And only one letter away from Ghandi! Best regards,
Phelim McDermott ________________________________ I generally pick up emails only at the beginning and end of the working day. I am currently aiming to respond the following day. If it is urgent please call me on 07956 187298. _____________________________________ www.improbable.co.uk @openspacer On 11 Dec 2011, at 12:57, Eva P Svensson <[email protected]> wrote: > :D > Will quote that too > :o) > Eva > > Skickat från min iPhone > > 11 dec 2011 kl. 17:10 skrev Phelim McDermott <[email protected]>: > >> In other words I shall quote you Harrison >> >> "Be the space you wish to see in the world!" : Harrison Owen >> >> Love >> >> Phelim X >> ________________________________ >> >> I generally pick up emails only at the beginning and end of the working day. >> I am currently aiming to respond the following day. If it is urgent please >> call me on 07956 187298. >> _____________________________________ >> >> www.improbable.co.uk >> @openspacer >> >> >> On 11 Dec 2011, at 10:44, Harrison Owen <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Bernard – Very thoughtful and well done! Thank you!! And a further note on >>> space. I would agree that having sufficient break out space is important, >>> but I think that “sufficient” is always in the eyes of the beholder. Odd >>> way of talking, I guess – but we have all run into situations where there >>> was plenty of square feet/meters – but somehow it seemed cramped (a boring >>> party). As well as the reverse – everybody was packed together, but somehow >>> there was plenty of “room” (a cheerful night at the pub). My take is that >>> space is much more a matter of feeling than physics. >>> >>> I have certainly seen this operational in multiple OST’s. I think of those >>> times when the main room was so cramped, or worse, shaped like a bowling >>> alley – and everybody was sitting on top of each other. As for the “break >>> out” spaces… BUT it all worked magnificently. And the question is >>> naturally, “How come?” >>> >>> Part of it may be cultural dispositions towards large and small spaces. >>> People raised in our far west (Plains states) feel cramped if they can see >>> another person – miles away. By contrast, Italians (some of my best >>> friends) get so close that I, as an American, feel more than a little >>> claustrophobic. Were I to have said something (I wouldn’t) my friends would >>> have been hurt. Something about not liking “their space” I guess. J >>> >>> When it comes to Open Space, I think there may be something else operative >>> – which is what we as the facilitator bring to the party. If our space is >>> fully open (really present and clear of obstructions), I suspect that can >>> and does establish a sense of “spaciousness” which has nothing to do with >>> square footage. By the same token if we come from a place of closed >>> personal space – we are thinking about all the things we should be doing, >>> worrying about the size of the venue, contemplating next week’s assignment, >>> the initial “spaciousness” can be cut by quantum factors. Maybe? >>> >>> Harrison >>> >>> >>> >>> Harrison Owen >>> 7808 River Falls Dr. >>> Potomac, MD 20854 >>> USA >>> >>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) >>> Camden, Maine 20854 >>> >>> Phone 301-365-2093 >>> (summer) 207-763-3261 >>> >>> www.openspaceworld.com >>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST >>> Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> From: [email protected] >>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bernhard Weber >>> Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 6:19 AM >>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list >>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Why I Actually Like Calling it "The Law of Two Feet" >>> >>> Dear Peggy and all >>> >>> I fully agree to your YING/YANG interpretation of these two aspects. >>> And when I read, what you wrote, I walked mentally back to my old >>> "politically radical times". In spring of 1976, a big area in >>> Vienna/Austria, that had been used as "Auslandsschlachthof" (forein imports >>> slaughterhouse) by the municipal services was about to be sold to a >>> consortium of garment importers. We thought, we need a real good place for >>> the culture of the young people and - inspired by Freetown Kristiania in >>> Denmark - we occupied the area and the Viennese ARENA was born. >>> >>> For months an unbelievable diversity of groups