<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div>G'day All <br><br></div>Here's an item about feelings of awe in everyday life. Which may be seen as a complement to Harrison's gift of his reflections on <a href="http://openspaceworld.com/AweOfSacred_HarrisonOwen.pdf" target="_blank">Awe of the Sacred </a>on our list recently. Much to savour in this. <br></div><div><br></div><div>And also as a reminder of what is missing in the 'busyness' of much of modern day life. <br></div><div><br></div><div>It comes from a program called <b>Life Matters </b>on Australia's Radio National.</div><br></div>See <b><a href="http://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgo6RMAnXG?play=true" target="_blank">http://radio.abc.net.au/progra<wbr>mitem/pgo6RMAnXG?play=true</a></b> <br></div><div><br></div>Listen particularly from 3.37 minutes to hear comments on experiencing feelings of awe in everyday conversations with people, among whom are strangers. Resonate with you? <br></div><div><br></div><div>With this kind of thought in mind, initially intuitively, I have invented a novel form of socialising. Essentially co-created contexts in which conscious conversing happens. Starting in Hong Kong where I lived for six years from 2005. </div> <br><div>This is hosted events in public places. Based squarely on principles of <b><a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org" target="_blank">OST</a></b> of which I have been a facilitator since 1994. With the difference that, instead of coming together to address a complex issue, the focus of everybody present</div><div>is on 'the other'. By this I mean that the core activity is having a meal with someone not met previously. Everybody present does this, all participate fully. With 'opening' questions such as 'What has attracted you to be here'? And 'Who are you'? <br></div><div><br></div><div>What I have called <b>Conversare</b>, from the Latin <b><i>con versare - to turn or to dance together</i></b> has now been experienced by lively spirits in diverse places around our little planet, 3rd from the sun. See<b><a href="http://conversare.net/feedback/" target="_blank"> Feedback</a></b> and, for example, <b><a href="http://conversare.net/conversare-in-america/" target="_blank">Conversare in America.</a></b> <br></div></div><div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><span> </span>And this comment from a participant in a <b>Conversare</b> event which I was invited to
host in London, UK in July 2016:</span></span></font></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
</span></font><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%"><br>
"In these times of rapid change, simply connecting people for
distraction-less conversation is profoundly impactful. Conversare provides an
exceptionally simple approach for the return to glory of community trust and
connectivity.<br>
<br>
For me, I arrived not knowing what to expect and I left feeling connected and
supported by good people and great conversation."<br>
<i>John Hovell: Head of Organisation Development, BAE Systems plc</i></span></span></font></p></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2">Also t<span style="line-height:115%">his from a
participant in an event in Padang, West Sumatra, </span><span style="line-height:115%">Indonesia </span><span style="line-height:115%">a few years ago</span><span style="line-height:115%"> may strike </span><span style="line-height:115%">a chord:</span><span style="line-height:115%"></span></font></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><span></span>“Conversare is simple and deep, a spiritual
adventure.” <br>
</font></span><i><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2">Firti Rasmita</font></span><br>
<br></i></span></span></div><div>Now here where I am back living, Adelaide, Australia, mainly in a remarkable space - the right place! - the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SE-U2OyVuw" target="_blank"><b>Adelaide Central Market</b>.</a> Which is reputed to be one of the world's best produce markets. Equally remarkable is that my colleagues and I are the only people to use this place regularly after trading hours on weekday nights in the nearly 150 years of its history. It is only open for business on Friday nights. </div><div><br></div><div>The most recent event was last Monday 20 November. For an overview see <b><a href="http://conversare.net/conversare-now-evolving-in-wondrous-ways/" target="_blank">here</a></b>. <br></div></div><div><div><br></div><div>At the conclusion several participants said to me how much they had appreciated the experience of conversing over dinner with a stranger. One confided, <b>awe fully,</b> <smile> "I am a shy person and find great difficulty
in talking with strangers. But here tonight I loved doing this." <br></div><div><br></div><div>As you may sense there are a variety of implications arising from the concept - and associated practice- of <b>Conversare </b>with<b> </b>its potential applications for promoting conscious and empathetic connecting. Among these are it:<b> <br></b></div></div><div><div><br></div><div>. is another way of opening space.<font size="2"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%"> Last year (2016) I posed a question on the OSList
“Can one be a space opener in contexts in which the purpose is to relate well
to others present rather than to address a complex issue with an expectation of
creative outcomes?” <br></span></span></font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%"><br></span></span></font></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2">
<span style="line-height:115%">See </span><span style="line-height:115%"><a href="http://conversare.net/?page_id=2621" target="_blank"><b><span style="line-height:115%">here</span></b></a></span></font><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%"><font size="2"> for responses on
