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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Somewhere along the line the idea crept in that a
self-organizing world severely limited, if not eliminated, human initiative. With
thoughts such as these it is not surprising that many would find the notion of
self-organization abhorrent, and definitely to be resisted. After all -- if
true we would be reduced to the level of zombies whose fate and future lay
totally out of our hands.<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'>I believe the truth of the matter to be radically different.
And the basis of my belief is our common experience in the 1000’s of Open
Spaces we have enjoyed. I take it as a given that the essence of Open Space is
the primal power of self organization – no news there. </span></font><font
size=2 face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>J</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Every time
we open space the forces of self organization are invited to be fully present. Of
course, those forces are there all the time, but we do seem to make best effort
to keep them under control. </span></font><font size=2 face=Wingdings><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>J</span></font><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>J</span></font><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'>Now ask yourself – what is the common experience in
Open Space for both First Timers and Old Hands? I don’t think you would
describe it as restrictive, dis-empowering, or imprisoning! Indeed –
quite the opposite. I grant you some folks get a little carried away, but I
have heard it said that the experience was one of radical freedom and intense
creativity. I remember one total skeptic saying, as the event came to a
conclusion, that never before had he experienced such respect and acceptance in
a group – and never before had his feeling of personal power and
contribution been as great. Such feelings might be mistaken as the outpouring
of rampant individualism. Something that Anne Rand might be proud of. But that
is hardly the case for these same people and others as well speak of a deep
sense of community, being in the presence of brothers and sisters who only hours
before were total strangers – of Coming Home.<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'>I have often heard another remark which is rather
bitter/sweet: “This has been so wonderful – too bad we have to go
back to reality.” Or it is said that it is time to go back to the “real
world.” Sad statements for sure, and were it to turn out that the
experience in Open Space WAS reality – those statements are tragic. I am
quite aware that life is filled with a full measure of chaos, confusion and
conflict. Indeed all three are essential for life, and all three predictably
show up in the course of any juicy Open Space. But the difference is that in
Open Space the flow of emergent events is honored thereby allowing them to
reach their natural resolution. Nobody attempts to coral them into submission.
The Law of Two Feet applies. <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'>At the end of the day Open Space Technology is not about
having great meetings. Nor is it simply another tool in the facilitators’
tool box, although both are doubtless true. For me the true equity I find in
OST is the ongoing natural experiment and learning experience of living
intentionally in a self-organizing world. Perhaps it is for this reason that I
find the enhancement of the facilitator’s role and tools to be less than
interesting – unless that enhancement involved the reduction of that role
to the point of total invisability. <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'>Harrison Owen</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>189 Beaucaire Ave</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Camden</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">ME</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">04843</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>207-763-3261 (Summer)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>301-365-2093 (Winter)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Website <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Personal Website <a href="http://www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</a>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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