Anna,
I just read your piece regarding your OST experiences and was left with two
thoughts:
You misinterpreted the point of my sharing a very tender and
vulnerable, yet empowering moment for me.
I became and remain fearless in Opening Space.
I never used the F word nor have I ever heard Harrison use it. And,
contrary to your assessment: "And I trust he has shared other
recommendations to OST facilitators that are warmer, focusing on spirit and
acknowledging the dimension of holding people’s lives in one’s hands."
Harrison's interaction and coaching to me was quite warm and full of
Spirit, empowering me to Open the Space with my full presence, power, and
care knowing that those in the room deserved nothing less given the lives
each of them are held and hold in their hands in this world.
BTW, I have the judgement about the F word and feel their are moments when
it's very appropriate.
Thank you for inspiring my thoughtful and heartfelt response, with a deep
bow to you and Harrison.
Dr. Rain Warren
On Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 11:46 AM Anna Caroline Türk via OSList <
everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
Dear all,
Thank you Peggy for your and Harrison’s invitation to keep adding our
personal learning - including with Harrison. I heard the invitation and it
spoke to me. Finally, I made time to write.
I had the privilege to meet OST at age 18 through Michael M Pannwitz in
2000. He facilitated several OST meetings at my school in Berlin. He later
helped me facilitate my first OST and today I am a fulfilled consultant and
facilitator working the genuine contact way - having facilitated many many
OSTs in person and online.
I met Harrison several times in Europe: in Berlin for his birthday and a
wave rider workshop, in Sardinia for the European OS Learning Exchange,
where the fifth principle of OST emerged, in London for a WOSonOS with
Phelim and his team, and in Sevilla where he facilitated an Open Space for
100 imams and 100 rabbis and I was a member of the team. And last time in
Washington for the WOSonOS.
Unfortunately, he could not attend the WosonOS in 2010 in Berlin, where we
had self-published a book celebrating OST, with many of you on the OS List
contributing. It was there that I realized that there is more than one
origin story to the emergence of OST. The two martinis and the man with the
hat is only one version.
I was glad to learn many women were involved in creating OST, while
Harrison wrote the book about it. Today I am facilitating and teaching OST
based on his teachings and enriched by the “Berlin” approach and the
Genuine Contact approach.
Why some people, including Harrison, love wearing hats always - I don’t
know. To me, it turns a bit into a costume (the man with the hat) and it
feels less genuine. At the Open Space with the imams and rabbis, all the
men had their unique outfits - it was a bit hilarious.
When Harrison tried to make a last announcement at the marketplace after
the agenda creation - standing in the middle of the room on a chair with
his hat on - trying to get everyone’s attention I had another
demystification moment.
Of course, I like him and I love even more the OST grassroots movement in
the world.
I was truly truly impressed by the tender, calm, and very welcoming
facilitation of Barry Owen at the WOSonOS in Washington - which I partly
attribute to the son and father’s deep learning journey together.
I am not a fan of the dominant storyline that Harrison promoted quite
loudly that OST is all about “self-organization” - it feels too narrow and
cold to me. But I should probably go back to his writings to remember he
also said more about the essence of OST.
One story, from the online gathering two weeks ago, felt also a bit harsh
to me: When Harrison had recommended to the facilitator to walk the circle,
look everyone in the eyes and internally say something like “fuck you all”
or something along this line. I get the teaching point. And I trust he has
shared other recommendations to OST facilitators that are warmer, focusing
on spirit and acknowledging the dimension of holding people’s lives in
one’s hands.
I look forward to seeing you here there and hopefully in Istanbul and keep
learning together.
Lots of Love
Anna Caroline
P.s. Here a wonderful song from Etta James You can leave your hat on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEThimbixQY
Anna Caroline Türk
Mentor to Visionary Leaders
+49(0)176 24872254 | TruthCircles.com http://TruthCircles.com
On Mon, Mar 18, 2024 at 5:27 PM Peggy Holman via OSList <
everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
As I’ve been reflecting on Harrison’s passing and what it means to me, I
stumbled into the message below that Harrison wrote to the OSlist
exactly 19 years ago - March 18, 2005. He asks:
What have we learned?
Seems like a fitting way to celebrate him...inviting us to answer his
question. An excerpt from below:
My hope would be to inspire/goad/embarrass/encourage each one of you to
reflect of the past 20 years [now 39 years] (or at least that part of
the 20 years in which
you participated in the OS community) - and offer up your understanding of
what you, personally, have learned - about Open Space, yourself in Open
Space, about organizations in Open Space. And of course anything else you
choose to share.
