Christy - You caught me! What did I learn? ("But, wait - you didn't say:
what did you learn??")
- Well I guess it was more re-learn, or better. remember. It was all about
the dance. There is a dance in our opening moments, and I rather suspect it
may communicate more than whatever words may be spoken. It is a simple but
elegant dance beginning with a full slow sweep of the circle, a cut to the
center, followed by random crossings of the circle, and ending at rest
somewhere between the center and the edge. Early on, there was no conscious
intent on my part to do or create a dance, it just seemed to happen as a
natural expression of my relationship to the circle and the people who
create it. In truth it took more than a few years before I even realized
that it was a dance, repeated at every opening - and even more years until
its primal forms and meanings became apparent to me. The interesting thing
to me is that as I have watched my friends and colleagues over the years,
seems like we all do pretty much the same things, which speaks, I think to
the natural and emergent quality. At some level it is without intention. It
is simply called forth as an organic expression of the moment, and our (as
facilitators) place in that moment.
Interpreting a dance is always a dangerous thing, but in this case the forms
are so archetypical and manifest that it seems less about interpretation
than a naming of the obvious. Part I (The circle sweep) is perhaps the
oldest shamanic act going, which travels under various names, but is often
called "bounding the circle." It is all about defining and claiming a safe
space. In West African bush villages the shamans actually bound the whole
village with a vine rope that they weave in the night and encircle the
village. Nobody sees them, but in the morning the villagers arise to see the
village defined. It is always interesting to see what is "inside" and what
is excluded - so it is often the case that the school house (a
western/modern addition) is often on the "outs." What is safe, and what is
questionable? Who, what, where are WE?
Part II (Cut to the Center) takes a little more explanation. I have always
thought of it as a ritual re-enactment of The Hero's Journey. Joseph
Campbell, whose epic works on global mythology re-introduced the power of
myth to the modern world, wrote a book of the same name. In the book he
argues that all major traditions have a common theme story which he calls,
The Hero's Journey. In it a common man rises up one morning and departs on a
far journey through many dangerous places and situations. He is essentially
transformed by the experience and his common consciousness is expanded in
ways he could never have imagined. But he is not a hero yet - not until he
returns to his fellows and shares his expanded insight with his
fellows(offers a boon). Think: Jesus in the wilderness, Moses in the desert,
etc. If Campbell is right, and I think he is, this story is part of the
tradition and consciousness of virtually all the peoples of the earth. In
short it doesn't have to be told again (but that is always nice) - it is
part of who and what we are. Now back to Open Space and The Cut to the
Center.
The physical open space in the center of the circle we
create is a dangerous place. Even worse, it is pure Chaos. Nobody goes there
willingly. Who knows, there might be dragons! Sounds a little weird and far
out, I guess, but the next time you have an opportunity watch how the people
(participants) treat that space, particularly if it is a large group, with a
large circle, and a LOT of space. People will walk all the way around it
rather than crossing. And if they do cross, they often do it in pairs
(safety, you know). Watch how they treat the edge of the circle. They will
come right up to it, and then back away. No sane person would willingly go
to the center of such a circle! You can prove this to yourself just by
remembering the first time you ever facilitated an Open Space. OMG!
So the Cut to the Center is a journey to hell - and guess
what? The Facilitator survives! At this point, the circle has been bounded
and the space claimed - but the story is not over. The boon (gift) has yet
to be given. We come to Part III - Random Crossings.
>From the center of the circle, the facilitator moves to the edges in a
random pattern, making contact with the people on the edge and then crossing
again to make contact with others on the opposite side. Back and forth, back
and forth - weaving a pattern of meaning and safety. Trails in the desert
wilderness, so to speak.
And then it is over. The facilitator moves to a resting position part way
between the center and the edge - and invites the people to come (with their
issues). Under usual circumstances (read just about every time) - the people
show up with alacrity, "following the trails in the desert." And the Hero
(facilitator) essentially disappears. The boon has been given and the people
have claimed it as their own. Time for a nap!
Oh yes, a few words have been spoken, but I really think the dance says it
all.
So that is my story, and doubtless more than you anticipated, Christy. Who
knows if it is true, but it works for me. And if it works for you - consider
it yours.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
Camden, Maine 04843
Phone 301-365-2093
(summer) 207-763-3261
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
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From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Christy
Lee-Engel
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 12:32 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Rough little video of HO walking the circle in the
Already Always Open Space
You are always welcome, dear HO. But, wait - you didn't say: what did you
learn??
curious to hear more,
love, Christy
Christy Lee-Engel, ND, EAMP
Director, Center for Spirituality, Science and Medicine
<https://www.facebook.com/BastyrSpiritualityScienceMedicine>
Bastyr University
Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine practice: Core Chiropractic and
Wellness <http://corechiropracticseattle.com>
206.708.7172
We're all just walking each other home - Ram Dass
On Sun, May 19, 2013 at 4:04 PM, Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net> wrote:
Christy - I really learned something. Thank you for your experiment. Weird,
I guess, but it really was a "classic" moment, and you got it all. The fact
that it was something less than a PBS Special made it all the better, I
think. Thank you.
ho
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
Camden, Maine 04843
Phone 301-365-2093
(summer) 207-763-3261
www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com%20>
www.ho-image.com <http://www.ho-image.com%20> (Personal Website)
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST
Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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