and activities met there and >>> did wonderful things. We had the bikers club of the Simmeringer (low income >>> area in Vienna) Buam (boys) there, lots of cultural events, even Leonard >>> Cohen passed by and sang for free, there were a children house and a social >>> service, lots of guests from outside coming for concerts and strolling >>> through the ARENA, there was upper and lower class, foreigners like the >>> "Collegium Hungaricum" (at times of the iron curton, do not forget that). >>> We had a system of working groups and a plenary. Decisions taken by both. >>> >>> And it was all joyful and peaceful. >>> In the end, too much money was involved. The city sold the >>> Auslandsschlachthof and offered some petty area nearby for cultural events >>> (still being called ARENA WIEN, but something completely different). We >>> went out without violence but a big "ARENA funeral" walked through the >>> town. And it was over. >>> >>> I was very young then, a student and although having done a good (small) >>> group dynamics trainer training at Vienna University of Sociology before, I >>> simply could not understand, why this all had worked. Well, as the >>> co-founder of the first free school for 10-15 year old pupils, I had some >>> clues that getting rid of the usual "everyday trance" was an important >>> factor, but was still unable to discriminate between the pre-conditions for >>> situations where it worked (like ARENA, free schools, some undogmatic >>> leftist political events....) and when it did not work (IT being high >>> diversity, time pressure, lots of conflicts around,....) >>> >>> For years, even centuries that followed a part of my studies was dedicated >>> to understand exactly this: >>> WHY HAD IT WORKED? >>> >>> I continued my learning about groups and organizations. I learned more >>> about large group dynamics, facilitated learning workshops, became more and >>> more experienced in refined facilitation techniques, etc. >>> >>> But this only increased my impression that nobody could give me a >>> comprehensive explanation. >>> And that theoretically (especially large group theory - wise) it COULD NOT >>> HAVE WORKED. >>> >>> Around 1987 I first heard about something called OPEN SPACE. Nothing very >>> detailed but specific enough to hear about the law of the two feet and the >>> resistance to predefine what the participates would deal with. >>> So without further ado I just tried it at the final event of a district >>> development project at Cape Verde Island (where I worked at that period in >>> time). All stakeholders of the project were invited. With amazing process >>> and results. >>> >>> Some years later, I was lucky and could learn from Harrison how to do it >>> properly and hear more about the knots and bolts. >>> >>> And it was clear. ARENA had been one of these spontaneous, not prepared, >>> OPEN SPACES that happened again and again in the world. >>> >>> And when I was invited to talk at the Pankahyttn (Punks Hut) in Vienna last >>> year (the Pankahyttn is itself a newly occupied - small - space in VIENNA >>> town), it was this learning I could offer: >>> >>> ARENA Wien had worked because the LAW of TWO FEET had been appliable. >>> 1) by the non-rules of ARENA >>> 2) by the enormous space we had, so each of the groups and sub-groups could >>> occupy their own space, come out, go back... >>> >>> And it was applied, not as a rule, but as a natural thing under these >>> conditions. >>> And the de-facto-emergenc of the OS principles had then been a simple >>> consequence in the ARENA context. >>> (The fifth law was not yet formulated last year, so I could only say: "it >>> was not an OPEN SPACE in the sense of OST, but still, the OS spirit was >>> there") >>> >>> >>> And that is the reason why I post this here (in fact it's a small point and >>> nearly a truism): >>> >>> It is true that the YING/YANG of the law of the two feet allows such things >>> to happen. >>> But at a theoretical level we should not forget >>> that there exists a physical pre-condition: >>> ENOUGH BREAK-OUT SPACE >>> So that the (conflicting) groups and individuals can get out of each others >>> way >>> >>> If there is not enough physical space available >>> the law is not appliable >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Bernd Weber >>> Change Facilitation s.r.o., A Global Partner Who Makes Change Happen in >>> Complex Environments; www.change-facilitation.com, >>> www.change-management-toolbook.com [email