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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Dear Reinhard, dear all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>during the last months I had too less time to
read all topics of this list. Today your posting attracted my attention.
</FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>With some of your statements (see below) I can
not agree ... therefore I feel passion to write something. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>When I participated in an OST meeting for the
first time, I really had a big "AHA" experience. I realized, that with this easy
procedure, and solution-oriented structure, and open philosophy human beeings,
no matter from which culture, come immediately in contact with their deep
(conscious or unconscious) desire of "well-feeling-collaboration" AND felt
that this method is predestinated (as no other format I knew and know) to let
the participants become quickly powerful and independent from third parties AND
predestinated to support real transformation processes. I was fallen
so much in love with OST, because it fit exactly to my old mission as a change
facilitator, consultant and coach. My evidence sentence for success was: As soon
as my customer will say ... "thank you, but now I do not need you any more. I am
very good able to do <EM>it</EM> alone". This was always the main goal of my
work. And this was later, what my heart touched so much regarding OST. My
opinion is, that the old good principles of "human wisdom" offers a warm
frame of trust, respect and important orientation. </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2>Of course other large intervention methods are also based on old
assumptions, like "the wisdom lies in the group" and so on. </FONT><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2>But for me the main difference is, that OST supports THE
POWER OF POEPLE, and much less the power of consultants. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>I see my role as an OST facilitator 1.) to
organize OST meetings as simple as possible in order to be a good ROLE MODEL for
each potential new OST facilitator or OST organizer among the current group.
With everything I do or not do I have in my mind the wish, that OST produce
appetite of acting more pro-active, more self-organized, more self-responsible,
and inspired by passion. And the wish, that the philosophy can have a healing
impact in organizations as well as in other human relationships. And 2.) I see
my role as a consultant and coach in front and behind of an OST meeting in order
to support my customers in creating their own best meta-frame for a sustainable
learning and change process. And again with the goal, that next time they are
able to do it alone or much more alone. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Based on this mission I am not a friend of
including "external visualizer" into the "normal" procedure of OST meetings. I
am very open for exceptions. But my assumption is, that this wonderful art, made
by one person, is reducing the sustainable energy of an OST group. Of course, at
the beginning the group is very excited about all the amazing images (and I
really love such pictures too!!). But I believe, that one of the most powerful
results for each single participant in an OST meeting (and after the event) is
the amazing (maybe new) feeling, the he/she is/was THE EXPERT. No matter,
which kind of knowledge he/she is bringing into this meeting ... it is her/his
own passion ... her/his passiv or activ collaboration ... and the way he/she is
able to record the discussions or create images or sing songs. This is what the
people make so often proud! What is when people, who are the FIRST TIME in an
OST meeting see and experience such wonderful images, made by one (or two)
special art experts? My opinion is, that this attraction minimize the energy and
the unconscious belief of "being able to do this all alone". </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>It is not easy for me to write this, because I
know how many nice colleagues love such art in their OST meeting. I really
do not want to reduce the amazing value of your talent and of all others who are
able to create such wonderful pictures or include this art in their
meetings. I see amazing values in other large group activities (and
trainings, seminars, meetings, conferences, and so on), when special people
could draw images from a different / meta perspective, with new wonderful AHA´s,
... their own "bigger pictures". </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>But my
personal opinion is, that especially with OST we should facilitate the power of
the people and less the powerful memories of one persons pictures.
</FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>It is the same with my software. I would never
suggest to use the online tool, when poeple have the opportunity to meet
face-to-face, and if they have the opportunity to experience an OST
... as simple and powerful as possible. <BR><BR>Maybe I see this all too
rigorous? Maybe not? Just my perspective in the middle of diverse perspectives,
fortunately!<BR><BR>Love & Peace from Berlin,<BR>Gabriela Ender</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080></FONT><BR><A
href="http://www.OpenSpace-Online.com">http://www.OpenSpace-Online.com</A></FONT><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2></DIV></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mail@visuelle-protokolle.de
href="mailto:mail@visuelle-protokolle.de">Visuelle Protokolle</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> Monday, May 24, 2004 4:40 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> AW: Four Principles, One Law --a
halfway-technology?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=idOWAReplyText11473 dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Hi all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>when I came
across my first Open Space meeting in 1998 (???) at the lake of
Starnberg, led by Katrina Petri, with Harrison Owen as special guest, it was a
good experience, but not a special "aha" for me. The theoretical background,
the idea behind the concept, as far as I understood, was very natural for me,
I had neither to overcome any resistance nor did I get totally new
perspectives. So I dived into the process drawing images and showing people
what they had said. They seemed to like it, because everybody was on his way
from group to group and liked to get the whole picture together with the
details he remembered.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Open Space
Technology was for me just one of the several large group interventions I
was eager to learn more about. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>When I look at it now, it
was so natural, because it mirrored my believe system, which I had
acchieved under heavy struggles. I had come to the conclusion, that the
wisdom always lies in the group, or in the employees, or in the person, and no
external trainer or superior CEO or parent or representative of some
religion or state knows better what somebody else should do or think.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>I had found friends and
mirrors of my insights in many parts of the inner and outer world, like
the mystics, or the early 'Reformpädagogik' , an educational movement in
Germany and England a hundred years ago, and had based my former work as a
consultant and facility programmer in the field of architecture on exactly the
same believe that people know what they need, and only need the help of an
obstetrician to recognize it themselves. One of my prophets was Christopher
Alexander with his books 'A Pattern Language' and 'The Timeless Way of
Building' from the late 70ties.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>And then Florian Fischer
brought me in contact with the Oslist. I owe it to him that I found so
beautiful people like Chris Corrigan and Birgitt Williams and Marei Kiele
and Artur Silva and the treasures of the widespred wisdom and experience, day
by day. Thanks to you all!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT><FONT face=Verdana
color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>When I see you now
discussing the four principles and one law, I have my two cents to contribute.
It seems to me, that the reason for the fast spread of OST all over the world
might be exactly this law and these principles, functioning as a label, which
at the first look seems so mundane and absolutely not dangerous. They
are so easy to remember, that many people think "oh, that's it? Interesting!
And it costs nothing?" It's kind of a trick: no word about the
desired outcome, the customer value, the spiritual implementations, about
love or self realisation or Michael Hermanns levels. Maybe sometimes a little
mumbling "oh, is this a Buddhist view?" when it comes to the two principles
Artur is talking about. But in general, OST: a simple brand.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>So, since OST for me is
no religion, no dogma, nothing to believe, but a good manifestation of the
real thing, a tool that works, I would propose to let it as it
is.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Behind and
besides, the believe system behind OST is much older and can be found in
many moldings. Here for me begin the worthwhile themes. And besides:
</FONT></FONT><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>What also fascinates me,
is using the OST tool in the context of sustainability, as Birgitt
Williams does, combining it with other spiritual tools like Medicine Wheel.
</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV id=idSignature3391 dir=ltr>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Mit freundlichen
Grüßen</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Best regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Reinhard</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>VISUELLE PROTOKOLLE</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Kuchenmüller & Dr.
Stifel</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Munich Germany </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Tel: +49- 89- 202 447
48</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Fax. +49- 89- 202 447
49</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2><A
href="http://www.visuelle-protokolle.de">www.visuelle-protokolle.de</A></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>
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