What circles do for me when I am fortunate enough to be the one opening the space - is that the circle is my ally, my friend. I know that as a fact - not just theory. I have the feeling that I am not alone because I have the circle in there doing the magic it has been doing since the beginning of human life (as far as I know) independent of anything I may or may not do as the "facilitator" or, practitioner or, whatever. Add the compelling theme, the 4 principles and one law , and I can honestly say that I love being in that! The circle is my friend. Also, I'm sold on the circle as far as helping people to have a decent conversation with more than one person.
http://placer.networkofcare.org >>> [email protected] 01/10/04 11:47AM >>> Thanks for the image, Alexander, of sitting in a sphere in a gravity free space. I want to be able to do that. >From: Alexander Kjerulf <[email protected]> >Reply-To: OSLIST <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: Properties of circles >Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 19:06:21 +0100 > >What do circles do? Here are some of my observations: > >I've noticed that circles put you in there 100%. There is no place to >hide in a circle, which can be quite disconcerting to somebody who comes >to a meeting expecting to just sit back and zone out. You can read an >account by a participant in an Open Space meeting I facilitated here: >http://benaaron.multics.org/2003.04.htm to get a taste of how this can >feel (the story also happens to be really funny). > >Geometrically, circles minimize the surface to area ratio. If you want >to fence in as large an area as possible and you only have a set amount >of fencing materials make your fence a circle, this will give you the >largest possible area inside the fence. What this means in a group >process is not totally clear to me, but maybe it minimizes the >"exposure" to the world outside the circle, keeping most of the >attention inside. The reason that igloos are round (or spherical, >rather) is that the round shape gives you the smallest possible surface, >and thus the smallest heat loss. > >Circles can also create a lot of resistance. A lot of people react >adversely when asked to sit in a circle. Some people think kindergarten, >others think 12-step meeting. Usually this resistance evaporates after >about 5 minutes, though. > >In my opinion, many of the benefits we see from circles are largely due >to the fact that there is no table between participants. I'm pretty sure >that sitting at a round table is only marginally better than sitting at >a square one. I'm sure this is not news to anybody on this list, but to >me, having no tables means: >* a smaller distance between participants >* you can see the whole body-language >* you can't slump over the table and zone out > >Here's a funny thought: If you had Open Spac meetings in space (in >zero-g) you participants could sit in a sphere, rather than a circle. >That would fit even more people in :o) > >Cheers > >Alex > >Alexander Kjerulf >[email protected] >www.kjerulf.com >+45 2688 2373 > >Adress: >Tagensvej 126, lejl. 613 >2200, Copenhagen N >Denmark > > > > > >>-----Original Message----- >>From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris >>Corrigan >>Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 11:09 PM >>To: [email protected] >>Subject: Re: Properties of circles >> >>Hi Michael, and others: >> >>Okay, let me rephrase this. I'm not looking for a script for opening, >>I'm looking for more perspectives on what circles do for process. It's >>a theoretical question, not one of practical significance! How's that >>for candour? >> >>Seriously, I am interested in this primarily because I am currently >>looking at how process is a significant arena of colonization and why >>recovery and transcendence of indigenous process is a truer and deeper >>form of decolonization than simple systemic change. >> >>As part of this inquiry, naturally I have been working with circles, >>both in Open Space and in other process, including many indigenous >>processes here in Canada. And I have noticed that circles have >>important impacts on process both from an observational view and from >>the perspective of a participant. >> >>And thus my inquiry about what other have observed circles "doing." >> >>So? >> >>Chris >> >> >>--- >>CHRIS CORRIGAN >>Bowen Island, BC, Canada >>http://www.chriscorrigan.com >>[email protected] >> >>(604) 947-9236 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of >>>Pannwitz, Michael M >>>Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 3:18 PM >>>To: [email protected] >>>Subject: Re: Properties of circles >>> >>>Dear Chris, >>>just walk the circle and get people to focus on each other. >>>Skip the rest. >>>Greetings from Berlin >>>mmp >>> >>> >>>On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 15:00:48 -0800, Chris Corrigan wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>>Hi folks: >>>> >>>>I was writing out the basic script that I use for opening OST >>>> >>>> >>meetings >> >> >>>>last night and while reading it I noticed that I spend a lot of time >>>>introducing people to the ideas and properties of circles. I think >>>>circles are fundamentally important to process, and so I'm collecting >>>>other people's notes and properties of circles. >>>> >>>>So here is my script with the three things I usually do to bring the >>>>circle to awareness. Have a read and then ask yourself what you can >>>> >>>> >>add >> >> >>>>to this. What are the other cool properties of circles? >>>> >>>> Circles are really rather neat forms of geometry >>>> >>>> >>because >> >> >>>>they force us to have a look at things in a particular way. For >>>>example in a circle, we don't really know who "the leader" is. In >>>> >>>> >>fact >> >> >>>>we may be forgiven for thinking that the leader is either not here, >>>> >>>> >>or >> >> >>>>is each one of us. And as a leader who is not here cannot do >>>> >>>> >>anything, >> >> >>>>it must be that each one of is a leader. >>>> >>>> Also circles teach us that there are some things that >>>>can only be done by groups. For example, you will notice that this >>>>circle of chairs isn't really a very good circle. It's actually a >>>>strangely distorted ellipse. That is because for one person to set >>>> >>>> >>up a >> >> >>>>perfect circle of chairs on their own is a nearly impossible task. >>>> >>>> >>But >> >> >>>>I'll show you a small miracle. I'll stand in the centre here and ask >>>>all of you to stand by your chairs. Now square up so that you are >>>>facing me and when you've done that check to see that you are sitting >>>>slightly behind your two neighbours. Now sit down. Have a look >>>> >>>> >>around. >> >> >>>>You have just made a perfect circle. This is something only a group >>>> >>>> >>can >> >> >>>>do and it took only a few seconds. If I had had to do that it would >>>>have taken me hours. This is important to note. It's as if we all >>>>carry the coordinates for calibrating a circle within us but they can >>>>only be activated by acting along with several others. >>>> >>>> Finally, here's one more thing about a circle. If I >>>>stand in the middle then you will all agree that you are looking at >>>> >>>> >>me. >> >> >>>>But none of you will agree that you have the same view of me. You >>>> >>>> >>can >> >> >>>>see me, but your perspective is absolutely unique. It is not shared >>>> >>>> >>by >> >> >>>>anyone else. We agree on the object of our observation but none of >>>> >>>> >>us >> >> >>>>share the same perspective. Remember that today as we work on these >>>>issues. Without each perspective we would not have a full picture. >>>> >>>> >>If >> >> >>>>you were all behind me then none of you could say with certainty that >>>> >>>> >>I >> >> >>>>had a face. By surrounding me we have the whole picture, but we have >>>> >>>> >>to >> >> >>>>ask one another about the pieces that we are missing. If you folks >>>>sitting behind me want to know how many fingers I'm holding up, you >>>> >>>> >>have >> >> >>>>to ask this person I'm facing. That's how it is with problems too. >>>>Remember that today. >>>> >>>> >>>>So what else can we build into our openings about circles? >>>> >>>>Chris >>>> >>>>[PS Florian.some of this probably qualifies as "even"] >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>--- >>>>CHRIS CORRIGAN >>>>Bowen Island, BC, Canada >>>>http://www.chriscorrigan.com >>>>[email protected] >>>> >>>>(604) 947-9236 >>>> >>>>* >>>>* >>>>========================================================== >>>>[email protected] >>>>------------------------------ >>>>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, >>>>view the archives of [email protected], >>>>Visit: >>>> >>>>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>>Noch 8 PlStze zu vergeben zur 3. Lernwerkstatt fnr open space- >>>BegleiterInnen vom 25. bis 28. Januar 2004 in Vlotho. Jetzt anmelden >>>www.michaelmpannwitz.de/o_lernwerkstatt2004.htm >>> >>>Michael M Pannwitz, boscop >>>Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany >>>FON: +49 - 30-772 8000 FAX: +49 - 30-773 92 464 >>>www.michaelMpannwitz.de >>>www.openspace-landschaft.de >>> >>>* >>>* >>>========================================================== >>>[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 >> >>* >>* >>========================================================== >>[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 _________________________________________________________________ Let the new MSN Premium Internet Software make the most of your high-speed experience. http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=byoa/prem&ST=1 * * ========================================================== [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
