<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Aug 21, 2007, at 8:54 AM, Brendan McKeague wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"> Hi Kaliya - your approach is really interesting - I had not thought of these dimensions before - especially the notions of being 'fanatical about the circle' or imposing my beliefs, or about working a community into a circle....much food for thought indeed.<BR><BR> In my understanding of Open Space, which my experiences have confirmed, the initial journey of the leader is to open and walk that circle of connection - <BR></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Yes - to these folks this is WAY "Granola". Not only are you in a circle but you are walking around it....</DIV><DIV>They don't come to 'deeply look into one another's eyes' and 'feel the unknown space' or 'embody reality' they came together to get stuff done. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>It is my job to help facilitate the container that they can get this done. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">I think that the circle is a fundamental part of Open Space. For me, to have a semi-circle would break the connection and focus. <BR></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Then you will really love the theater style seating I use. </DIV><BR><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">The group can be tempted to look/focus outside the circle<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>In theater style you can have the blank wall in front of them all - this is powerful statement itself - it says "you....in these seats you are not the audience you are the creators of this space". </DIV><BR><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"> for their direction/solutions/expertise, rather than embodying the invitation to recognise the wisdom that is in the circle (whether be expressed through 'really smart amazing people' or others) ....<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>They have plenty of Wisdom in what ever physical form - you don't need a circle to prove it to them. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">The circle is not there for 'its own sake' to prove equality - as I see it, it is a configuration for gathering that is deeply archetypal, with many layers of meaning and symbolism. It has the capacity to touch something within people that I agree may have been lost or driven out. In my own Celtic mythology for example, it is a symbol of community connection, hospitality and the nature of infinity (no beginning, no end).<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Again - they didn't choose to come to an event that I produce to groove on archetypical forms or get into circle symbolism. They are there to get stuff done. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I almost always close the day in a circle - by the end of a day in open space they 'get' that they are the group and that it makes sense to sit in this form. They are warmed up to it. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Enjoy living in the space.</DIV><DIV> =kaliya</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV></DIV><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Kaliya - Identity Woman</DIV><DIV><A href="mailto:kaliya@mac.com">kaliya@mac.com</A></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><A href="http://www.unconference.net">http://www.unconference.net</A></DIV><DIV><A href="http://www.identitywoman.net">http://www.identitywoman.net</A></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><A href="skype:identitywoman">skype:identitywoman</A></DIV><DIV>Y!:earthwaters</DIV><DIV><A href="AIM:kaliya@mac.com">AIM:kaliya@mac.com</A></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>510 472-9069 (bay area)</DIV><DIV>415 425 1136 (on the road)</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>*
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