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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To Harrison, Judi, Joelle and
others...........</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the space in which I move and the clients/
groups with whom I work, the word "peace" isn't used much. Nevertheless, I think
that is what I - and so many others on this list - do. By opening space for
conflict to be aired and held, for dialogue to open up, for unheard voices to be
heard and new, transforming conversations to happen, we create space for the
flow of spirit. In my case, of late this means helping cancer researchers to
move beyond their original institutions and form a co-operative network and
share research resources; for a bank to foster the development of "communities
of practice" and knowledge sharing; for mid-level managers to come into
their own power (empowerment). Not to say the ongoing work of parenting two
teenagers!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And yes, it begins in my own being, with
as much acknowledgement of and non-resistance to all that I see
in myself as I can manage [the good, the bad and the ugly!] and than naturally
extending that out to others - close.. further.. further still. Being able to
provide a container for peacefullness in myself helps me to provide such a
container for others too. Some of these "others" are clients; but it is also
children, family, friends.... ultimately and hopefully everyone we come in
contact with. For me peace is not just the feeling of peacefulness, kindness,
friendliness. It is the place which is able to contain that AND it's "opposite"
- anger, fear, jealousy.. and hold them until a resolution naturally
appears.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>.................Easy to say, life-long task to
do!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best to all - will be with you in spirit for 3
pm meditation!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Meg Salter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MegaSpace Consulting<BR>416/486-6660<BR><A
href="mailto:meg.salter@sympatico.ca">meg.salter@sympatico.ca</A><BR><A
href="http://www.megaspaceconsulting.com">www.megaspaceconsulting.com</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:owenhh@mindspring.com" title=owenhh@mindspring.com>Harrison
Owen</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, April 12, 2002 3:46
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> A Practice of Peace (Tova
Averbuch)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>As the decibels of war increase, conversations about Peace seem
to grow commensurately, but I think conversations may be growing a little
thin. In the great sweep of history, the difficulties of the moment will
probably be seen as another bump in the road of Humanity, but as we sit on the
edge of this particular pothole, it looks awfully deep. At such a time, talk
about Peace should probably give way to the active creation of that ephemeral
state of being. And I believe that is exactly what we do each and every time
we Open Space. No guarantees, of course, but in my experience, the true gifts
of Open Space come in packages marked Trust, Respect, and Hope. At least that
is what I am told everywhere i go around the world. And this trio goes a long
way towards the establishment of Peace. Why and how this might be so is a
mystery we would do well to consider -- but THAT it occurs is a matter of
personal experience, at least my personal experience. So I beg you -- Practice
Peace, Open Space -- wherever, however, and as often as you can. And as you
do, reflect on what all that might mean for you and then share so we all can
learn.<BR><BR>Tova Averbuch, our friend from Israel, sent me the following --
and I share it (with her permission). She mentions Carol -- a young
Palestinian with a small son Simon and a husband called Sam. Great
People.<BR><BR> <FONT color=#ff0000> I speak to Carol and I speak to
Miriam (from the settlements). We go to demonstrations and look for ways to
unite all the political and public forces that are looking for resolution and
consent (in various ways including os). The more the brutality the more the
sanity and public commitment, I hope it will be figural and applicable soon.
We open spaces in organizations and communities at least once or twice a
month. That is a place to find some hope, when people, together, touch on
something that is truthful, authentic; uniquely created and attended, being
born. The feeling is revitalizing and reminding people of their wholeness and
‘partness’ no matter what the issues are, and I like this form of prayer
together. <BR><BR>In all of that craziness there is a voice that has to tell
you about one of the practices that keeps me sane, maybe that is the way I
practice being whole and at peace in ‘war zone’- some degree of peace in a
situation in which “knowing“ is not a luxury I can afford.<BR><BR>My practice
is that I reiterate 4 principles (strongly the first two) and one law whenever
I am “stuck to death” in anger, sadness or despair and look for life, for
flow. I remind myself:<BR><BR>1<B>.“Whoever are here are the right people</B>”
yes, everyone!. If I do not understand what is ‘their’ contribution it is for
me to figure out but they/we are all the right people, the very loving and the
very hating, the extreme right and the extreme wrong / left.<BR>My practice is
to tell myself <B>Whoever are here are the right people</B> even in situations
I (and/or others) do not want to hear it, especially in those situations, and
to look for some new understanding in what way he or she or ‘them’ or me are
‘the right people’, moment by moment.<BR>I really do believe this to be so
with no difficulty and take this truism as an axiom. It is very helpful
because I can find myself sad and hopeless at times but never short of meaning
to have or to make up, lessens to seek and learn (I keep busy…I can flow) and
I know new things again and again about being part (partaking is defiantly a
part of peace making. It is piece making…) and finding endless ways of doing
and being ‘inclusion’ in a world of ‘exclusion’ as the name of the game.
Another asset of this rule of peace is that it keeps me humble yet an active
player in the game of living.<BR>This principle also serves me as <B>a
personal</B> <B>master guide</B> in the midst of chaos: <B>if I am ‘the right
people’ what may my task be? </B>What is my<B> passion </B>and what is my<B>
responsibility,</B> moment by moment. This is particularly helpful in peace
making in times of war because it is so overwhelming at times that one tends
either to save the word or to feel totally helpless.<BR><BR>2. “<B>Whatever
happens is the only thing that could have</B>”. I find the reiteration of this
axiom especially necessary for energy preservation. No, I do not yet believe
it but I made up my mind ‘ to fake it until I make it’ going on my way of
turning from a worrier to a warrior. <BR>It is hard to stop accounts with the
past and for me it is even harder to let go of the future but that is what
gives me enough energy to be fully present and make a difference. As I see it,
this is essential for peace making in war zone for two reasons: one is that
you need yourself totally present to survive and the other is that because of
the chaotic forces if you are fully present you have endless opportunities to
try and make a difference. I know it is to some degree paradoxical but yet
each one of us is one of the determinants of “whatever happens”. I can see a
third reason: being totally present is the fullest way I can think of ”being
alive” or ‘doing living’ and that is a real necessity.<BR><BR>It is becoming
very late and I am not sure how much sense I make at three o’clock in the
morning so I will bring it to a stop here. If I didn’t make much I hope you
will forgive me.<BR><BR>Tova<BR><BR></FONT>Tova -- You make great sense. And
thank you for sharing. And for the rest of us -- How is our Practice of Peace
progressing? And what to we have to share?<BR><BR>Harrison<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://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm"
eudora="autourl">http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</A><BR><BR><FONT
color=#0000ff><U>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR></U></FONT>To subscribe,
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eudora="autourl"><FONT
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