[OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
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 of land that their families had continuous connection with for many years.
There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive conflict between
some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by separate, competing
claims over parts of the area in question. They had arrived at a place where
most of the elders had decided it was time to work together otherwise their
chances of achieving a successful claim in the national Native Title Court
would be unlikely. In order to prepare themselves for the next steps in
submitting a formal legal claim over the region, they suggested it would be
appropriate to spend a couple of days together so that ‘they could sit and
yarn' about the issues that divided them in the past, about how they might
reconcile with each other and how they might work together in the future. The
sponsor, a representative of the regional Land Council that would be
responsible for resourcing the meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting
would be appropriate.
Naming the Process
Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My contact
within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. I was happy
to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of creating Yarning
Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous vocabulary in
Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’, sitting in a
circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to them. So the
underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an OST meeting).
From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect our
individual differences and identities?’
In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two Feet;
Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and linked my
introduction to each of these.
The Event
There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity of
longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known in the
world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for the meeting
so that only those who were entitled to be there (another interpretation of
'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with the requirement that
only those who are directly descended from the original ‘traditional owners’ of
the particular areas are entitled to be part of the discussions and eventual
decision-making process. There are strict protocols around anthropologist
'connection research’ to ensure that this is the case and these reports often
generate additional conflicts among family groups.
On the first morning of the two-day event, while people were beginning to
gather in the meeting space, there was a very animated and highly charged
interaction between two rather large men (I subsequently discovered these were
two brothers who had not spoken directly to each other for nearly ten years)
and this generated a burst of high tension energy. A security guard
intervened, in a very professional, low-key way, creating a pause between the
men and providing an opportunity for some of their mutual relatives (mostly the
older women) to exert a calming influence on them…fortunately, they seemed to
be well practiced at such interventions!
I was certainly wide awake now! Too soon for a nap…and I wondered, rather
nervously, how the rest of the meeting might go
The men calmed, the senior elder (one of the women) gave a ‘welcome to country’
asking that everyone in the room (about 60 participants) respect the ancestors,
and each other, during this very important time together. I was then invited
into the circle…I did my usual intro, with slight variations of language,
verbal and body, to adapt to my environment. A the end of my introduction, as I
usually do, I wished them well for the work of the day, handed the space over
to them and exited the circle….
As I was heading towards the edge of the meeting area, I noticed a couple of
people dive straight in the centre for their pape
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
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 native title over a
> certain area of land that their families had continuous connection with for
> many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive
> conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by
> separate, competing claims over parts of the area in question. They had
> arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided it was time to work
> together otherwise their chances of achieving a successful claim in the
> national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In order to prepare
> themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal claim over the
> region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a couple of days
> together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues that divided
> them in the past, about how they might reconcile with each other and how
> they might work together in the future. The sponsor, a representative of
> the regional Land Council that would be responsible for resourcing the
> meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be appropriate.
>
>
> *Naming the Process*
> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My
> contact within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting.
> I was happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of
> creating Yarning Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous
> vocabulary in Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’,
> sitting in a circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to
> them. So the underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an
> OST meeting).
>
> From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
> invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect
> our individual differences and identities?’
>
> In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
> Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
> pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
> read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two
> Feet; Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and
> linked my introduction to each of these.
>
>
> *The Event*
> There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity of
> longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known in
> the world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for the
> meeting so that only those who were entitled to be there (another
> interpretation of 'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with
> the requirement that only those who are directly descended from the
> original ‘traditional owners’ of the particular areas are entitled to be
> part of the discussions and eventual decision-making process. There are
> strict protocols around anthropologist 'connection research’ to ensure that
> this is the case and these reports often generate additional conflicts
> among family groups.
>
> On the first morning of the two-day event, while people were beginning to
> gather in the meeting space, there was a very animated and highly charged
> interaction between two rather large men (I subsequently discovered these
> were two brothers who had not spoken directly to each other for nearly ten
> years) and this generated a burst of high tension energy. A security guard
> intervened, in a very professional, low-key way, creating a pause between
> the men and providing an opportunity for some of their mutual relatives
> (mostly the older women) to exert a calming influence on them…fortunately,
> they seemed to be well practiced at such interventions!
>
> I was certainly wide awake now! Too soon for a nap…and I wondered, rather
> nervously, how the rest of the meeting might go
>
> The men calmed, the senior elder (one of the women) gave a ‘welcome to
> country’ asking that everyone in the room (about 60 participants) respect
> the ancestors, and each other, during this very important time together. I
> was then i
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
Brendon, a Rose by any other name is a Rose! We are facilitating conversations
(yarns). Not selling a product. The challenge for us is to follow your lead
and use the local indium to get to the conversation as quickly as possible so
that we can get the best nap time!