protected]; >>> Regional Phone numbers: >>> -Austria: +43 664 135 4828, landline + 431 5968657) >>> -Sri Lanka: landline +94 11 2785859, iPhone +94 777740757 >>> >>> >>> NEW: Intensive Learning Workshop >>> "Playing with the Waves of Change" >>> www.change-facilitation.com/ >>> >>> You want to have the design for a "Playing with the Waves (of Change) WS 2 >>> completely taylor-made according to your individual learning interests & >>> needs & limitations? Then have a look to the questionnaire at >>> www.surveymonkey.com/s/5ZDS6JQ >>> >>> >>> >>> If you get Email from my account <[email protected]> >>> please do not use the reply button but answer to <[email protected]>, because >>> my change-facilitation.org INBOX is not working for the time being. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Am 11.12.2011 um 04:17 schrieb Peggy Holman: >>> >>> >>> I just read through several months of OSlist messages and am picking up >>> this old thread because it inspires me to tell a story. >>> >>> Phelim, like others, I like your naming the movement "toward" and "away" in >>> the Law of Two Feet. >>> >>> When I introduce the Law of Two Feet, I speak of these dynamics because of >>> an exchange I had the privilege to witness shortly after I ran into Open >>> Space. >>> >>> It was a conversation between the two people who have most influenced my >>> thinking and practice of opening space: Harrison (of course) and Anne >>> Stadler. For those who don't know Anne, she has been involved with Open >>> Space since the OS in Goa India. I think that was in 1989. Shortly after >>> that trip, Anne, who was a TV producer at the time invited Harrison to make >>> the first video on Open Space Technology, called Learning in Open Space. >>> I'm not positive about this, but I think Harrison and Anne then offered the >>> first OST workshops. >>> >>> Anyway, a few years after that, probably around 1996, during a trip to >>> Seattle, Anne and Harrison were talking about the Law of 2 Feet. Harrison >>> spoke of it as a safety valve. He said something similar to this OSlist >>> message by him from Nov. 24, 2001 [I put some text in bold]: >>> >>> ... I would guess that there are situations where a more active role might >>> be required, but I have never run into one. Even when the level of conflict >>> is very high and the issues are old and deep. For example, in South Africa >>> in the days shortly after Mendela's release from prison we did Open Spaces >>> with such folks as Zulus, Hausa, Afrikaners -- all together, and no >>> problem. I have often wondered why this is true, and my best guess is that >>> The Law of Two Feet provides the needed "safety-valve" Folks come together >>> because they want to solve some issues. At the same time I think it to be >>> true that nobody (save for a few pathological types) really like to blow >>> their cool, so to speak. The desire to solve the issue brings them >>> together, and the Law enables each individual to judge when they need a >>> walk around the block to "cool off." I have seen this lots of time, and >>> never seen it to fail. >>> >>> That made sense to me! Then Anne talked about the Law of Two Feet as a >>> reminder to stand on your two feet for what you believe in. (Unfortunately, >>> I don't have a comparable "in her own words" message.) >>> >>> As I listened to their exchange, all I could think was, "they're both >>> right!" I had a sense that between them, Harrison and Anne had expressed >>> the yin and yang of the law. Sometimes the ability to walk away and cool >>> off is useful. And at other times, remembering the importance of taking a >>> stand is what's called for. >>> >>> That conversation influenced how I've opened space ever since. When I >>> introduce the Law of Two Feet, I talk about these two actions. >>> >>> Sounds a lot like moving towards and moving away, yes? >>> >>> appreciatively, >>> Peggy >>> >>> >>> _________________________________ >>> Peggy Holman >>> [email protected] >>> >>> 15347 SE 49th Place >>> Bellevue, WA 98006 >>> 425-746-6274 >>> www.peggyholman.com >>> www.journalismthatmatters.org >>> >>> Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into >>> Opportunity >>> >>> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get >>> burnt, is to become >>> the fire". >>> -- Drew Dellinger >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Oct 31, 2011, at 10:14 AM, Caitlin Frost wrote: >>> >>> >>> Thanks for articulating this Phelim. >>> >>> For me the Law