necessary knowledge are so close
to the "problem" that they often can't see the forest for the
trees. <br><br>
Thirdly, the critical piece for me (as a potential peace bringer) is not
the conflict or the issues but rather the necessary space in which the
parties can separate long enough to see new options. Presuming that they
care about some meaningful life, and are generally opposed to killing or
being killed (literally or figuratively), the folks will figure it out.
That is, I believe, the experience of Open Space, or at least it has been
my experience -- no matter how high the level of conflict may be. And
just to be clear that this is not the exclusive magic of Open Space, I
note that some of my legal friends who seem particularly skilled at
enabling the resolution of conflict start with a search for what they
call "negotiating room." I guess I would call that open
space.<br><br>
Fourth, when the parties at interest have figured out who they are and
where they are going, there remain a number of important tasks. Primary
is to help them to an awareness of the fact that <u>they did it</u>,
combined with a recognition of how they did it. Not in detail, for the
details will never be repeated, but in general -- because this
recognition will enable them to do it again the next time they find
themselves in conflict. And of course there are doubtless a number of
"i's" to be dotted and "t's" to be crossed which I
find are best done by those with the appropriate skills -- usually the
legal eagles. But at the end of the day i think it important to remember
that preparation of the necessary documentation (written or otherwise) is
not to be confused with conflict resolution. It is "only" a
map. And we have had some discussion about maps and territories.
<br><br>
Of course, I guess there are those folks at the far end of the curve who
really don't care about issues or their resolution, they just love
conflict for reasons that seem to have a lot to do with their own
personal power needs. But I find such folks to be in a distinct minority,
and they tend to lose their power and impact when the space is genuinely
open -- a fact that usually terrifies them. Malignant Space Invaders all.
<br><br>
<br>
Harrison <br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<div align="center">Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-365-2093<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>
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