interesting thought, intervention. for myself, i don't want to intervene, and am not sure i could, because mostly i don't hold myself out as separate from those i work with. also i think the power and brilliance of what harrison has been doing is to author, yes, but more importantly then to author-ize *everyone*. it is possible, i believe, to do the physical practice (which will always be limited by my own physical, bodily limits) while working to not impose new limits that really aren't there. one of the ways i have tried to do this was when i was writing the collection i called 'evolution at work' and have since changed to 'inviting organization.' what i was doing felt very important. it was natural enough to wonder about copyrighting that material and trying to sell. but very quickly, perhaps simultaneously, i see that if it's *really* as valuable as i wanted to think, then it was not my place to limit its availablility for the sake of my own profit, that instead i should just get it out there, just in case it's really needed. if i give it away and it is so important, i am fine. if i give it away and it is not so important, then i am also fine... and have saved all that work of trying to make it be something bigger. i find that this dynamic shows up in almost every open space i care to notice... these questions of how open, how separate, how important, how bounded i will be in this moment. they show up in money talk, in talk of sharing the prep work, of thinking about followup and evaluation and wondering if they will ask me to do another event, and should i try to teach them anything or just do the practice... some of which does need to be considered and other of which is just so much internal noise... i find that the noise gets louder in direct proportion with my belief in separateness and importance (and also, sneakily enough, my belief in the importance of internal noise). it's still a very tricky game, but slowly i think i am learning to become a wrestler of the vastness of unity rather than a maestro of those internal noises.
Laurel and Rick wrote: > > I view OST as neither an event, nor an intervention, but an honest > recognition of what happens all the time covertly in organizations anyway. > I think it's refreshing for folks, and a new way of looking at things, to > invite them to do what they do anyway. It's the honesty of the formula that > seems to invite a new level of honesty in conversation. I also think that > the humility of the facilitator is an absolute must . . . how can one > recognize the power of the individuals in the circle, while simultaneously > trying to "intervene" as the expert or guru? This seems antithetical to the > philisophical underpinnings of OST. How can we invite people's spirits out > to play in the context of an intervention? > > Laurel. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mick Walsh" <southbank_...@bigpond.com> > To: <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> > Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 1:47 AM > Subject: Re: open space technology as an event or as an intervention--learn > more with us in our Advanced workshops > > > Dear Birgitt, > > > > I may have missed something in your intention but I have some reservations > > regarding your comments below. > > > > Are you endorsing OST as an intervention? Intervention implies 'doing' > > rather than 'being'. From my perspective open space 'exists' and we > create > > space through spirit. If my perspective is correct, and it is for me, > then > > how could I possibly be 'authorized' to 'train' people in a commercial > > program with its foundation in OST? > > > > Are you promoting and supporting OST, or simply selling a product? > > > > Regards, > > -- Michael Herman 300 West North Avenue #1105 Chicago IL 60610 312-280-7838 voice 312-280-7837 fax http://www.michaelherman.com ...an invitation. * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
