The Practice of Peace proceedings and continuing conversation can be
found here:
http://practiceofpeace.com
Click "Enter Participant Website" and then click the link to log in as
a public participant (or use your login info if you were with us on
Whidbey).
Regarding the closing circle of PoP:
Gladys Johnson and I were planning the closing and based on her
comments and the words of a couple of passing participants, I realized
the energy of a new opening needed to be strongly present. To me it
felt like too much "closing" might have resulted in an implosion of the
intense energies of the conference. So we dreamed up the new (for us)
idea of re-opening the space, this time with colored paper instead of
white (thanks Toke for this and other suggestions) and with a strongly
held intention of opening to the practice of peace back in our lives,
out in the world, in the various forms that would inevitably come. The
time felt right for declaring intentions, though the way them came out
-- most were very personal -- was a surprise to me.
Our design included about an hour for these declarations (folks could
make as many as they chose), and then we were headed into a reflection
circle. However, at the point of transition into the reflection circle,
the mic ended up in Harrison's hands and he led us through a lovely
final closing to direct our energy outward. We ended about 45 minutes
ahead of schedule.
At first I was a bit disconcerted by this "change of plan," mostly
because I felt I had made commitments to several people that there
would be time for the reflection circle to happen. With the passing of
a few hours and a few days, I've heard from several participants and
conveners that it seems a good thing to have closed the way we did.
Many reports from participants immediately following the conference
were of a very powerful experience that is not yet ready to be
discussed or explained, though it feels life changing.
To honor both those who wished to speak but did not get the opportunity
as well as those who were not ready to speak but felt they would be at
a later date, we have opened an online reflection circle for sharing
what is important and what is emerging post-conference. It is available
within the Session Notes area at the link above.
There is a great deal of energy brewing for projects and collaborations
coming out of this conference. Practice of Peace International is
forming as a group of stewards to help support PoP all around the
world. Computers are headed to Burundi. Our colleagues from Burundi and
Nigeria are already planning to return to Spirited Work in the spring.
Deep conversations about what it means to hold space for PoP in its
largest and most specific senses.
I invite you to join in or browse as you see fit --
http://practiceofpeace.com
Many thanks to all, especially Harrison and our guests from around the
planet,
Gabriel
On Nov 20, 2003, at 1:01 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:
115 people from 20 countries joined together in Open Space to explore
The Practice of Peace. It was deep, rich, and frankly overwhelming.
You might say shock and awe. The fact that a number of the
participants came from and/or work in the hotspots of the world, such
as the Middle East, Kashmir, Columbia – gave immediacy to what was
already an immediate topic. But their presence did not occlude the
fact that peace is an everybody, everyday concern. Peace in our
schools, peace forourselves, peace for our businesses and
organizations is just as critical, if not as dramatic.
Thelearningswere immense, and not to be adequately described in this
short note. All the reports are online at anundisclosed weblocation…
at least undisclosed to me. But I am sure that some one of my
colleagues can provide the key (please J) Speaking of colleagues and
friends, I must mention two, Peggy Holman andAnne Stadler who along
with the good folks fromSpirited Work – a five year old intentional
community living in Open Space – fielded the program.Major work – well
done. And held in a beautiful setting at the WhidbyInstitute on an
Island of the same name. And it will continue. A number of the
participants committed to hold similar gatherings around the world,
and I am sure notice will appear here online when the
arrangementsare complete. And in the interim, should you care to join
in similar programs will take place inNew
York,Jerusalem,Bethlehem(probable),Chicago, andSwenmark(probable).
Check outwww.openspaceworld.comfor the details.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac,Maryland 20845
Phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Trainingwww.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institutewww.openspaceworld.org
Personal websitehttp://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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