Birgitt, Thanks to all who are making this such a vital dialogue. I particularly want to honour the observations from Kay of the deceptive simplicity of Open Space and the challenges which come with this simplicity and Larry's commitment to encouraging "true" connection to Spirit.
Time and again, what comes clear to me is that when the principles and law abide, Spirit emerges. I support your intervention in the first story and am not troubled by the third story. It is the second story which concerns me...it suggests an Open Space which went awry and when Open Space events go awry and/or principles and law are abandoned - for a wide variety of reasons and sometimes even after the event - damage to organizations and systems - to say nothing of the people who live their lives within them - can occur. Whether good intentions going in can compensate for damage coming out is open for discussion. This concern has nothing to do with purity of practice: it has to do with doing no harm. To the extent that learning more about setting the context, preparing the ground, and opening and holding space may better prepare us to "do no harm", the community of Open Space practitioners needs to continue its work of creating a body of knowledge through research and story-telling and sharing. I have for some time, as you know, been convinced and am still convinced that learning, sharing learning, and growing a body of practice, experience and knowledge is the most effective vehicle for maximizing "safe space" for Open Space. That individual Open Space events will go awry and that damage may occur as a result may be only one more manifestation of the shadow: we need to acknowledge it and be prepared to heal and nurture where we can. There is, I think, a significant difference between rigidity and purism (which we were warned against in earlier responses to your question) and the experiential learning and retention of that which works and reflects the essentials, the principles, the intuitive understanding of how energy is working in the circle, etc. Within this envelope, there is, as you pointed out, tremendous scope for individual creativity in how space is opened and held and even in how effective we might each individually be from time to time...thank goodness...what a boring world it would be if we all did it the same way! So, while I share your concerns, the very principles of Open Space itself suggest that we need to be open and responsive to outcome, even where the outcome is problematic and calls for healing. Spirit be with you, Jody