Re: [OSList] Open Space - Billabongs

[Brendan McKeague via OSList]

Rob - so true - the need for water is the need for life…and such watering holes 
are necessary to sustain us.  

In Open Space we contribute towards creating the conditions where people can 
drink freely and deeply from the well of their own spirit, individual and 
community.

Wow - I am now reminded of the experiments with molecular changes in water 
crystals carried out by Dr Masaru Emoto 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAvzsjcBtx8 


These billabong spaces, the watering holes in an OS meeting could create such 
radical transformation in those who show up there….?  

After all, I’m told that water makes up around 60% of our bodies - and if water 
is capable off such amazing molecular transformation in response to external 
stimuli, then what about us?

Food, and drink, for further thought…

Cheers 
Brendan  

> On 21 May 2018, at 4:13 PM, Carmela Ariza  wrote:
> 
> i also super LOVE this thread
> thank you Brendan for sharing..and all those who replied...and shared..
> 
> Carms
> 
> True happiness is a state of mind.
> Happiness is not a consequence of things that happen. 
> Do not pursue happiness - practice it. 
> Sing, even if you do not sound good. 
> Smile, even when things go wrong. 
> Create happiness, and happy you will be.
> 
> 
> On Monday, 21 May 2018, 8:11:55 AM GMT+8, lucia pavia Ticzon via OSList 
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> Love this thread ... 
> 
> ❤️❤️
> ~ luch 
> 
> On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 6:01 AM R Chaffe via OSList 
> > 
> wrote:
> 
> Brendon, we live and work in a land where water is precious.  Billabongs are 
> often the life saving watering points when we travel much like an oasis in 
> the desert.  
> 
> Billabongs are also parts of prior streams where the stream has taken a new 
> track and the billabong is cut off from surface flows of water yet they are 
> fed and nourished by underground water that seeps across the flood plane even 
> when the surface stream is non existent.  Billabongs reminds me of the deep 
> threads that are part of a community that sustain it in the hard times.  The 
> billabong is the evidence that this deep nourishment exists. 
> 
>  Some of these concepts are very familiar with Australians in the 
> subconscious.  It must be fun to see people discover the deeper meanings of 
> billabong.  
> 
> For me I would use the the name as it will connect with peoples experience 
> after that I would let the participants take billabong where they choose.  As 
> with the “message sticks” that are the indigenous passport and map every 
> group/tribe had different ways of describing the features of the map so to 
> can the group do the same.
> 
> Just as in the song “click go the shears” the spirt of the “swagman” remains 
> in the billabong to be heard now and then!
> 
> Billabong, just another way to have fun and connect with the community of 
> concern.  
> 
> Regards
> Rob
> 
> On 21 May 2018, at 1:05 am, Brendan McKeague via OSList 
> > 
> wrote:
> 
>> A, the billabong….thanks of asking.
>> 
>> The billabong in Australia is a water hole or pond where water is usually 
>> found when the surrounding riverbed or land becomes dry - the last place to 
>> dry up in an otherwise arid landscape - often will have a few trees or 
>> bushes around it.  I used to hear Aboriginal people speak of ‘knowing where 
>> the billabongs lay along certain routes or about meetings for initiation and 
>> other business held near certain billabongs. Also in the iconic Australian 
>> song, Waltzing Matilda, there is reference to the ‘swagman' 
>> (traveller/rover/hobo) who ‘camped by a billabong’.  The term is well known 
>> and recognised in both Aboriginal and ‘whitefella’ culture. 
>> 
>> In my early days of facilitating Open Space, I began to use the term 
>> billabong as a place of ‘refreshment, relaxation, restoration, reflection, 
>> renewal etc’ where, having introduced the terms butterflies and bees (in 
>> Australia, I prefer the term bee to distinguish from the European introduced 
>> ‘bumble bee’, regarded as a pest and destroying habitats of native species), 
>> I speak about billabong ‘spaces or places’ where you can go and rest up 
>> should you find that you need a break from the main meeting….maybe you’ve 
>> listened enough, talked enough, need some silence, need to think about an 
>> upcoming conversation that you’ve posted….find yourself a billabong space 
>> and refresh your energy. A billabong space is where you wish to create 
>> it…outside under a tree,  going for a stroll, lounging on a beanbag, in a 
>> corner of the room or in the bar, anywhere you feel comfortable to 
>> relax…varies according to where the OS meeting is held - I once had someone 
>> tell me they spent 20mins in the toilet as it was the only 

Re: [OSList] Open Space - Billabongs

[Carmela Ariza via OSList]

i also super LOVE this threadthank you Brendan for sharing..and all those 
who replied...and shared..
Carms
True happiness is a state of mind.
Happiness is not a consequence of things that happen. 
Do not pursue happiness - practice it. 
Sing, even if you do not sound good. 
Smile, even when things go wrong. 
Create happiness, and happy you will be. 

