Thanks for articulating this Phelim. For me the Law of Two Feet is definitely about movement. Nice to notice the "toward" in balance to the "away from" - and underneath that for me is just the invitation to wise movement to follow my flow - to open space for that for everyone.
And my practice can be in noticing what would stop me from moving when that feels right, and working with that. I can see how that serves me in life and work both in and beyond Open Space. Your post here sharpened my ear for the phrasing - and in two recent Open Space openings I heard more clearly the speaking of this law as "away from" without the equal balance of towards. I will be more mindful now - when offering it myself, or teaching it to others. I like to think of it like I sometimes see little kids moving around. Not even needing a story to explain why they are moving. There doesn't have to be a reason or problem to leave - they just go when they are ready and find themselves in the next place. Eager faced - 'hey what's happening over here?' Thanks for offering some attention here. Caitlin. On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 2:19 PM, Phelim <[email protected]> wrote: > > In open space technology there is only one law. It’s know as “The Law of > Two Feet” Some people don’t like calling it this and it is objected to on > the grounds of diversity/disability issues. So it gets re-christened “The > law of mobility”. However, I think it’s a very useful metaphor and as such > think all should have access to it. However that’s not what I want to talk > about today. > > Sometimes people concentrate on “The law of two feet.” as being about > leaving somewhere: it might be a session, a person who is dominating a > conversation, a topic that goes off somewhere you are no longer interested > in, all these are things one might want to move away from. > > However it’s good to remember it’s a law of TWO feet. Let’s say the first > foot or step is away from. Then the second step in terms of our metaphor > could be what we are moving towards. If the emphasis is just on the first > step the potential energy or even an awareness of the second step can get > overwhelmed. Veiled in issues of possibility or social politeness. > > So remember both aspects of the Law: “away from” but also “towards”. Where > have you already taken yourself or your mind? Where inside yourself have > you already taken your next step somewhere else? > > This is a useful thing to remember not least because it might support you > over the threshold of your imagined impoliteness or arrogance when you find > yourself worrying about the fact that you are leaving somewhere and being > rude. > > Maybe if you focus on where you are going to or where your presence has > gone.. Then you could realise it might be rude to have already left a less > than present self amongst the group. Or perhaps it’s even arrogant to > assume people will even notice that you left. > > So whether you are attending to “The Law of Two Feet” or “The Law of > Mobility: Focus on the TWO feet of the dynamic and as Hal and Sidra Stone > say “Sweat the choice”. > > > Love Phelim > > http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/clusterform > > > ________________________________ > > I generally pick up emails only at the beginning and end of the working > day. I am currently aiming to respond the following day. If it is urgent > please call me on 07956 187298. > _____________________________________ > > www.improbable.co.uk > @openspacer > @Wosonos2012 > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > -- *UPCOMING WORKSHOPS in the transformative inquiry process of The Work: * *Open Heart <http://caitlinfrost.ca/workshops/peace-in-relationship/>*- Bowen Island, Nov. 4-6; Weekend retreat, Nova Scotia May 4-6, 2012; The Work at work/business, Edmonton May 26 & 27, 2012 www.caitlinfrost.ca *The Art of Hosting Conversations That Matter<http://berkana.org/berkana/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=14&id=375&Itemid=525> *, Bowen Island, BC, October 23 - 26th. *If you really knew how beautiful you are, ** you would fall at your own feet.* *Byron Katie.* CAITLIN FROST Coaching and Facilitation Certified Facilitator - The Work of Byron Katie Principal - Harvest Moon Consultants Ltd. www.caitlinfrost.ca
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