Hi Julie, thank you very much for your wisdom!
usually I don't participate in discussions, sometimes, when I see that somebody is trying to work alone, as I propose in the opening session, that 'you' can do it alone, when will you have other time to think it over and be a part of the book of proceedings, so I can approach and ask, if I can work together with the participant so I can listen to her/him, ask questions, and share my experienct as well, but usually not, when the group work nicely except when I can wait and ask some questions if proper (though nobody knows, if it is proper, may be I interveine even with the questions) well, I do have passion as everybody does in this question, so I need to be in a proper state, as Harrison is saying - can't meditate, but need to try to be in a good mood for facilitating. I wish you as many snow as you wish... we do have much this year, roads are awful, as rail-roads, so you have difficulties, when you change your line... though their only two of them here usually, if not one. That is also a part of city communal service... best wishes and Merry Christmass! elena ----- Original Message ----- From: Julie Smith To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2002 11:20 PM Subject: Re: For those, who can afford themselves to think on Christmass Dear Elena, Greetings from Alaska on this day-after-Christmas. We might finally have enough snow for my son to ski and my friends to mush their dogs across the frozen tundra. It has been an unusually warm winter in Fairbanks with very little snow. Your questions remind me of the questions I was asking when I first encountered OST. At that time, I was still spending some of my time in the role of mediator. In that role, it is proper to ask questions. It isn't proper to lean or push toward particular answers, but it IS proper to ask the questions that beg to be asked. Through the questions she asks, the mediator weaves her wisdom and intelligence with the wisdom and intelligence of the group. It is a speaking wisdom rather than a silent wisdom. Some on this list have indicated that they sometimes participate in group discussions. I have also made that choice. For me, making that choice is all about listening to my inner voice, and following wherever it leads. Our task is not to abide by some external set of rules, but to follow the internal laws of our heart. OST is wonderful and powerful because it so closely matches who we innately are, but there cannot be a single rigid either-or rule about speaking and silence. Sometimes one is called for, and sometimes the other. Only our internal knowing can tell us what is needed in the moment we're in. Much love, Julie
