I use what I can. In First Nations communities bells of any kind often evoke the school bell that sounded in residential boarding schools, and that can be a slightly jarring experience for many, especially for those that experienced trauma at those schools.. Often in these communities I will use a drum, softly beating, and growing stronger to bring people back together.<br>
<br>Almost always, at the end of a gathering, I simply start to put the chairs back in circle which eases the group into the closing. No bells needed there.<br><br>I DO use bells though, in all sorts of other places, because they are really good at getting attention in a gentle and piercing way.<br>
<br>On the question of appropriating vs. using...to me appropriating means to take something that isn't yours and make it yours. People appropriate things all the time from Native American sources. There is tons of bad "Native American wisdom" out there that is exactly that - bastardized versions of traditional thought that have been roped into service of whatever trendy new age concept is the flavour of the day. Appropriation of this kind is not respectful to the group you are working with or the people whose voices you have appropriated. So much of what I see used is completely unsourced, as if somehow there was this great generic and anonymous well of Native American wisdom that is free for the taking. In truth, the first peoples of North America are very diverse and have very deep and sophisticated philosophical, psychological and scientific systems and worldviews, and real people contribute, interpret and work with these systems every day. We would never quote Jung as "an anonymous European Elder." Attributing wisdom to sources is just good practice. <br>
<br>And here's a good piece on what I'm talking about: <a href="http://www.bluecorncomics.com/newage.htm">http://www.bluecorncomics.com/newage.htm</a><br><br>But I think your inquiry about the bells falls into a different category. Using something that is useful is another story. Whenever I ring my bells the first things I say is "Wow...the Tibettans really know how to get people's attention." Then I offer a few sentences about what these unusual bells are, and why I use them. <br>
<br>Am I appropriating something? I don't think so. I used bells to open and close an Open Space gathering for the Dalai Lama Centre in Vancouver once with many Tibetans in the room. They were all delighted, coming up to me afterwards with big grins to say how cool it was that we were using bells to open space. Seems to me it's a question of honest and respectful use. Others might think differently I suppose.<br>
<br>But here's perhaps the cardinal rule on anything I do to open space: make it about opening space for the work to happen. That's what you are there for. Do whatever you need to do, in the context of the folks you are working with, to open space and get out of the way and let them get to work. Dissonant ritual or drawing undue attention to yourself or the process does not generally serve the group. Be clear and don't distract them from the task at hand.<br>
<br>Those are my thoughts...<br><br>Chris <br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 12:39 PM, Raffi Aftandelian <<a href="mailto:raffi@bk.ru">raffi@bk.ru</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Dear friends and colleagues,<br>
<br>
The recent discussion on choosing not to talk about bumblebees reminds me of<br>
my hesitation in using Tibetan temple bells to open the space and to invite<br>
everyone to the closing circle.<br>
<br>
I really like Tibetan temple bells and their place in OST meetings. They<br>
seem to mark an entrance into a different time and space, from chronos<br>
(sequential time) to kairos (spacious, potential-filled time). They seem to<br>
invite presence. And I particularly like the bells given to me because of<br>
their story.<br>
<br>
And, I worry that by using these bells, I am appropriating something that is<br>
not from my original culture.<br>
<br>
And very occasionally, the bells seem to evoke something mystical, bringing<br>
on great discomfort to some participants. I am not sure this dissonance is<br>
necessarily something harmful for participants, however.<br>
<br>
How do others see the questions, concerns I raise here?<br>
<br>
appreciatively,<br>
raffi<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:raffi@bk.ru">raffi@bk.ru</a>, <a href="mailto:raffi_1970@yahoo.com">raffi_1970@yahoo.com</a><br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>CHRIS CORRIGAN<br>Facilitation - Training - Process Design<br>Open Space Technology<br><br>Weblog: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot</a><br>
Site: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</a><br><br>Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.<br><a href="http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com">http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com</a>
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