This line has sooooo much to it, made me smile and feel peaceful - "And so it went – just like usual…"
On 31 May 2012 15:49, Harrison Owen <[email protected]> wrote: > Kerry – Your pointing out the power of the circle brought to mind a story > from another OS Michael Pannwitz and I did several years ago. I know the > tale has been told, but it surely fits well here…**** > > ** ** > > Just imagine 250 Senior Rabbis and Imams gathered together in the service > of Peace. Place was Seville and the participants were the upper echelon, so > to speak. The sponsors, assuming that a little transition into Open Space > would be helpful for this bunch of folks, had designed the 1st day in the > Standard Way. Straight rows of chairs, dais, and endless speeches. The > proceedings began at 9 am, but by noon the room was total chaos. Delegates > were standing on desks and screaming at each other. I wasn’t in the room, > finding such a meeting more than I can handle, but as I was walking towards > the dining room for lunch I was intercepted by the sponsor’s associate. > Frantically he called my name and popped the big question, “How quickly > could I Open Space?”**** > > ** ** > > The Open Space part of the 3 day program wasn’t due to start until the > next day, but plans do change when driven by necessity. I replied that we > were good to go just as quickly as the hotel could re-arrange the room – > which turned out to be 2 hours. That gave us time for lunch and a little > cooling off period for a very overheated group of people.**** > > ** ** > > Somewhere around 3 pm – there we were. The same group of folks who in the > morning were close to killing each other (at least verbally) – now all > sitting peacefully in a circle. And so it went – just like usual…**** > > ** ** > > 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 *Kerry Napuk > *Sent:* Wednesday, May 30, 2012 6:02 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [OSList] openspacing in Jordan**** > > ** ** > > Hi Phelim > > Great story about opening space in a traditional society like Jordan. > > You hit it on the head showing the power of the circle as the basic marker > in opening and creating new space. Most people everywhere are conditioned > to be talked at within traditional architecture, i.e. podium, theatre > seating and speaker. This old tired setup ruthlessly permeates much of our > lives. And how incredible boring it is! > > So, it was not surprising in the beginning that one after another person > tried to keep space closed by controlling it. If you hold the floor, no > thing will happen. But, lo, the energy emerged and flowed once a circle > appeared followed by a marketplace. What energy, what freedom - it must > have been heady. > > Well done for persevering and, once again, trusting the process makes > things happen. Thanks for sharing your experience in the Middle East. > > Yours is just one of many stories which will be discussed at WOSONOS 2012 > in London between 11-14 October. How exciting it will be to hear about > other great experiences around the world. > > Be there or be square. > > Cheers > > Kerry > Edinburgh**** > > _______________________________________________ > 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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