Lenore - Thanks for the kind words. And your mention of "the rest
of the
whole thread" reminded me that I had really intended to link what I
had to
say to the theme: "How can we foster sustainable outcomes?" In fact
I think
the heart and soul of "sustainable outcomes" is when they (the
outcomes)
emerge from the heart and soul of the people. Reminders are always
helpful,
whether they be written, graphic, musical, or inscribed on the astral
planes. But none of that can ever match the deep commitment of a
people who
live from their experience when that experience is one of invention,
creation, collaboration. That, I think, is the real substance of
sustainability.
ho
Harrison Owen
189 Beaucaire Ave
Camden, ME 04843
207-763-3261 (Summer)
301-365-2093 (Winter)
Website www.openspaceworld.com Personal Website www.ho-image.com
OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options
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_____ From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On
Behalf Of Lenore
Mewton
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:07 AM
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Subject: Re: How can we foster sustainable outcomes?
Thank you, Harrison, for speaking the real power in 'em'powerment.
( I am
just jumping in here without reading the rest of the whole thread~)
While your comments about process below offer the best practice of
OS, (in
my few OS experiences- I have seen this magic at play - genius
emerges when
the rest of us 'get out of the way'..) This simple wisdom (prefer
not to see
it as lazy or nasty..!) is guidance for living our lives everyday-
OS,
family, relationships and in whichever role we play: parent,
facilitator,
significant other, child. -And for those of us in "helping
professions'-
HELP- ! We go into that work to "help others"- duh, as you say, we
forget -
or perhaps never realize- what constitutes true 'helping. I'll
take a leap
and say that without knowing the intracacies of all global
cultures- we are
'masters' of this forgetfulness in the U.S. In education (OS being a
form/venue for self- knowledge to emerge), we know that real
learning takes
place by 'doing'- vs. being told, shown, memorization. Yet, as
facilitators, because we are providing an "Open" environment we
believe
we're making space for 'whatever wants to show up will show up'- .
As a parent who firmly believed in all of the above- the intellect
in me
did/does, I recall sitting on the floor with my then toddler son- and
forcing myself to put my hands behind my back so that I would not
interfere
with his play! And whenever he would cry of being 'bored"- I forced
myself
not to give into his pleas for help by reminding him that he would
think of
something if he just gave it some time. Never failed - regardless
of his
cries- within about 10-20 minutes at the most- he would become
involved in
the most creative play that I could have NEVER provided!
(Ah, I wish this wise self would visit more often!).
Original Message ----- From: Harrison Owen <mailto:hho...@verizon.net
> To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009
8:51 AM
Subject: Re: [OSLIST] How can we foster sustainable outcomes?
Raffi -- alternative harvesting, if I can call it that, has been
around for
a bit. There was a marvelous OS done with a group of Arts Councils
where all
the "reports were sung, danced, drawn, whatever. The use of
graphics in OS
started, I suppose with the "father of Group Graphics" David
Sibbet, an old
friend. I always loved what he did (drew) -- but would chide him
gently by
pointing out that it really wasn't "Group Graphics" -- but it was
David's
Graphics (which were superb!) Were we able to make it truly the
Group's
graphics that would be a different thing. My experience has been
that the more you do for people, the less they do for
themselves (duh). Obviously things we do for each other can be very
nice,
indeed wonderful. And it is also true that things we do for others
are to
some extent, disempowering. In small doses this is great, but much
of what
passes for facilitation takes this "helpfulness" to an extreme, I
think. At
worst, the facilitator takes on the whole burden and is totally
exhausted --
and the people are reduced to the level of incompetent children.
This of
course makes them quite dependant, and thereby insures the
facilitator's
continuing employment.
My aim is always to do as little as possible, not because I am lazy
or nasty
(although I may well be both:-)) - but because I have complete
confidence
that the people can and will take full responsibility for what they
care
about. In doing this, they will usually manifest a level of
inventiveness
that I never would have thought of - and no matter what, their
invention
will be appropriate to their situation. In a word they have that
great
sensation of experiencing their own power - that is called
empowerment.
Empowerment is not something you can do for another - you must
claim it for
yourself. Indeed, if I "empower" you - you remain in my power.
Or something
Harrison Owen
189 Beaucaire Ave
Camden, ME 04843
207-763-3261 (Summer)
301-365-2093 (Winter)
Website www.openspaceworld.com Personal Website www.ho-image.com
OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of
Raffi
Aftandelian
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:09 AM
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Subject: AW: How can we foster sustainable outcomes?
Reinhard thanks much for this thread.
The idea of the participants themselves visually harvesting the
essence of
what has emerged sounds really exciting.
From the standpoint of designing such DST (Doodle Space
Technology) events,
where does the ancient wisdom of KISS (Keep it Simple, Senorita)
and "Think
of one less thing to do" come into play?
And this has me thinking, does the practice of facilitation/
harvesting with
the other senses also exist?
Aural facilitation? Harvesting with music, a song? (a poem takes us
part
way).
Olifactory facilitation?
Proprioceptic facilitation- capturing the physical sensations of
the shared
body of the group?
Facilitation from the other realms? (perhaps integrating a
processwork
(Arnold Mindell?) perspective?
movement-based harvesting? using dance, drama, aikido (?), and other
expressive arts to harvest.
Many possibilities here!
appreciatively, from this southern suburb of Tehrangeles (aka San
Diego),
raffi
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