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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Seems like we have all taken a breather – which, is
probably a good thing, if only to allow some recuperation for our mailboxes!
For myself, I am definitely in a recuperative state having moved north to the
Great State of Maine. Time for boats to go in the water and the summer to
begin!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>And – I was thinking back over our multiple
conversations on Self-Organization and Open Space. Clearly there are many ways
to think about and attempt to understand what transpires every time space is
opened. Each one definitely adds a rich facet of understanding, and as near as
I can tell, none are mutually exclusive. That said, I keep coming back to SO as
a starting place. My reasons are several, and they may be useful to me alone,
but I thought to share.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>1) Seeing OS as an example of SO immediately takes Open
Space out of the realm of the strange, mystical, esoteric, and anchors it very
firmly in the fabric of global experience. It is therefore not something that
we as facilitators do or create. It has been there long before we arrived on
the scene.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>2) Since Open Space is definitely part of the natural order
of things, doing an Open Space is not a retreat from reality, but rather a
direct engagement of the “way things are.” And so when participants
remark, as they sometimes do – that this is all very nice, but eventually
we have to get back to the “real world” – an appropriate
response might be – This is the real world!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>3) Seeing Open Space as an exemplar of self organization
enables us to use the insights gained in an event in the larger world of our
daily experience. For me, this is perhaps the most compelling reason of all. Chris
Corrigan puts this very neatly when he refers to Open Space as “Training
Wheels.” I believe it can be argued that the most profound pathology that
humans experience is the alienation from the natural order of things. Clearly
this is at work in terms of our relationship to the environment – which we
have all been taught is something that we “own” and must control.
At least that is what it used to say in all the books. The idea is whacko not
only in terms of the health of the planet, but more immediately to the health
of that smaller aspect of the planet, Homo sapiens. So perhaps the greatest
contribution of Open Space is that it can enable us to find an appropriate fit
with the world in which we live. Yes, I said, “fit” and I think
fitness really applies – what is at stake is our relationship with
ourselves and our world. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The meaning of “fitness” for me is “healthy
relationship.” I am reminded of the work of Martin Buber who said 100
years ago, “In the beginning was relationship. (to be found in “I
and Thou).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Harrison</span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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