On Monday, 21 May 2018, 8:11:55 AM GMT+8, lucia pavia Ticzon via OSList 
 wrote:  
 
 Love this thread ... 
❤️❤️~ luch 
On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 6:01 AM R Chaffe via OSList 
 wrote:


Brendon, we live and work in a land where water is precious.  Billabongs are 
often the life saving watering points when we travel much like an oasis in the 
desert.  
Billabongs are also parts of prior streams where the stream has taken a new 
track and the billabong is cut off from surface flows of water yet they are fed 
and nourished by underground water that seeps across the flood plane even when 
the surface stream is non existent.  Billabongs reminds me of the deep threads 
that are part of a community that sustain it in the hard times.  The billabong 
is the evidence that this deep nourishment exists. 
 Some of these concepts are very familiar with Australians in the subconscious. 
 It must be fun to see people discover the deeper meanings of billabong.  
For me I would use the the name as it will connect with peoples experience 
after that I would let the participants take billabong where they choose.  As 
with the “message sticks” that are the indigenous passport and map every 
group/tribe had different ways of describing the features of the map so to can 
the group do the same.
Just as in the song “click go the shears” the spirt of the “swagman” remains in 
the billabong to be heard now and then!
Billabong, just another way to have fun and connect with the community of 
concern.  
RegardsRob
On 21 May 2018, at 1:05 am, Brendan McKeague via OSList 
 wrote:


A, the billabong….thanks of asking.
The billabong in Australia is a water hole or pond where water is usually found 
when the surrounding riverbed or land becomes dry - the last place to dry up in 
an otherwise arid landscape - often will have a few trees or bushes around it.  
I used to hear Aboriginal people speak of ‘knowing where the billabongs lay 
along certain routes or about meetings for initiation and other business held 
near certain billabongs. Also in the iconic Australian song, Waltzing Matilda, 
there is reference to the ‘swagman' (traveller/rover/hobo) who ‘camped by a 
billabong’.  The term is well known and recognised in both Aboriginal and 
‘whitefella’ culture. 
In my early days of facilitating Open Space, I began to use the term billabong 
as a place of ‘refreshment, relaxation, restoration, reflection, renewal etc’ 
where, having introduced the terms butterflies and bees (in Australia, I prefer 
the term bee to distinguish from the European introduced ‘bumble bee’, regarded 
as a pest and destroying habitats of native species), I speak about billabong 
‘spaces or places’ where you can go and rest up should you find that you need a 
break from the main meeting….maybe you’ve listened enough, talked enough, need 
some silence, need to think about an upcoming conversation that you’ve 
posted….find yourself a billabong space and refresh your energy. A billabong 
space is where you wish to create it…outside under a tree,  going for a stroll, 
lounging on a beanbag, in a corner of the room or in the bar, anywhere you feel 
comfortable to relax…varies according to where the OS meeting is held - I once 
had someone tell me they spent 20mins in the toilet as it was the only 
‘billabong’ space they could find! 
I have also had people report that one or two others came and joined them in 
their billabong and, guess what, the most wonderful thing happened….!
Billabongs are created, or not, in the very best of our self-organising 
tradition…just as the river meanders along its own course and leaves little 
pools of refreshment along the way for those who need it.
CheersBrendan 


On 20 May 2018, at 5:09 PM, Marai Kiele via OSList 
 wrote:
What a colourful and vivid story. Thank you Brendan for taking the time to 
describe it so richly!
I got as curious as Jeff about the billabongs (first needed to look up the 
word).Maybe there are a space where special flowers and animals can 
flourish?Please fill us in :-)
Marai

Am 18.05.2018 um 09:54 schrieb Jeff Aitken via OSList 
:
Thank you. Very rich. Lots to appreciate here.
One initial question stands out: how do billabongs act in open space? 
(We know about the butterflies and bees.) With thanks
JeffSan Francisco

On Fri, May 18, 2018, 12:38 AM Brendan McKeague via OSList 
 wrote:


Hi folks
Here is a story (Irish style) of a recent Open Space meeting 'in 

Re: [OSList] Open Space - Billabongs

[lucia pavia Ticzon via OSList]

Love this thread ...

