I'm so glad you are there and sharing your experience. I too feel
this is a most exceptional event of process, and a rich one in the
history of our "becoming" as humans. Skye
On Oct 8, 2011, at 12:35 AM, Raffi Aftandelian wrote:
dear open space and genuine contact friends (aka spaceniki and,
perhaps, "wheelies")-
Tonight marked the spirited kick-off for Occupy San Diego, one of
the many local initiatives around the world taking place in
solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. Speaking as a process artist
(OST facilitator and Genuine Contact Program certified trainer) and
a charmingly flawed co-human with a heart who is planning on
camping out (occupy?!) on site for while, I wanted to share some
thoughts and observations and also extend an invitation.
First off, taking part in all of this- tonight's march or attending
the General Assembly (I was at last night's assembly- 130 people
were there!)- really stretches me. I can't align with any of the
adversarial language and expression here. So, as we marched today I
was just silent, holding my multi-colored sign which read, "What
does a wise, compassionate and glocal response to massive economic
injustice look like?" Heck, even calling it "Occupy" make me
shudder!!!
It is physically just very challenging to be in the presence of all
of that energy. That said, from the the *moment* I heard of Occupy
Wall Street, I had an *immediate* intuitive hit that this is
something different, that this is something that I have to support.
And at the very least this initiative could be supported by bearing
witness-- and the simplest way I could do that is just camp there,
just sleep there. That's it.
Perhaps the act of sleeping in a public space can be a way of
claiming *and* opening space, a way of dreaming the New Story into
being?
Also, I'm amazed to see how many different people locally have
heard of the local Occupy San Diego initiative and how many
different people I know showed up tonight! It's almost as if
somewhere deep down there was a part of us that knew this is
something we need to support.
One of the things that encouraged me while attending General
Assembly last night was the readiness and willingness of people
from disparate points of view to hear each other out. What I'm
seeing is messy, imperfect, and I know and imagine that ball has
been dropped. But overall, it's a rather encouraging picture. It's
also encouraging to see meditation part of the picture, too. A 20+
minute flash mob still silent sitting meditation took place after
the march tonight
And indeed it has a lot of open space feeling to it. The general
assembly and committees had been meeting at Children's Park (high
play and high learning anyone??) here downtown. The park is made up
of large circular patches of grass bordered with concrete. Each
committee met in a different patch - marked with the name of the
committee. And you just went to the committee you wanted. And from
what i could see, if you wanted to create a new committee, you
could do that, too! (apparently, there is a process committee here,
too).
I'm curious if there are other process artists out there on or off
these lists who are also supporting Occupy... where you are. I'd
love to enter into conversation (skype call anyone??) on or offlist
to explore the ways we as process artists can support this
initiative. Drop me a line!
much warmth from the pacific coast,
raffi
p.s. to catch some of the flavor of our local "Occupation," see
http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupysd/
http://www.livestream.com/occupysd
p.p.s. I look forward to circulating widely this piece by zen
teacher and peacemaker, Bernie Glassman
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/10/we-are-the-100/
p.p.p.s. to borrow a turn of phrase from a fellow spacenik who
lives DownUnder-- "What can happen?"
powered by ubuntu 10.4
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Skye Hirst, PhD
The Autognomics Institute
Perceiving the Process Nature of Life-itself
[email protected]
www.autognomics.org
Twitter @autognomics
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