Regards
Rob
> On 18 May 2018, at 5:54 pm, Jeff Aitken via OSList
> wrote:
>
> 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 of land that their families had continuous connection with for
>> many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive
>> conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by
>> separate, competing claims over parts of the area in question. They had
>> arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided it was time to work
>> together otherwise their chances of achieving a successful claim in the
>> national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In order to prepare
>> themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal claim over the
>> region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a couple of days
>> together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues that divided
>> them in the past, about how they might reconcile with each other and how
>> they might work together in the future. The sponsor, a representative of
>> the regional Land Council that would be responsible for resourcing the
>> meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be appropriate.
>>
>>
>> Naming the Process
>> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
>> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
>> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
>> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My contact
>> within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. I was
>> happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of creating
>> Yarning Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous
>> vocabulary in Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’,
>> sitting in a circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to
>> them. So the underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an OST
>> meeting).
>>
>> From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
>> invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect
>> our individual differences and identities?’
>>
>> In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
>> Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
>> pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
>> read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two
>> Feet; Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and
>> linked my introduction to each of these.
>>
>>
>> The Event
>> There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity of
>> longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known in
>> the world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for the
>> meeting so that only those who were entitled to be there (another
>> interpretation of 'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with the
>> requirement that only those who are directly descended from the original
>> ‘traditional owners’ of the particular areas are entitled to be part of the
>> discussions and eventual decision-making process. There are strict protocols
>> around anthropologist 'connection research’ to ensure that this is the case
>> and these reports often generate additional conflicts among family groups.
>>
>> On the first morning of the two-day event, while people were beginning to
>> gather in the meeting space, there was a very animated and highly charged
>> interaction between two rather large men (I subsequently discovered these
>> were two brothers who had not spoken directly to each other for nearly ten
>> years) and this generated a burst of high tension energy. A security guard
>> intervened, in a very professional, low-key way, creating a pause between
>> the men and providing an opportunity for some of their mutual relatives
>> (mostly the older wom
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
Wow!
Thank you for sharing!!!
Anna Caroline
Anna Caroline Türk
+ 49 (0) 176 248 72254
Skype: AnnaCarolineTuerk
www.TruthCircles.com
> On 18. May 2018, at 09:54, Jeff Aitken via OSList
> wrote:
>
> 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 of land that their families had continuous connection with for
>> many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive
>> conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by
>> separate, competing claims over parts of the area in question. They had
>> arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided it was time to work
>> together otherwise their chances of achieving a successful claim in the
>> national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In order to prepare
>> themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal claim over the
>> region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a couple of days
>> together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues that divided
>> them in the past, about how they might reconcile with each other and how
>> they might work together in the future. The sponsor, a representative of
>> the regional Land Council that would be responsible for resourcing the
>> meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be appropriate.
>>
>>
>> Naming the Process
>> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
>> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
>> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
>> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My contact
>> within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. I was
>> happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of creating
>> Yarning Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous
>> vocabulary in Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’,
>> sitting in a circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to
>> them. So the underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an OST
>> meeting).
>>
>> From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
>> invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect
>> our individual differences and identities?’
>>
>> In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
>> Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
>> pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
>> read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two
>> Feet; Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and
>> linked my introduction to each of these.
>>
>>
>> The Event
>> There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity of
>> longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known in
>> the world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for the
>> meeting so that only those who were entitled to be there (another
>> interpretation of 'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with the
>> requirement that only those who are directly descended from the original
>> ‘traditional owners’ of the particular areas are entitled to be part of the
>> discussions and eventual decision-making process. There are strict protocols
>> around anthropologist 'connection research’ to ensure that this is the case
>> and these reports often generate additional conflicts among family groups.
>>
>> On the first morning of the two-day event, while people were beginning to
>> gather in the meeting space, there was a very animated and highly charged
>> interaction between two rather large men (I subsequently discovered these
>> were two brothers who had not spoken directly to each other for nearly ten
>> years) and this generated a burst of high tension energy. A security guard
>> intervened, in a very professional, low-key way, creating a pause between
>> the men and providing an opportunity for some of their mutual relatives
>> (mostly the older women) to exert a calming influence on them…fortunately,
>> they seemed to be well practiced at such interventions!
>>
>> I was certainly wide a
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
> Hi Brendan,
>
> Lovely story. Thank you.
Here is where my sense of humor took me regarding 'yarning circles'
For forever, women, especially in days when 'the woman's place was in the
home, etc etc, had 'yarning circlies with the different meaning of the word
'yarning' as in spinning wool, weaving, and the most freeing of yarning
circles was the circle of women knitting. And oh how the conversations with
true engagement flourished. These conversations affected all of the
households, and slowly, slowly, the yarning circles led to change.
