The other most interesting thing about "givens" -- in my experience -- stating them in the opening circle leaves them open for question. For instance, often sponsors will state, as a given, that there is no specific available funds for any initiative developed during the OST meeting. And I marvel at how creative participants will be in finding funding before the closing circle!
Judi Judith Richardson Pono Consultants International Facilitating the Flow of Inspired Collaboration www.ponoconsultants.com (902) 435-0308 -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]On Behalf Of Larry Peterson Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2003 5:32 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: Givens (was: Already-thereness, Empowerment and Such) I have come to see "givens" as what is to be "taken as given" for the purposes of the event at hand. (I was around when Birgitt first applied the concept at Wesley Urban Ministries in relation to Open Space, but I agree with Michael that it has been around for a while.) Post-modern philosophy hates givens and does not believe that there are any (at its extreme), that all is socially constructed. As we discussed during the last three days in an "introductory workshop" (it was anything but introductory for some--it was wonderfully deep), there is freedom to choose the new in every moment. However, our choice is in relation to what was in the last moment as well as what could be. (At that point of coming into being, "what was" is the only thing that "could've" -- we cannot go back and change it.) "Karma" does tend to limit our choices and perception of what is possible. In each moment the possibilities are also limitless, but most of us (certainly me) have limited perception of the now. As Harrison says, Open Space expands our "now" or our consciousness of what is possible as a collective -- Mindfulness Meditation can expand it as an individual. Even with all that, a particular sponsor who (I agree with Michael) opens a space may certainly want the participants to take some things as "given" and if so, it is much better said at the beginning than to kill the energy after. Larry Larry Peterson Associates in Transformation Toronto, ON, Canada 416.653.4829 la...@spiritedorg.com www.spiritedorg.com * * ========================================================== 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 * * ========================================================== 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