of Two Feet is definitely about movement. Nice to notice >>> the "toward" in balance to the "away from" - and underneath that for me is >>> just the invitation to wise movement to follow my flow - to open space for >>> that for everyone. >>> >>> And my practice can be in noticing what would stop me from moving when that >>> feels right, and working with that. I can see how that serves me in life >>> and work both in and beyond Open Space. >>> >>> Your post here sharpened my ear for the phrasing - and in two recent Open >>> Space openings I heard more clearly the speaking of this law as "away from" >>> without the equal balance of towards. I will be more mindful now - when >>> offering it myself, or teaching it to others. >>> >>> I like to think of it like I sometimes see little kids moving around. Not >>> even needing a story to explain why they are moving. There doesn't have to >>> be a reason or problem to leave - they just go when they are ready and find >>> themselves in the next place. Eager faced - 'hey what's happening over >>> here?' >>> >>> Thanks for offering some attention here. >>> >>> Caitlin. >>> >>> On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 2:19 PM, Phelim <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> In open space technology there is only one law. It’s know as “The Law of >>> Two Feet” Some people don’t like calling it this and it is objected to on >>> the grounds of diversity/disability issues. So it gets re-christened “The >>> law of mobility”. However, I think it’s a very useful metaphor and as such >>> think all should have access to it. However that’s not what I want to talk >>> about today. >>> >>> Sometimes people concentrate on “The law of two feet.” as being about >>> leaving somewhere: it might be a session, a person who is dominating a >>> conversation, a topic that goes off somewhere you are no longer interested >>> in, all these are things one might want to move away from. >>> >>> However it’s good to remember it’s a law of TWO feet. Let’s say the first >>> foot or step is away from. Then the second step in terms of our metaphor >>> could be what we are moving towards. If the emphasis is just on the first >>> step the potential energy or even an awareness of the second step can get >>> overwhelmed. Veiled in issues of possibility or social politeness. >>> >>> So remember both aspects of the Law: “away from” but also “towards”. Where >>> have you already taken yourself or your mind? Where inside yourself have >>> you already taken your next step somewhere else? >>> >>> This is a useful thing to remember not least because it might support you >>> over the threshold of your imagined impoliteness or arrogance when you find >>> yourself worrying about the fact that you are leaving somewhere and being >>> rude. >>> >>> Maybe if you focus on where you are going to or where your presence has >>> gone.. Then you could realise it might be rude to have already left a less >>> than present self amongst the group. Or perhaps it’s even arrogant to >>> assume people will even notice that you left. >>> >>> So whether you are attending to “The Law of Two Feet” or “The Law of >>> Mobility: Focus on the TWO feet of the dynamic and as Hal and Sidra Stone >>> say “Sweat the choice”. >>> >>> >>> Love Phelim >>> >>> http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/clusterform >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> >>> I generally pick up emails only at the beginning and end of the working >>> day. I am currently aiming to respond the following day. If it is urgent >>> please call me on 07956 187298. >>> _____________________________________ >>> >>> www.improbable.co.uk >>> @openspacer >>> @Wosonos2012 >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> UPCOMING WORKSHOPS in the transformative inquiry process of The Work: >>> Open Heart - Bowen Island, Nov. 4-6; Weekend retreat, Nova Scotia May 4-6, >>> 2012; The Work at work/business, Edmonton May 26 & 27, 2012 >>> www.caitlinfrost.ca >>> >>> The Art of Hosting Conversations That Matter, Bowen Island, BC, October 23 >>> - 26th. >>> >>> If you really knew how beautiful you are, >>> you would fall at your own feet. >>> Byron Katie. >>> >>> CAITLIN FROST >>> Coaching and Facilitation >>> Certified Facilitator - The Work of Byron Katie >>> Principal - Harvest Moon Consultants Ltd. >>> www.caitlinfrost.ca >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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