❤️❤️
~ luch

On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 6:01 AM R Chaffe via OSList <
oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

Brendon, we live and work in a land where water is precious.  Billabongs
> are often the life saving watering points when we travel much like an oasis
> in the desert.
>
> Billabongs are also parts of prior streams where the stream has taken a
> new track and the billabong is cut off from surface flows of water yet they
> are fed and nourished by underground water that seeps across the flood
> plane even when the surface stream is non existent.  Billabongs reminds me
> of the deep threads that are part of a community that sustain it in the
> hard times.  The billabong is the evidence that this deep nourishment
> exists.
>
>  Some of these concepts are very familiar with Australians in the
> subconscious.  It must be fun to see people discover the deeper meanings of
> billabong.
>
> For me I would use the the name as it will connect with peoples experience
> after that I would let the participants take billabong where they choose.
> As with the “message sticks” that are the indigenous passport and map every
> group/tribe had different ways of describing the features of the map so to
> can the group do the same.
>
> Just as in the song “click go the shears” the spirt of the “swagman”
> remains in the billabong to be heard now and then!
>
> Billabong, just another way to have fun and connect with the community of
> concern.
>
> Regards
> Rob
>
> On 21 May 2018, at 1:05 am, Brendan McKeague via OSList <
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
> A, the billabong….thanks of asking.
>
> The billabong in Australia is a water hole or pond where water is usually
> found when the surrounding riverbed or land becomes dry - the last place to
> dry up in an otherwise arid landscape - often will have a few trees or
> bushes around it.  I used to hear Aboriginal people speak of ‘knowing where
> the billabongs lay along certain routes or about meetings for initiation
> and other business held near certain billabongs. Also in the iconic
> Australian song, Waltzing Matilda, there is reference to the ‘swagman'
> (traveller/rover/hobo) who ‘camped by a billabong’.  The term is well known
> and recognised in both Aboriginal and ‘whitefella’ culture.
>
> In my early days of facilitating Open Space, I began to use the term
> billabong as a place of ‘refreshment, relaxation, restoration, reflection,
> renewal etc’ where, having introduced the terms butterflies and bees (in
> Australia, I prefer the term bee to distinguish from the European
> introduced ‘bumble bee’, regarded as a pest and destroying habitats of
> native species), I speak about billabong ‘spaces or places’ where you can
> go and rest up should you find that you need a break from the main
> meeting….maybe you’ve listened enough, talked enough, need some silence,
> need to think about an upcoming conversation that you’ve posted….find
> yourself a billabong space and refresh your energy. A billabong space is
> where you wish to create it…outside under a tree,  going for a stroll,
> lounging on a beanbag, in a corner of the room or in the bar, anywhere you
> feel comfortable to relax…varies according to where the OS meeting is held
> - I once had someone tell me they spent 20mins in the toilet as it was the
> only ‘billabong’ space they could find!
>
> I have also had people report that one or two others came and joined them
> in their billabong and, guess what, the most wonderful thing happened….!
>
> Billabongs are created, or not, in the very best of our self-organising
> tradition…just as the river meanders along its own course and leaves little
> pools of refreshment along the way for those who need it.
>
> Cheers
> Brendan
>
>
> On 20 May 2018, at 5:09 PM, Marai Kiele via OSList <
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
> What a colourful and vivid story.
> Thank you Brendan for taking the time to describe it so richly!
>
> I got as curious as Jeff about the billabongs (first needed to look up the
> word).
> Maybe there are a space where special flowers and animals can flourish?
> Please fill us in :-)
>
> Marai
>
> Am 18.05.2018 um 09:54 schrieb Jeff Aitken via OSList <
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>:
>
> Thank you. Very rich. Lots to appreciate here.
>
> One initial question stands out: how do billabongs act in open space?
>
> (We know about the butterflies and bees.) With thanks
>
> Jeff
> San Francisco
>
>
> On Fri, May 18, 2018, 12:38 AM Brendan McKeague via OSList <
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi folks
>>
>> Here is a story (Irish style) of a recent Open Space meeting 'in
>> disguise'.  I hope it adds something to our ongoing learning and collective
>> wisdom.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Brendan
>>
>>
>> *Open Space as Yarning Space - an Australian story*
>>
>> *Context*
>> A group of five different ‘language/family groups’ wishing to pursue
>> their intention of working together to submit a claim for 

Re: [OSList] Open Space - Billabongs

[R Chaffe via OSList]

Brendon, we live and work in a land where water is precious.  Billabongs are 
often the life saving watering points when we travel much like an oasis in the 
desert.  