Recently, I was interested in taking up knitting again. I entered a yarn
shop, And there, before my eyes, was a circle of women knitting, deeply
engrossed in conversations. As I entered, the conversation came to a sudden
standstill.. I was a stranger. I respected that silence, did what I needed,
left...and the conversations started again.
The point of my tale...conversation circles are a natural way of
being...and a natural way for positive change to flourish, seeded into a
whole community.
With appreciation for all of your sharing,
Birgitt
>
>
>
>
> 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 native title over
>> a certain area of land that their families had continuous connection with
>> for many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and
>> destructive conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years,
>> illustrated by separate, competing claims over parts of the area in
>> question. They had arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided
>> it was time to work together otherwise their chances of achieving a
>> successful claim in the national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In
>> order to prepare themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal
>> claim over the region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a
>> couple of days together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues
>> that divided them in the past, about how they might reconcile with each
>> other and how they might work together in the future. The sponsor, a
>> representative of the regional Land Council that would be responsible for
>> resourcing the meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be
>> appropriate.
>>
>>
>> *Naming the Process*
>> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
>> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
>> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
>> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My
>> contact within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting.
>> I was happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of
>> creating Yarning Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous
>> vocabulary in Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’,
>> sitting in a circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to
>> them. So the underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an
>> OST meeting).
>>
>> From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
>> invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect
>> our individual differences and identities?’
>>
>> In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
>> Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
>> pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
>> read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two
>> Feet; Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and
>> linked my introduction to each of these.
>>
>>
>> *The Event*
>> There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity
>> of longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known
>> in the world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for
>> the meeting so that only those who were entitled to be there (another
>> interpretation of 'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with
>> the requirement that only those who are directly descended from the
>> original ‘traditional owners’ of the particular areas are entitled to be
>> part of the discussions and eventual decision-making process. There are
>> strict protocols around anthropologist 'connection research’ to ensure that
>> this is the case and these reports often generate additional conflicts
>> among family groups.
>>
>> On the first morning of the two-day event
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
Oh Yes. All over the world every time I’ve ever “done” an OS with “indigenous
people”… Africa, Asia, Native Americans – same result. Sooner or later some
“elder” would start to smile… Although the words would differ (individually,
language, whatever) the message was the same: “White man – where did you steal
that?” So one more time. Welcome to the world. Nothing new, nothing strange.
Just sit in a circle…
ho
From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of
Brendan McKeague via OSList
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2018 3:32 AM
To: OS Listserve
Cc: Brendan McKeague
Subject: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
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 of land that their families had continuous connection with for many years.
There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive conflict between
some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by separate, competing
claims over parts of the area in question. They had arrived at a place where
most of the elders had decided it was time to work together otherwise their
chances of achieving a successful claim in the national Native Title Court
would be unlikely. In order to prepare themselves for the next steps in
submitting a formal legal claim over the region, they suggested it would be
appropriate to spend a couple of days together so that ‘they could sit and
yarn' about the issues that divided them in the past, about how they might
reconcile with each other and how they might work together in the future. The
sponsor, a representative of the regional Land Council that would be
responsible for resourcing the meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting
would be appropriate.
Naming the Process
Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My contact
within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. I was happy
to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of creating Yarning
Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous vocabulary in
Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’, sitting in a
circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to them. So the
underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an OST meeting).
>From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
>invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect
>our individual differences and identities?’
In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two Feet;
Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and linked my
introduction to each of these.
The Event
There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity of
longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known in the
world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for the meeting
so that only those who were entitled to be there (another interpretation of
'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with the requirement that
only those who are directly descended from the original ‘traditional owners’ of
the particular areas are entitled to be part of the discussions and eventual
decision-making process. There are strict protocols around anthropologist
'connection research’ to ensure that this is the case and these reports often
generate additional conflicts among family groups.
On the first morning of the two-day event, while people were beginning to
gather in the meeting space, there was a very animated and highly charged
interaction between two rather large men (I subsequently discovered these were
two brothers who had not spoken directly to each other for nearly ten years)
and this generated a burst of high tension energy. A security guard
intervened, in a very professional, low-key way, creating a pause between the
men and providing an opportunity for some of their mutual relatives (mostly the
older women) to exert a calming influence on them…fortunately, they seemed to
be well practiced at such interventions!
I
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
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
> mailto: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 native title over a
> certain area of land that their families had continuous connection with for
> many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive
> conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by
> separate, competing claims over parts of the area in question. They had
> arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided it was time to work
> together otherwise their chances of achieving a successful claim in the
> national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In order to prepare
> themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal claim over the
> region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a couple of days
> together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues that divided them
> in the past, about how they might reconcile with each other and how they
> might work together in the future. The sponsor, a representative of the
> regional Land Council that would be responsible for resourcing the meeting,
> wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be appropriate.
