<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><i>Jim wrote:</i></div><div><br></div>I've noticed that many Open Space events include an extremely neat<br>arrangement of pens and paper in the centre of the opening circle; for<br>example with several stacks of paper and with pens in orderly rows, placed<br>uniformly around the centre point<br><br>I tend to place those resources more simply - a single stack of paper<br>(fanned to make it easy to grab a sheet) and - literally - a pile of pens poured from a bucket<br><br>Does it matter? If so, why?<div><br></div><div><i>And Michael added (somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I believe)...</i><br><div><div><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">oh, by the gods of open space, Jim, this is one of the most complex<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>issues...in fact, there really should be nothing at the actual center it<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br> representing the void (sometimes obliterated with flowers, candeles,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>scarfs and other schnickschnack)...and anything near the center should<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>be as minimalistic as possible, of course...and conform to the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>international standards of visualisation (only one color of paper only<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>one color of markers...all kinds of meanings are given to colors!!)...we<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>at the berlin open space cooperative (registered under the German coop<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>law) have been in the process of writing a detailed manual exactly<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>touching this one point...<br>One thing I recently learned from an insider is never, never to put my<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>temple bells on the floor (I used to deposit them among the paper stacks<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>near the center)since it dishonors the bells...well, one less thing to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>have there</span></blockquote><br></div><div><i>And I think...</i></div><div><br></div><div>I cannot imagine the quality of any open space event I have seen either as participant or facilitator since 1986 has ben affected by the way pens, paper (colored or not), flowers, bells, scarves, tree branches, stones, microphones, etc., are present or absent, thoughtfully arranged or carelessly strewn. I have never seen a participant have trouble picking up a piece of paper -- or give up their willingness to post a session because the paper was too difficult to pick up. </div><div><br></div><div>I don't put bells in the center because once my set was stolen (as a joke, but I didn't know that until the next day). I always use white paper because I believe it is the most environmental choice. Avoiding placing something in the very center because it dishonors the space? To me that's just hollow symbolism. ALL the spaces need to be honored. The spirit in the space is so much more powerful than I, so I don't feel comfortable making my own personal interpretations of what honors it or doesn't. I don't think the space cares. And spirit will overwhelm or supercede any attempt by me, mistaken or otherwise, to reflect, coax, or capture it.</div><div><br></div><div>Each of us can do what feels right, that honors the spirit of the way we honor spirit. Some participants will notice and feel supported, and many will not.</div><div><br></div><div><div>Nothing matters to everyone, everything matters to someone, and many things matter to no one. So yes and no, Jim. You'll never know.</div><div><br></div><div>Ralph Copleman</div></div><br></div></body></html>*
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