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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Friends,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>I wanted to share the message below from
Mussarrat Youssuf, who attended OSonOS in Moscow. She isn't on the list
herself so I am sending her questions your way and will forward any responses
that come to the list.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Peggy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Dear Open-Space ‘Astronauts’,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>I landed right back into the lap of an assignment, hence the delay in
writing to all of you...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>I trust that the recent mission in the grand open space experience has
helped you grow and glow even more. And also that you have gained more space
in your inner world to offer to those who need it in the outer world.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let me take this opportunity to share
more because this is one of the ingredients which the whole area of open-space
is built and sustained with. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">I hope it will not be rude to say that I did not learn
any thing new </FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN
style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</SPAN></SPAN><FONT
face="Times New Roman">…. as if whatever was shared and discussed was a part
of me already. The beauty of the open space experience was that it did not
look or feel foreign or novel. The principles and the interactions were right
out of my own system. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">My Most Beautiful and Most Gracious Spiritual Guide has
been helping me to tread along with him on the path of inner beauty and grace.
I believe that by his Grace everything in this universe has started happening
to help me go deeper, higher and forward in this journey. Therefore, how could
the gathering in Moscow be not a part of the same for me?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Everything - shaking hands; looking in
the oceans of wisdom through people’s eyes; listening with respect and
patience; appreciating cultural diversity; halting hugs </FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN
style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</SPAN></SPAN><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> by explaining to some of the men colleagues that
hugging the opposite sex is not part of Pakistani mannerism </FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN
style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</SPAN></SPAN><FONT
face="Times New Roman">; and constantly trying to develop meta-oral skills to
communicate with airport and hotel staff who could not understand a word of
English – came as a gift to help me feel, receive and retain the divine Light
of my Spiritual Guide. The wonderful conversations with Birgitte, Wendy, Carol
and Raffi and with those who were part of the groups that I led came as the
icing on the cake. I am deeply grateful to people for their knowledge and
loving presence who came to the two sessions, ‘wisdom behind the principles’
and ‘ who am I – open space for self-exploration and growth’.
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The law of two feet reminded me the saying of my spiritual Guide when
he says to the visitors, “This is the abode of a <I>Faqeer (a Sufi)</I>, here
you are free to come at any time you wish to and free to leave whenever you
feel like it”. This and many other things make me understand that the spirit
of open space is universal. However, there is room to adapt the methodology
according to cultural and contextual contours.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have some more observations to share
and invite all of you to absorb, reflect and respond:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>It seemed that the OsonOs Moscow was the right
place to learn the spirit of Open Space but not the best to learn its
methodology. For a novice like me with an inquisitive mind and a thirst for
going deep, it helped a lot in understanding the flexible and friendly group
dynamics of OST and its ability to free the mind of many obstacles. But, if
one looked for understanding the facilitation process with all the details,
the OsonOs was not the right occasion. The environment in Moscow was
dynamic, rich and passionate. With generous participation from some
old-hands in OST, it was great to collect the pearls of wisdom from them.
However, I felt the need to see the opening with some more details about the
application of principles and their inner dynamics. </FONT></LI></OL>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=2>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>My lack of knowledge regarding the terminology
frequently used like opening, holding and closing space; the idea of letting
go; and the application of principles created a lot of questions on the
effectiveness of the technology for both organizational and individual
growth. Some unanswered questions are: </FONT></LI></OL>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=2>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=a>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>In a Pakistani context, the over-all
flexibility and looseness of the technology could be taken as lack of
discipline. How to make the process effective for people with a tendency
to come to training as an opportunity to pass time or just have it on
their CV or only because the management said so. </FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Some people like to talk too much
without respecting others’ right to share. Some are too intimidated,
particularly women in mixed groups, to say anything. How to keep the
balance without asserting control as a facilitator?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Open Space is more like a generative process
to bring out the ideas. How far it can help in monitoring and evaluation
of programmes and projects where you need accurate information from
everyone? Because the law of two feet can be used not to report or
participate fully.</FONT><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Last but not the least, how far OST respects
and absorbs the cultural diversity? I ask this because the over-all
external environment of OST is western (sorry to use such limited
definitions). How do you think it can fit into cultures without
conflicting with their basic system where for example looking straight
into the eyes of opposite sex is considered rude; and where leaving people
on their own means that you may have left the weak and the have-not on the
whims of the powerful. </FONT></LI></OL></OL>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Since
OsonOS is supposed to be a multi-cultural event, I suggest inviting people
(potential participants) to share with the group about themselves and their
different cultural values prior to coming to the meeting. Hopefully this would
help in knowing each other better.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Thank
you for reading a long note.... and hope that you can fee the rays of love
that each letter is carrying along with it...count the letters or be immersed
in the light of eternal love coming from Pakistan...</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Peace,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Mussarrat</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Mussarrat Youssuf <<A
href="mailto:youssufmussarrat@yahoo.com">youssufmussarrat@yahoo.com</A>></FONT></DIV><BR><BR>
<DIV><FONT color=#8b8b8b></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dfffbf">MUSSARRAT BASHIR
YOUSSUF<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dfffbf">CONSULTANT, GENDER AND
</FONT><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dfffbf">SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dfffbf">ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN</FONT></DIV>
<P>
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