Marvelous story indeed, Paul. Thank you.
Artur
________________________________
From: paul levy <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 7:54 AM
Subject: [OSList] Orphaning the Top Table and the Power of the Circle
I remember a conference where the audience took over - at least for a while. It
was a revolution that left the top table (the ones who had the bottles of
mineral water and the little flowers in vases) paralysed with perplexity.
A formal presentation using a lot of bullet-pointed Power Point had just
stopped for five minutes of questions and answers - the fifth presentation in a
row without a break.
Garish neon lights blared down from the ceiling in a room with no natural light.
Yes, you are correct - I said "revolution". Now, that it an interesting word.
We talk of a revolution of the people. We also talk of a revolution of the
planets. Revolution hints at a circle.
Now, everyone was sitting in rows, as in a traditional classroom, facing the
top table that was in a row facing the classroom style audience.
The speaker stood at a lectern facing the audience as well.
The chairperson invited questions.
And then it happened. Someone in the audience raised their hand and was invited
to pose their question. And pose it she did. But not in the direction of the
top table. She sort of turned to her side and posed it to her row. She was
interested, you see, in what other people thought of the issue underlying her
question. Had other people had the same experience? Did they have any
solutions. She seemed to pose it along her row and then to the rows behind her,
as her arm swept around her and backwards in a kind of inclusive gesture. She
finished her question and then someone near the back started to answer it.
Soon, another person, nearer the front added a useful thought and then a small
whispering conversation began in a corner between three people who were
resonating with the original question.
It lasted for about four minutes and, at one point, the whole room were now
looking, not at the top table, but inwards, towards a rough central point in
the rows.
The circle was forming, even in rows of seats!
And the circle was powerful. Fora while those who were supposed to be "at the
top" at the top table were flummoxed, silent, mere onlookers on the outside of
a forming community circle.
It was a vibrant four minutes. Then the chair person raised his voice and
attempted to restore "order". He never quite got it back! For at least a while
afterwards, when questions were asked they are posed by the questioner into the
centre of the room, rather than directed to the front.
An in that four minutes a lot of ground was covered. The buzz continued into
the coffee break and the top table was left, orphaned, without a clear role.
The people wanted to talk to each other, to form a circle, to dialogue, to
self-organise their own conversation.
And this had happened: Space had opened.
And this was happening: Space was opening.
What I loved about witnessing this was realising the power of the circle. The
circle wants to form - it is the natural form for people in social setting
settings. I believe the circle is always there, in archetype, whenever human
beings come together; it kind of hangs there, as potential, above the group. It
seizes the chance to realise in real, especially when there is a top table and
a bunch of rows of seats. All it needs is the impulse to self-organise; and
that occurs with a gesture. It is the gesture usually of one person made, not
in a way that reinforces the linear hierarchy - the top table - but the gesture
that addresses itself to the central point of the natural circle. Then the
attention of all turns towards it and a circle is formed - even when there are
rows of seats.
Space opens in a circle. And circles open space. Of course, it is often better
to start with a circle of chairs, but even when that is not so, just direct
your comments into the mess, into the heart of the community, and watch that
circle form.
Written on the way to our Open Space on Open Space in London, on May 20th 2013.
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