Re: Communication from Rain, she who holds the talking peace this morning...
Beautiful words Rain. Just yes to your description of living in Open Space. It certainly changed how I live my life.
Roma, congratulations on a remarkable gathering. I noticed the video is eight years old. Do you know what has happened since?
Writing from Kochi, India where 17 of us are gathered in an Open Space that has occurred annually for 30+ years bringing friends and strangers together around a topic. This year’s theme: Finding meaning and joy amidst life’s chaos. I’m a newcomer. This is my third year, stepping in for our dear, departed friend Anne Stadler, who met her co-convenor, Anil Sachdev, at the seminal Open Space in Goa in 1989,
Peggy
Peggy Holman 206-948-0432
Sent from my iPad
On Oct 12, 2025, at 2:58 AM, Thomas Herrmann via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
Thaaanks Rain and thanks Roma for sharing that story and GREAT video!!!
So beautiful and important work for democratic development activities.
See you soon in Kenya!
Greatfully
Thomas
Skickat från Outlook för iOS
Från: Roma Iskander via OSList <everyone@oslist.org>
Skickat: Friday, October 10, 2025 2:05:00 PM
Till: Rain Warren <rainlistens@gmail.com>
Kopia: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org>; Paula Kahumbu <paula@wildlifedirect.org>
Ämne: [OSList] Re: Communication from Rain, she who holds the talking peace this morning...What beautiful words Rain. I too am being a bit of a butterfly , loving this conversation, being fortunate enough to look forward to more in Kenya .
The hardest, most challenging OST Anna and I have ever done, turned out to be the easiest in many ways . A privilege even. 9 days notice ( scary) expecting about 300 plus people , it turned out to be 750 . Mostly Maasai community - who of course organise their gatherings in this way already !
I attached the video of the event. In no way self promoting , but as a beautiful example of exactly what we are talking about. Huge thanks to Paula Kahumbu , Wildlife Direct , for the vision and energy to see what an OST could achieve, and for ensuring there was such a good record of the event .
From another person who finds OST has transformed my life and how I live .
Roma
Developing the school as the centre of the community
Roma Iskander Public Service Works Network Mobile 07956635802
On 10 Oct 2025, at 12:01, Rain Warren via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
To Deep Bow to All Open Space Ancestors, Elders and Practitioners both known and unknown,
I have a deep love for Open Space.
It informs a lot of how I move in this world.
Open Space Technology lives inside of me, there is no Open Space OUT THERE, with me.
I feel confident that many people who have experienced Open Space feel the same. I have heard the statement many times when facilitating or even simply sharing Open Space, "Wow! I love Open Space, it transformed my life."
If anyone thinks that Open Space may need a succession plan, or a "new leader", or a to-do list of what goes and what remains in the practice of Open Space, I say, "It's too late. That ship has already sailed. OST does not live on that shore. It lives with the people, those who practice in its "purest" form and those who use some elements of it in their work, play, personal walk on this planet, or otherwise." Many of whom have never heard of a listserv or an Open Space Institute or WOSonOS, etc. I honor all of us who have and those who have not. The Spirit of Open Space Technology lives in all of us in some version, not to mention all of the indigenous people who Harrison observed and the ancestors who visited his and others dreams as the Technology was spoken into being over and over again. And, that word was passed on to me and many others who passed it on and on and on and on into the world.
As I sit and look up at the nearly full moon or at a canopy of stars that grace the sky, I know that the Space is being held, for all of We, and the 4/5 Principles and the 1 Law are still in formation, seen and unseen, in this world, in other worlds, in our lives, into infinity. The Space shifts, transforms, and changes form as it wants to with the seasons and ebb and flows of all of us, our lives. Even this that we call, "Open Space Technology" is an evolution of some other practice that we can't even ever name, even those who practiced it before, live as Ancestors. I feel them smiling and embracing this new, very new formation.
The Open Space that lives in me, continues to evolve from being very attached to practicing in its "purest" form, to giving as much of it away as possible to the people who call for and request the practice, or simply being in the space as observer, listener, lover and lifter upper of the people. And, yet and still, giving that up and thinking of another thing to not do...
Often, simply reminding people of what they already know that is in their DNA. We young ones may call it Open Space Technology and they will say, "Oh, that is what is practiced in the village by the Elders, we call it ...!"
It brings me such joy to get calls across time zones (sometimes in the middle of my night) when leaders are in some quandary and beg, "Please, what are the Principles again? What do we do? This space needs Open Space, right now...!" I often say, "Well, what do you remember? Okay, you got it, do that, and go have some tea. Give that to the people and let them be." They call back and say, "Thank you! It worked." Or, "At first there was chaos, and then, it worked!" Or, "I don't know what happened. Suddenly, it worked!"
So, here I am in my little big town in Florida.
Being a Butterfly on the wall to this conversation.
Listening
Listening
Listening
AND SOMETIMES
Laughing
Laughing
Laughing
AND ALWAYS
Loving
Loving
Loving
And then a bright red cardinal lands on my window sill at dawn, bows and flys away...
As if giving me a signal to complete this communication,
and go soak in my bath (...whichI had drawn and just as I was about to step in Inspiration said "Go write!")
before it gets too cold,
and Pray,
and Listen,
and Love
All of It.
🦋🐝
Lorraine "Dr. Rain" Warren, PhD
I AM Open Space Technology (and so are YOU).
🇰🇪 Hujambo Kenya! My Spirit is there with you!
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.orgOSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org
Love this theme question Peggy. Enjoy India.
Lots came out of the Enkijapi school OST. A feeding and water programme, a farm attached to the school, a new head. Paula can update us in November.
Roma
Roma IskanderPublic Service Works Network Mobile 07956635802
On 12 Oct 2025, at 00:32, Peggy Holman <peggy@peggyholman.com> wrote:
Finding meaning and joy amidst life’s chaos.