>
>
> Naming the Process
> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My contact
> within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. I was
> happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of creating
> Yarning Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous vocabulary
> in Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’, sitting in a
> circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to them. So the
> underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an OST meeting).
>
> From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
> invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect
> our individual differences and identities?’
>
> In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
> Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
> pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
> read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two
> Feet; Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and
> linked my introduction to each of these.
>
>
> The Event
> There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity of
> longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known in the
> world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for the
> meeting so that only those who were entitled to be there (another
> interpretation of 'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with the
> requirement that only those who are directly descended from the original
> ‘traditional owners’ of the particular areas are entitled to be part of the
> discussions and eventual decision-making process. There are strict protocols
> around anthropologist 'connection research’ to ensure that this is the case
> and these reports often generate additional conflicts among family groups.
>
> On the first morning of the two-day event, while people were beginning to
> gather in the meeting space, there was a very animated and highly charged
> interaction between two rather large men (I subsequently discovered these
> were two brothers who had not spoken directly to each other for nearly ten
> years) and this generated a burst of high tension energy. A security guard
> intervened, in a very professional, low-key way, creating a pause between the
> men and providing an opportunity for some of their mutual relatives (mostly
> the older women) to exert a calming influence on them…for
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
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
>> mailto: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
>> mailto: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 native title over a
>> certain area of land that their families had continuous connection with for
>> many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive
>> conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by
>> separate, competing claims over parts of the area in question. They had
>> arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided it was time to work
>> together otherwise their chances of achieving a successful claim in the
>> national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In order to prepare
>> themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal claim over the
>> region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a couple of days
>> together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues that divided
>> them in the past, about how they might reconcile with each other and how
>> they might work together in the future. The sponsor, a representative of
>> the regional Land Council that would be responsible for resourcing the
>> meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be appropriate.
>>
>>
>> Naming the Process
>> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
>> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
>> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
>> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My contact
>> within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. I was
>> happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of creating
>> Yarning Circles ('yarning circle'
Re: [OSList] Open Space as Yarning Space (long)
Thanks Birgitt
How true…I think there are rich traditions of yarning, knitting, weaving,
sewing, quilting circles in most cultures, especially for women.
A lovely way of combining the work that was needed to be done with the laughter
and socialising within communities.
In Ireland, and in many other countries, the women used to gather around the
village or townland well for the daily collecting of water and have a good
conversation there. Much the same as men at the weekly market or at the pub!
It’s wonderful how we have captured the rich, time-enduring essence of
gathering around a centre of refreshment in our OS places….
No surprise really if we recall the ‘martini making’ in the mix
Cheers
Brendan
> On 20 May 2018, at 12:15 AM, Birgitt Williams via OSList
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi Brendan,
>
> Lovely story. Thank you.
>
> Here is where my sense of humor took me regarding 'yarning circles'
>
> For forever, women, especially in days when 'the woman's place was in the
> home, etc etc, had 'yarning circlies with the different meaning of the word
> 'yarning' as in spinning wool, weaving, and the most freeing of yarning
> circles was the circle of women knitting. And oh how the conversations with
> true engagement flourished. These conversations affected all of the
> households, and slowly, slowly, the yarning circles led to change.
>
> Recently, I was interested in taking up knitting again. I entered a yarn
> shop, And there, before my eyes, was a circle of women knitting, deeply
> engrossed in conversations. As I entered, the conversation came to a sudden
> standstill.. I was a stranger. I respected that silence, did what I needed,
> left...and the conversations started again.
>
> The point of my tale...conversation circles are a natural way of being...and
> a natural way for positive change to flourish, seeded into a whole community.
>
> With appreciation for all of your sharing,
> Birgitt
>
>>
>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, May 18, 2018, 12:38 AM Brendan McKeague via OSList
>> mailto: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 native title over a
>> certain area of land that their families had continuous connection with for
>> many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and destructive
>> conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years, illustrated by
>> separate, competing claims over parts of the area in question. They had
>> arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided it was time to work
>> together otherwise their chances of achieving a successful claim in the
>> national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In order to prepare
>> themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal claim over the
>> region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a couple of days
>> together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues that divided
>> them in the past, about how they might reconcile with each other and how
>> they might work together in the future. The sponsor, a representative of
>> the regional Land Council that would be responsible for resourcing the
>> meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be appropriate.
>>
>>
>> Naming the Process
>> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a
>> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details,
>> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously
>> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My contact
>> within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. I was
>> happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of creating
>> Yarning Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous
>> vocabulary in Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’,
>> sitting in a circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to
>> them. So the underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an OST
>> meeting).
>>
>> From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an
>> invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect
>> our individual differences and identities?’
>>
>> In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group
>> Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else
>> pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to
>> read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two
>> Feet; Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prep