Billabongs are also parts of prior streams where the stream has taken a new 
track and the billabong is cut off from surface flows of water yet they are fed 
and nourished by underground water that seeps across the flood plane even when 
the surface stream is non existent.  Billabongs reminds me of the deep threads 
that are part of a community that sustain it in the hard times.  The billabong 
is the evidence that this deep nourishment exists. 

 Some of these concepts are very familiar with Australians in the subconscious. 
 It must be fun to see people discover the deeper meanings of billabong.  

For me I would use the the name as it will connect with peoples experience 
after that I would let the participants take billabong where they choose.  As 
with the “message sticks” that are the indigenous passport and map every 
group/tribe had different ways of describing the features of the map so to can 
the group do the same.

Just as in the song “click go the shears” the spirt of the “swagman” remains in 
the billabong to be heard now and then!

Billabong, just another way to have fun and connect with the community of 
concern.  

Regards
Rob

> On 21 May 2018, at 1:05 am, Brendan McKeague via OSList 
>  wrote:
> 
> A, the billabong….thanks of asking.
> 
> The billabong in Australia is a water hole or pond where water is usually 
> found when the surrounding riverbed or land becomes dry - the last place to 
> dry up in an otherwise arid landscape - often will have a few trees or bushes 
> around it.  I used to hear Aboriginal people speak of ‘knowing where the 
> billabongs lay along certain routes or about meetings for initiation and 
> other business held near certain billabongs. Also in the iconic Australian 
> song, Waltzing Matilda, there is reference to the ‘swagman' 
> (traveller/rover/hobo) who ‘camped by a billabong’.  The term is well known 
> and recognised in both Aboriginal and ‘whitefella’ culture. 
> 
> In my early days of facilitating Open Space, I began to use the term 
> billabong as a place of ‘refreshment, relaxation, restoration, reflection, 
> renewal etc’ where, having introduced the terms butterflies and bees (in 
> Australia, I prefer the term bee to distinguish from the European introduced 
> ‘bumble bee’, regarded as a pest and destroying habitats of native species), 
> I speak about billabong ‘spaces or places’ where you can go and rest up 
> should you find that you need a break from the main meeting….maybe you’ve 
> listened enough, talked enough, need some silence, need to think about an 
> upcoming conversation that you’ve posted….find yourself a billabong space and 
> refresh your energy. A billabong space is where you wish to create it…outside 
> under a tree,  going for a stroll, lounging on a beanbag, in a corner of the 
> room or in the bar, anywhere you feel comfortable to relax…varies according 
> to where the OS meeting is held - I once had someone tell me they spent 
> 20mins in the toilet as it was the only ‘billabong’ space they could find! 
> 
> I have also had people report that one or two others came and joined them in 
> their billabong and, guess what, the most wonderful thing happened….!
> 
> Billabongs are created, or not, in the very best of our self-organising 
> tradition…just as the river meanders along its own course and leaves little 
> pools of refreshment along the way for those who need it.
> 
> Cheers
> Brendan 
> 
> 
>> On 20 May 2018, at 5:09 PM, Marai Kiele via OSList 
>>  wrote:
>> 
>> What a colourful and vivid story. 
>> Thank you Brendan for taking the time to describe it so richly!
>> 
>> I got as curious as Jeff about the billabongs (first needed to look up the 
>> word).
>> Maybe there are a space where special flowers and animals can flourish?
>> Please fill us in :-)
>> 
>> Marai
>> 
>>> Am 18.05.2018 um 09:54 schrieb Jeff Aitken via OSList 
>>> :
>>> 
>>> Thank you. Very rich. Lots to appreciate here.
>>> 
>>> One initial question stands out: how do billabongs act in open space? 
>>> 
>>> (We know about the butterflies and bees.) With thanks
>>> 
>>> Jeff
>>> San Francisco
>>> 
>>> 
 On Fri, May 18, 2018, 12:38 AM Brendan McKeague via OSList 
  wrote:
 
 Hi folks
 
 Here is a story (Irish style) of a recent Open Space meeting 'in 
 disguise'.  I hope it adds something to our ongoing learning and 
 collective wisdom.
 
 Cheers
 Brendan
 
 
 Open Space as Yarning Space - an Australian story
  
 Context
 A group of five different ‘language/family groups’ wishing to pursue their 
 intention of working together to submit a claim for native title over a 
 certain area