Hallo Douglas and all. That post ought to get something going! My own sense is that you may be talking at two different levels (or maybe "quadrants" - apologies to KW) at the same time here: one of process and one of proceeds.
I believe the "orthodoxy" as you call it (not getting involved) refers to proceeds (L/R) - the carrying out, content and outcomes of the discussions/work. I agree that we are de facto involved in the process (we initiate it) and I agree passionately that yes, we are each "touched and changed by the moment of interchange" (what a beautiful phrase!), but I think it is at subtler levels (U/L), and as a result of experiencing real community and self-organizating behaviour, consciously, in a safe environment. As to "struggling with what it means to hold the space" I must demur. I agree it is hard to put it in words, but I think "holding space" is the maintenance, by whatever means, of the "environment" we help to create when we perform the other orthodoxies to which Martin refers in his response: opening , news, closing circles etc. IMO, "how" we do (or don't do) that is more often the subject of many of the discussions and anecdotes on the list... Winston * * ========================================================== 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