this from several experienced OST practitioners. As you may appreciate these are thoughtful affirmations that, at its core, <b>Conversare</b>
is another <span></span>way of opening space for
respectful and imaginative interacting</font>.</span> </span></div></div><div><div><br></div>. brings people of diverse backgrounds into the kind of connecting which is 'awesome' (sic) - and great fun! For more <span id="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458goog_502376084"></span>see <a href="http://conversare.net/conversare-for-an-adventure-in-delightful-connecting/" target="_blank"><b>here</b> </a>and <b><a href="http://conversare.net/conversare-substantial-benefits-for-those-who-appreciate-its-personal-and-professional-significance/" target="_blank">here </a></b></div><div><br></div><div>. can be brought to bear for a wide range of purposes (such as 'Meals to Wheels'; Meet your fellow tenants in high rise apartments); and also or in a wide variety of public places <br></div><div><div><br></div><div>. is likely that you can imagine others ...</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>What do you consider could be the significance of enabling people to participate in 'awesome' conversation in contexts in which they feel respected and secure? <br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>With good wishes to all, including those now recovering from Thanksgiving. <smile> <br></div><br><div> <br></div></div>Looking forward<br><br><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><b><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Papyrus;color:rgb(51,51,255)" lang="EN-US">Al
</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US">Alan Stewart, PhD<br>
Social Artist<br>
Facilitator of conversations that matter and participatory fun</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-m_5410626431528210213gmail-m_-820487099691011240m_5758703944246137088m_-6031295807132886939m_-9083847603989711894gmail-m_6813909687747291836gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-il">Senior</span></span></span></span> <span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-m_5410626431528210213gmail-m_-820487099691011240m_5758703944246137088m_-6031295807132886939m_-9083847603989711894gmail-m_6813909687747291836gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-il">Fulbright</span></span></span></span> <span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-m_5410626431528210213gmail-m_-820487099691011240m_5758703944246137088m_-6031295807132886939m_-9083847603989711894gmail-m_6813909687747291836gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-il"><span class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-il">Scholar</span></span></span></span>
</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US">Blog:
</span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US"><a href="http://conversare.net/" target="_blank"><b>Conversare</b></a><b><br>
Web: </b><a href="http://www.multimindsolutions.com" target="_blank"><b>Multimind Solutions</b></a><b>
</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US">Mob: +61(<a href="tel:0413%20848%20680" target="_blank">0)413848680</a></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US">Member:
</span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.ntmu.com.au/" target="_blank"><b>National Trouble Makers Union</b></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.ntmu.com.au/" target="_blank"><b><br>
</b></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt" lang="EN-US">Residence: Adelaide, South Australia, since 1975
<br>
With time away in Hong Kong (2005-2011) </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"" lang="EN-US">______________________________<wbr>___</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><img id="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-m_5410626431528210213gmail-m_-820487099691011240m_5758703944246137088m_-6031295807132886939m_-9083847603989711894gmail-m_6813909687747291836gmail-m_-4093099516857393824gmail-m_3585270709936021801m_-5334618416493769240m_-262018108785510309gmail-m_-2377040735543992368_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.multimindsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/logo1.png" class="m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-m_5410626431528210213gmail-m_-820487099691011240m_5758703944246137088m_-6031295807132886939m_-9083847603989711894gmail-m_6813909687747291836gmail-m_-4093099516857393824gmail-m_3585270709936021801m_-5334618416493769240m_-262018108785510309gmail-CToWUd m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-m_5410626431528210213gmail-m_-820487099691011240m_5758703944246137088m_-6031295807132886939m_-9083847603989711894gmail-m_6813909687747291836gmail-CToWUd m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-m_5410626431528210213gmail-CToWUd m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-m_-4335688428959133766m_-7087322142313224134gmail-CToWUd m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-m_3410936488863556013gmail-CToWUd m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-m_-1445328170146057446gmail-CToWUd m_5983837560276525566gmail-m_-1790194650395994766m_2257300304450610458gmail-m_6070291561118986455gmail-m_-216272616700056501m_-8762073389352423007m_-1119049908059295086gmail-CToWUd" width="200" height="41" border="0"></span></p>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><br><font size="1">
</font></span></b><font size="1"><span>"<b>Whenever we treat each other well good things happen."<br><i>Al Stewart</i></b></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>