I would hope that we would hear from more than the usual suspects. This
is a
call to all you Lurkers! ...Not everybody has been heard from! Now would
be a good time to break
the silence!!!
…
Pretend this is a closing circle, and we are passing the
Talking Stick. Take a moment, maybe even a LONG moment (days/weeks) to
reflect on what you have learned, and then talk as long as you want. And
not
just the "good stuff" - the pain and disillusionment as well, if that is
your story. You have the stick! And please NO COMMENTARY! I suggest that
we
just let this roll without response - just like a Closing Circle.
So I leave you with the question while I reflect on my own response to it.
Love,
Peggy
Peggy Holman
peggy@peggyholman.com
Bellevue, WA 98006
206-948-0432
www.peggyholman.com
Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval
into Opportunity https://peggyholman.com/papers/engaging-emergence/
"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
burnt, is to become
the fire".
-- Drew Dellinger
Begin forwarded message:
*From: *Harrison Owen hhowen@comcast.net
*Subject: *[OSLIST] What have we learned?
*Date: *March 18, 2005 at 3:39:53 PM PST
*To: *OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
*Reply-To: *OSLIST OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
In 1985 the first Open Space happened in Monterey California. This year
(in
case you haven't noticed) is 2005. In short OS has been around for 20
years
(not counting the 14,000,000,000 years previously). So what have we
learned?
This is not an idle question. A recent publication of the American
journal,
JABS - otherwise known as the "Journal of Applied Behavioral Science"
offered a "special issue" dealing with Large Group Interventions. All the
usual suspects appeared, but somehow Open Space was among the missing. One
of the editors, Barbara Bunker, who is definitely an acquaintance, and I
would consider a friend - told me that they had advertised for "papers" -
including the "OS Network" - and nothing showed up. Frankly, I don't
recall
seeing anything, but my eyesight is getting pretty cloudy. Anyhow, I feel
inspired to ask a question - What have we learned?
This is not about making a special edition of JABS. And for sure it is not
about "sour grapes" because we were not really present in JABS. It is all
about a genuine question - What have we learned????
My hope would be to inspire/goad/embarrass/encourage each one of you to
reflect of the past 20 years (or at least that part of the 20 years in
which
you participated in the OS community) - and offer up your understanding of
what you, personally, have learned - about Open Space, yourself in Open
Space, about organizations in Open Space. And of course anything else you
choose to share.
I would hope that we would hear from more than the usual suspects. This
is a
call to all you Lurkers! Last time I checked there were some 440 folks on
OSLIST. Not everybody has been heard from! Now would be a good time to
break
the silence!!!
And although it is doubtless Politically Incorrect - I suggest a rule for
our discussion. Pretend this is a closing circle, and we are passing the
Talking Stick. Take a moment, maybe even a LONG moment (days/weeks) to
reflect on what you have learned, and then talk as long as you want. And
not
just the "good stuff" - the pain and disillusionment as well, if that is
your story. You have the stick! And please NO COMENTARY! I suggest that we
just let this roll without response - just like a Closing Circle.
In August we will gather for OSONOS in Halifax. That gathering will be a
lot
of things - but one of the things it WILL be is a celebration of 20 years
in
Open Space. I can think of no greater birthday present from everybody to
everybody than a reasoned, articulate description of what we have learned
in
the 20 years on the journey.
Harrison
Ps Assuming we have really learned something and manage to give that
learning expression, there is no doubt in my mind that a copy of our
Collected Works would be fun to read. ho
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20845
Phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <
http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
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Has anyone looked at what the Arts have learned about OpenSpace. I probably will put more time into seeing if AI thinks educators were good users of open space
What can you tell me about open space technology invented by Harrison Owen and why nearly a million open space performances in most countries around the world have been hosted from origin 1984 to Harrison Owen's death last month
Gemini Chat reply
Open Space Technology: A Collaborative Meeting Approach
Open Space Technology (OST) is a powerful and versatile meeting format invented by Harrison Owen in the mid-1980s. It allows groups of any size to come together and discuss topics that are most relevant to them, fostering collaboration and innovation. Here's a breakdown of its key features and potential reasons for its widespread use:
Core Principles of OST:
Benefits of OST:
Possible Reasons for Widespread Use:
Harrison Owen's Legacy:
The high number of OST performances (nearly a million) from 1984 to his death in April 2024 speaks volumes about the enduring impact of Owen's invention. It demonstrates the value that organizations and communities worldwide find in this collaborative meeting format.
Additional Points: