<html><head><base href="x-msg://226/"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Awesome story Harrison<div>Once again, the 'practice of peace' illustrated in real time. I continue to name Open Space as the most nonviolent meeting process I am aware of.</div><div><br></div><div>As for the fifth principle - everywhere (anywhere?) is the right place - I do like it. </div><div><br></div><div>And at the same time, wonder if it adds anything additional to what we already have....?</div><div><br></div><div>Maybe it is an acknowledgement of there being no physical/geographical boundaries, universally, to where space is/can be opened....</div><div>And at the same time, when I'm 'creating' an OST meeting with a sponsor, I'm proposing that we use a venue/location that best fits our purpose - so, some spaces might be more appropriate than others...eg no pillars in the centre of the circle, space for Agenda Wall etc...</div><div><br></div><div>Ah - I see - there are 'ideal' conditions around which we construct artificial or manufactured 'open spaces', within which people can have an embodied experience of what the real deal is...that the whole universe is self-organising!</div><div><br></div><div>Ok - I've gone round the circle - and arrived back where I started from - back to basics :)</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Brendan</div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On 24/05/2011, at 5:31 AM, Harrison Owen wrote</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; 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; font-size: medium; "><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; "><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">The recent gathering in Sardinia was a treasure. But then again, every such gathering is unique and rich. A special gift for me was a series of extended conversations with Claudia, whose last name has disappeared in my senile brain. She had been in Egypt with the Facebook crowd in the square – and how she came to Sardinia is a story in itself. Seems like the young Egyptians were opening space right and left as they negotiated their way through their version of The Arab Spring. Somewhere along the line they went online in search of more information – connected with my youngest son (of the same name) who passed them along to me. We exchanged several emails, and I suggested that were it possible to come to Sardinia they would have the opportunity to connect with many marvelous new colleagues whose collective wisdom vastly exceed my own. Only Claudia could come but she carried the tale. Marvelous!<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">So we talked. And as she described the happenings of those interesting days it gradually dawned on me that the Open Space of major significance was not so much the several gatherings convened under that title – but rather the ebb and flow of Tahrir Square. That indeed was a convening of those who cared. In palpable ways they brought their passion and responsibility into that present moment. And while it is true that they never sat in a circle or created a bulletin board, they surely opened a market place of ideas, hopes, and dreams – which in turn created new circles of caring. Claudia said it was a dance, a massive, multiple circle dance as those who cared shared their passion(s) with responsibility. The circles formed and broke, only to form again in new, richer and more complex patterns. Who can say what the precise results are or will be. (The Proceedings have yet to be printed<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; ">J</span>) – but the typical behaviors of every good Open Space were manifest in abundance. “High Learning” – in which previously impossible ideas and aspirations came alive. “High Play” – in which strangers and sometime enemies ate and laughed together. Serious moments for sure but leavened with a lightness that comes when the flood gates of renewal are wide open. “Appropriate Structure and Control” – God knows how many people were there, and for sure nobody was in charge. But that did not mean that violent and bloody chaos was the order of the day – although doubtless nobody would have been surprised had they appeared. But there was structure as the dance circled on. And the control was emergent from the people, born of their passion and responsibility. “Genuine Community?” – Total strangers coming home, wrapped in the care and concern of their fellows. And “Authentic Leadership?” You bet! – Not the sort of Leadership that supposedly resides in the appointed leaders – by way of the divine right of kings. Indeed, the King had been sent out of town! But Leadership was there in abundance, blossoming (what else in the Arab Spring?) where and as needed. It appeared at the nexus points of passion and responsibility and passed from person to person as the dance rolled on.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">And that is the story, at least as I heard it told.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Sounded like Open Space to me! And nobody had a plan, intention, or design. For sure – there wasn’t a facilitator in sight! – So MAYBE – we need to understand that Open Space is a naturally occurring phenomenon? To be sure we can give it a boost or assist – But the opening of space seems to happen all by itself!!<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">So here is a challenge. If Open Space is a naturally occurring phenomenon (and what else would It be?) then we have the opportunity to assist. And how would we do that? I suspicion that our 25 year collective experience will give us some clues. We know that a single facilitator can be very effective in initiating the process – not by doing a lot, but by really BEING THERE. And that can happen very quickly – let’s say instantaneously. To be sure we can make many plans and arrangements: conferences with clients, selections of the “optimal” site, providing the “right” paper and magic markers, etc, etc. It is also true that even when none of that can happen – everything just works. That is a little hard on the old Facilitator’s Ego, but it could just be that an awful lot of what we take to be essential is nice, but not necessary. After all Tahrir Square just “happened.” Talk about “Extreme Open Space” or the Next Step!!<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">All of which lead me to see what I am sure has been there all the time: The Fifth Principle. We know the others.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Whoever Comes is the right People.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">NOW – the new one. “Wherever it is, is the right place.”<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Whenever it starts is the right time.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">When it is over, it is over.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">I think we could have a lot of fun with this – and for sure it will take us to some places we have never been. I’m ready.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">And if Claudia will reveal her last name, I would be deeply appreciative. Not to say thankful, for she gave me a great gift.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Harrison<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Harrison Owen<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">7808 River Falls Dr.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Potomac, MD 20854<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">USA<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">Phone 301-365-2093<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">www.openspaceworld.com</a><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.ho-image.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">www.ho-image.com</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Personal Website)<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Consolas; ">To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:<a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>OSList mailing list<br>To post send emails to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>To unsubscribe send an email to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:<br><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a><br></div></span></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>