I've used a Thich Nhat Hahn (Buddhist) variation of (in this case something like): imagine your passion for learning flowing out with your exhalation and openness to new ideas flowing in with your inhalation.
As for framing in us-them cultures, I suggest that we keep our focus on both-and approaches rather than either-or. I also remind the group (an appreciative inquiry move) that there are more talents and more love in the group than we know. thanks, Jack _______________________________________________ Jack Ricchiuto / 216.288.9431 web: http://www.designinglife.com/ blog: http://www.gassho.blogspot.com/ -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Sharon Quarrington Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 6:49 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Silence and Breath and an OS tomorrow (Sat) I am opening a space tomorrow for an alternative school and as I sit here trying to write what I am going to say in the opening I'm having a bit of trouble. I've rarely included the "breath" in my openings and this time I need it. This is a school in conflict - it was started by a group of homeschoolers who took their proposal to the board of education and after two years of work finally managed to sell the idea. The school became an "alternative" but the spaces in it were/are open to any parent in the district - and most of the joining parents are not homeschoolers. The "sell" of the program was that it would bring in new people into the board (they get funded per student so homeschoolers are lost money). Now that the program is permanently approved they do not need to attract homeschoolers. The teachers and admin are "in charge" and are refitting the program to align with board policy - which will take it even further from the initial dream. The conflict between the parents who started this program and the one who now "own" it has been very painful but all agree that it is time to move on and get some clarity on where the program is heading. The group has agreed to come together in Open Space and come up with priorities for next year. We have worked hard on givens (mostly on cutting them down....) Somehow I need the opening to help the group focus on the future and yet I know that many are grieving the past. I would like to use the breath to help us all get "in the room" and focus on being present for the day. The group has also asked for an opening "exercise" to help them get centered. So a few questions for more experience folk: How do you introduce the breath (a script would help....) do you just ask people to take a few deep breaths? Should I ask them to reflect on the past as part of the opening and then let the group think silently or should I ask them just to try to clear their minds and breath? Is there anything else people have used as part of the opening to help a group get centered? Thanks, Sharon * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
