:D Will quote that too :o) Eva Skickat från min iPhone
11 dec 2011 kl. 17:10 skrev Phelim McDermott <[email protected]>: > In other words I shall quote you Harrison > > "Be the space you wish to see in the world!" : Harrison Owen > > Love > > Phelim X > ________________________________ > > 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 > > > On 11 Dec 2011, at 10:44, Harrison Owen <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Bernard – Very thoughtful and well done! Thank you!! And a further note on >> space. I would agree that having sufficient break out space is important, >> but I think that “sufficient” is always in the eyes of the beholder. Odd way >> of talking, I guess – but we have all run into situations where there was >> plenty of square feet/meters – but somehow it seemed cramped (a boring >> party). As well as the reverse – everybody was packed together, but somehow >> there was plenty of “room” (a cheerful night at the pub). My take is that >> space is much more a matter of feeling than physics. >> >> I have certainly seen this operational in multiple OST’s. I think of those >> times when the main room was so cramped, or worse, shaped like a bowling >> alley – and everybody was sitting on top of each other. As for the “break >> out” spaces… BUT it all worked magnificently. And the question is >> naturally, “How come?” >> >> Part of it may be cultural dispositions towards large and small spaces. >> People raised in our far west (Plains states) feel cramped if they can see >> another person – miles away. By contrast, Italians (some of my best friends) >> get so close that I, as an American, feel more than a little claustrophobic. >> Were I to have said something (I wouldn’t) my friends would have been hurt. >> Something about not liking “their space” I guess. J >> >> When it comes to Open Space, I think there may be something else operative – >> which is what we as the facilitator bring to the party. If our space is >> fully open (really present and clear of obstructions), I suspect that can >> and does establish a sense of “spaciousness” which has nothing to do with >> square footage. By the same token if we come from a place of closed personal >> space – we are thinking about all the things we should be doing, worrying >> about the size of the venue, contemplating next week’s assignment, the >> initial “spaciousness” can be cut by quantum factors. Maybe? >> >> Harrison >> >> >> >> Harrison Owen >> 7808 River Falls Dr. >> Potomac, MD 20854 >> USA >> >> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) >> Camden, Maine 20854 >> >> Phone 301-365-2093 >> (summer) 207-763-3261 >> >> www.openspaceworld.com >> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST >> Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bernhard Weber >> Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 6:19 AM >> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list >> Subject: Re: [OSList] Why I Actually Like Calling it "The Law of Two Feet" >> >> Dear Peggy and all >> >> I fully agree to your YING/YANG interpretation of these two aspects. >> And when I read, what you wrote, I walked mentally back to my old >> "politically radical times". In spring of 1976, a big area in >> Vienna/Austria, that had been used as "Auslandsschlachthof" (forein imports >> slaughterhouse) by the municipal services was about to be sold to a >> consortium of garment importers. We thought, we need a real good place for >> the culture of the young people and - inspired by Freetown Kristiania in >> Denmark - we occupied the area and the Viennese ARENA was born. >> >> For months an unbelievable diversity of groups and activities met there and >> did wonderful things. We had the bikers club of the Simmeringer (low income >> area in Vienna) Buam (boys) there, lots of cultural events, even Leonard >> Cohen passed by and sang for free, there were a children house and a social >> service, lots of guests from outside coming for concerts and strolling >> through the ARENA, there was upper and lower class, foreigners like the >> "Collegium Hungaricum" (at times of the iron curton, do not forget that). We >> had a system of working groups and a plenary. Decisions taken by both. >> >> And it was all joyful and peaceful. >> In the end, too much money was involved. The city sold the >> Auslandsschlachthof and offered some petty area nearby for cultural events >> (still being called ARENA WIEN, but something completely different). We went >> out without violence but a big "ARENA funeral" walked through the town. And >> it was over. >> >> I was very young then, a student and although having done a good (small) >> group dynamics trainer training at Vienna University of Sociology before, I >> simply could not understand, why this all had worked. Well, as the >> co-founder of the first free school for 10-15 year old pupils, I had some >> clues that getting rid of the usual "everyday trance" was an important >> factor, but was still unable to discriminate between the pre-conditions for >> situations where it worked (like ARENA, free schools, some undogmatic >> leftist political events....) and when it did not work (IT being high >> diversity, time pressure, lots of conflicts around,....) >> >> For years, even centuries that followed a part of my studies was dedicated >> to understand exactly this: >> WHY HAD IT WORKED? >> >> I continued my learning about groups and organizations. I learned more about >> large group dynamics, facilitated learning workshops, became more and more >> experienced in refined facilitation techniques, etc. >> >> But this only increased my impression that nobody could give me a >> comprehensive explanation. >> And that theoretically (especially large group theory - wise) it COULD NOT >> HAVE WORKED. >> >> Around 1987 I first heard about something called OPEN SPACE. Nothing very >> detailed but specific enough to hear about the law of the two feet and the >> resistance to predefine what the participates would deal with. >> So without further ado I just tried it at the final event of a district >> development project at Cape Verde Island (where I worked at that period in >> time). All stakeholders of the project were invited. With amazing process >> and results. >> >> Some years later, I was lucky and