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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman" DEFAULT="FACE"><FONT SIZE="3" POINTSIZE="12" DEFAULT="SIZE">Dear Julie,<BR>
I am not attempting to understand what you wrote but I certainly feel inspirited and am sure that my experience bears out what you expressed. Thanks.<BR>
greetings from thunderstorm after a steaming summerday berlin<BR>
mmp<BR>
<BR>
On Sun, 8 Jun 2003 11:45:19 -0800, Julie Smith wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>Dear Artur ~<BR>
><BR>
>For me, the "it always works" aspect of OST is the only possible outcome<BR>
>from any OST, not because of any particular "positive" or "negative"<BR>
>effect, but because during the time the OST is taking place, the group<BR>
>operates by proper principles, principles that honor the inherent wisdom<BR>
>of every person in the room, and that invite each person to express<BR>
>their wisdom in the manner of their choosing in the moment they're in.<BR>
><BR>
>I don't think it matters if there is high energy or low energy. Both<BR>
>are valid. (Note the growth of plants. High energy in summer. Low<BR>
>energy in winter. Or bears. Hibernation is necessary to growth and<BR>
>survival. To all things a season....)<BR>
><BR>
>I don't think it matters what level of passion and responsibility is<BR>
>evident. It isn't particularly important that any of us express passion<BR>
>or take responsibility for something. What IS important is that we each<BR>
>have the opportunity to authentically express whatever it is that calls<BR>
>out in us to be expressed. If that expression in a particular context<BR>
>is lack of passion or responsibility, that is as valid as it's opposite.<BR>
>(I'm reminded of Thomas Edison, who conducted thousands of experiments<BR>
>before he created the light bulb that "worked." Another way to see this<BR>
>progression is that each and every experiment "worked" in the sense that<BR>
>with each "failure" he learned something he didn't know before, and came<BR>
>closer to reaching his goal. Thank goodness for "failure!")<BR>
><BR>
>In terms of "did it work?" I also don't think it matters what happens<BR>
>after the OST. OST invites each of us to be fully present, fully "in"<BR>
>the moment we're in. We aren't asked to participate in something<BR>
>planned by someone else in some other time, but to actively create our<BR>
>own experience in the unfolding moment we're in. That is the radical<BR>
>difference that OST brings to group dynamics. For me, THAT is<BR>
>sufficient for OST to "work." It invites us to play with presence and<BR>
>Now in groups. Even if no one in the room accepts the invitation to be<BR>
>fully present, the fact that the invitation was made is sufficient for<BR>
>me to feel it "worked." Even if there is no apparent change or<BR>
>transformation in the group after the OST, or even if things appear to<BR>
>be worse, the invitation to presence and authenticity was given. Some<BR>
>invitations need to be given more than once before they can be received.<BR>
>Every invitation matters, even if we can't perceive it's manifestation<BR>
>in the world.<BR>
><BR>
>As I think more on the question of lasting impacts of OST, I realize<BR>
>that clearly, "later" isn't "now," so in some ways trying to pin down<BR>
>the future into a construct we interpret as positive contradicts the<BR>
>very principles of OST. When it starts is the right time, and by golly,<BR>
>when it's over, it's over. Creating conditions (if x happens, OST is<BR>
>successful) is not very OST-like. I think we're bouncing between<BR>
>paradigms here, but can't quite articulate what I mean by that.<BR>
><BR>
>For me, the OST invitation itself, the principles of OST, are a way of<BR>
>truth-telling. They tell a truth about what it means to be human.<BR>
>Simply speaking them out loud, giving them away, "works." Whatever<BR>
>happens next is..... well, the only thing that could have, given<BR>
>everything that is.<BR>
><BR>
>I think we tend to see "good" things happen during and after OST because<BR>
>our nature and the nature of truth is "good." When we're invited to<BR>
>manifest who we are, we find we like what we see. And.... most of us<BR>
>also have a bit of not-truth and not-goodness to contend with. If we<BR>
>see THAT part emerge during or after an OST, then perhaps that isn't a<BR>
>failure, but simply evidence of some of us learning something we didn't<BR>
>know before, on our way to reaching our goal.<BR>
><BR>
>Leaving us with (whew!) It's All Good.... (with thanks to Chris C. for<BR>
>introducing me to the unbidden hidden 5th Principle.... or perhaps it<BR>
>isn't really another principle, but an outcome of the 4 Principles.....<BR>
>yes, that's it..... OST always works because the 4 Principles always,<BR>
>inherently work because they reflect the truth. Truth, goodness, joy<BR>
>and love are all the same. Find one and you find them all. OST<BR>
>principles speak the truth about who we are and how we can properly<BR>
>conduct ourselves with each other. Therefore it works. Every time.)<BR>
>Okay, I'll stop now.....<BR>
><BR>
>Julie<BR>
><BR>
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Michael M Pannwitz<br>
boscop<br>
Draisweg 1<br>
12209 Berlin, Germany<br>
FON +49 - 30-772 8000 FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464<br>
www.michaelmpannwitz.de<br>
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An der E-Gruppe "openspacedeutsch" für deutschsprechende open space-PraktikerInnen interessiert? Enfach eine mail an mich.</HTML>
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