Karolina - no doubt about it. The circle turned inside out is powerful indeed. In the very early 90's, pretty much on a whim, I did just that and will always remember the moment. This was a gathering of The Together Foundation - a multinational with positive visions for the world. I think there were 24 countries, but who was counting. And after two days of intense and rich conversations we gathered for the closing circle, which happened just like usual with the Talking Stick. As we came to the end, I asked everybody to link hands and I led a marvelous procession outside. And what an "outside" it was! We were meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming at the feet of the Grand Tetons. Nearby was a small hill and I made for the top with 250 people in tow. When we reached the summit, I circled the troops - and over the soft mountain winds I said -" We have had two wonderful days of being with each other, and if you look around this circle you will know how wonderful it has been. But there is a morrow, and if you drop your hands and turnabout in place you will be there. We are now facing 360 degrees of the compass, and very shortly we will follow our compass. If it feels a little lonely and strange, just remember all the love at your back." They did and we did. How could you go wrong with the Tetons as a background 360 degrees?
I don't know that there is a "right" way to end an Open Space - but that is certainly my favorite. And Yaris - I surely hear your question, "if os is white and rich." But I rather suspect that our friends and colleagues in Haiti, East Africa and West (Liberia most recently - where it all began), India, and Asia might be a little puzzled. Doubtless their skin shade is a little different and darker than most of those assembled in Berlin. And I am absolutely positive that they consider themselves as "part of the circle." As a Navaho Chief (who's skin was several shades darker than mine) said at the conclusion of an Open Space on something I can't remember - "What took you so long White Man?" He was there first, and I am eternally thankful. Which I guess takes us back to the beginning of this response. The circle is always open and eventually it MUST turn inside out. And this also takes us back to the "rich" part. Airplane tickets cost money. Some of us have it, and some don't. But those who do (have money) have a special obligation, I think - to turn the circle inside out. We might also remember that Open Space is NOT Berlin, Chile, or wherever. That is just a touchdown point of the community as it moves around the planet - rather like a cyclone with all the destructive/constructive possibilities. Shiva doing the Dance! Dance on Baby - definitely cool! Harrison Ps - And of course we need to find resources for other good folks to join us. Just remember, a lot of them already have (joined us) - even before we knew anything about Open Space! J Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA Phone 301-365-2093 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Karolina Iwa Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 12:46 PM To: [email protected] Subject: WOSONOS - feeling of a missed opportunity. coming back home from the wosonos made me sad. trying to figure out where it comes from i realised there was something i was missing a lot in this meeting. and i find it a pity i just realised it in the closing round and could only verbalise it on the way back, but i take my chance and still would like to share it with you here over the list. i had this impression we all as a group / community during this meeting were mostly busy with topics related to the method and to us in various roles and relationships with others while using the method and to our personal and organisational growth and development. i had this visualisation of us standing in a circle, shoulder to shoulder, facing inside, feeling the power, the confusion, the energy, the movement. focused on the centre and its content. maybe feeling / sensing the world outside, but neither relating to it a lot nor taking common actions in its direction. there were so many people, so much energy and emotions and i guess i just miss us turning our backs to the centre of the circle, turning our faces and fronts to the world outside, feeling the energy behind our backs and with it feeling empowered to take common action and send a message to the world, use the resources we have and see how we can use what we are blessed to be experiencing and having. if the collecting of issues or action planning was to happen again i wish i had posted for example an idea for each of us to offer an open space to the community we belong / relate to or are connected with for free. that we would create and share a gift. share the energy, the spirit so often referred to with the ones who need it but cannot afford it or don't know where to ask. and i know many of us do it anyway, i am totally aware of that. i just wish we had taken the chance for using the collective we were for making a big something, a big action, sending a lot of invitations to the world to enjoy and spread and have fun and love and development and support the self-organisation... i am thinking as well of yaaris question in the closing round if os is white and rich. i wonder what to do to break the impression i share. what can i do? i wonder how to invite people who cannot afford coming to wosonos because they are missing resources. as i work with european funds i came up with the idea of applying for a grant which would co-fund the participation of people who would come to the wosonos, but for whom the participation fee and all related costs are an barrier in participating. this is just a small idea, but i would like to give with it a shot and try to support a tendency and make os more inclusive and make us a more diverse and welcoming group. as i know more about european funds i could take care of coordinating such a project and try to get additional funds for the 2012 wosonos in london. i am quite anxious of people misunderstanding my point, and it takes quite some courage of me to write this email, but i still want to share it. with everybody who was and was not there and with everybody here. karolina. * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