could learn from Harrison how to do it >> properly and hear more about the knots and bolts. >> >> And it was clear. ARENA had been one of these spontaneous, not prepared, >> OPEN SPACES that happened again and again in the world. >> >> And when I was invited to talk at the Pankahyttn (Punks Hut) in Vienna last >> year (the Pankahyttn is itself a newly occupied - small - space in VIENNA >> town), it was this learning I could offer: >> >> ARENA Wien had worked because the LAW of TWO FEET had been appliable. >> 1) by the non-rules of ARENA >> 2) by the enormous space we had, so each of the groups and sub-groups could >> occupy their own space, come out, go back... >> >> And it was applied, not as a rule, but as a natural thing under these >> conditions. >> And the de-facto-emergenc of the OS principles had then been a simple >> consequence in the ARENA context. >> (The fifth law was not yet formulated last year, so I could only say: "it >> was not an OPEN SPACE in the sense of OST, but still, the OS spirit was >> there") >> >> >> And that is the reason why I post this here (in fact it's a small point and >> nearly a truism): >> >> It is true that the YING/YANG of the law of the two feet allows such things >> to happen. >> But at a theoretical level we should not forget >> that there exists a physical pre-condition: >> ENOUGH BREAK-OUT SPACE >> So that the (conflicting) groups and individuals can get out of each others >> way >> >> If there is not enough physical space available >> the law is not appliable >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Bernd Weber >> Change Facilitation s.r.o., A Global Partner Who Makes Change Happen in >> Complex Environments; www.change-facilitation.com, >> www.change-management-toolbook.com [email protected]; >> Regional Phone numbers: >> -Austria: +43 664 135 4828, landline + 431 5968657) >> -Sri Lanka: landline +94 11 2785859, iPhone +94 777740757 >> >> >> NEW: Intensive Learning Workshop >> "Playing with the Waves of Change" >> www.change-facilitation.com/ >> >> You want to have the design for a "Playing with the Waves (of Change) WS 2 >> completely taylor-made according to your individual learning interests & >> needs & limitations? Then have a look to the questionnaire at >> www.surveymonkey.com/s/5ZDS6JQ >> >> >> >> If you get Email from my account <[email protected]> >> please do not use the reply button but answer to <[email protected]>, because my >> change-facilitation.org INBOX is not working for the time being. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Am 11.12.2011 um 04:17 schrieb Peggy Holman: >> >> >> I just read through several months of OSlist messages and am picking up this >> old thread because it inspires me to tell a story. >> >> Phelim, like others, I like your naming the movement "toward" and "away" in >> the Law of Two Feet. >> >> When I introduce the Law of Two Feet, I speak of these dynamics because of >> an exchange I had the privilege to witness shortly after I ran into Open >> Space. >> >> It was a conversation between the two people who have most influenced my >> thinking and practice of opening space: Harrison (of course) and Anne >> Stadler. For those who don't know Anne, she has been involved with Open >> Space since the OS in Goa India. I think that was in 1989. Shortly after >> that trip, Anne, who was a TV producer at the time invited Harrison to make >> the first video on Open Space Technology, called Learning in Open Space. >> I'm not positive about this, but I think Harrison and Anne then offered the >> first OST workshops. >> >> Anyway, a few years after that, probably around 1996, during a trip to >> Seattle, Anne and Harrison were talking about the Law of 2 Feet. Harrison >> spoke of it as a safety valve. He said something similar to this OSlist >> message by him from Nov. 24, 2001 [I put some text in bold]: >> >> ... I would guess that there are situations where a more active role might >> be required, but I have never run into one. Even when the level of conflict >> is very high and the issues are old and deep. For example, in South Africa >> in the days shortly after Mendela's release from prison we did Open Spaces >> with such folks as Zulus, Hausa, Afrikaners -- all together, and no problem. >> I have often wondered why this is true, and my best guess is that The Law of >> Two Feet provides the needed "safety-valve" Folks come together because >> they want to solve some issues. At the same time I think it to be true that >> nobody (save for a few pathological types) really like to blow their cool, >> so to speak. The desire to solve the issue brings them together, and the Law >> enables each individual to judge when they need a walk around the block to >> "cool off." I have seen this lots of time, and never seen it to fail. >> >> That made sense to me! Then Anne talked about the Law of Two Feet as a >> reminder to stand on your two feet for what you believe in. (Unfortunately, >> I don't have a comparable "in her own words" message.) >> >> As I listened to their exchange, all I could think was, "they're both >> right!" I had a sense that between them, Harrison and Anne had expressed >> the yin and yang of the law. Sometimes the ability to walk away and cool >> off is useful. And at other times, remembering the importance of taking a >> stand is what's called for. >> >> That conversation influenced how I've opened space ever since. When I >> introduce the Law of Two Feet, I talk about these two actions. >> >> Sounds a lot like moving towards and moving away, yes? >> >> appreciatively, >> Peggy >> >> >> _________________________________ >> Peggy Holman >> [email protected] >> >> 15347 SE 49th Place >> Bellevue, WA 98006 >> 425-746-6274 >> www.peggyholman.com >> www.journalismthatmatters.org >> >> Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity >> >> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, >> is to become >> the fire". >> -- Drew Dellinger >> >> >> >> >> On Oct 31, 2011, at 10:14 AM, Caitlin Frost wrote: >> >> >> 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 - 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, 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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
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