Art of Hosting

Friday, our last day.

 

We had some unclarity in the hosting team in the morning about what was the right thing to happen. To me it seemed to reflect one of the challenges of our field. We are good, very good, at creating relationships and having conversations that matter, but how do we go to the next step, the action?

 

If we take the U-process as the model, there is a place - when you really entered the alignment of head, heart and soul - when you can 'act in an instant'. It is clear what to do; there is no doubt, although you only see the next step and not the whole plan in advance.

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In the hosting team it felt high time to open the space.

 

In silence we invited people to contemplate on the question: What do I need to take my next level of pioneering?

 

I guess some 20 sessions were posted and the marketplace was immediately filled with life and negotations about timing etc. I can't mention all the sessions, but I offer here the harvest of the day. Maria and Filiz had offered a Harvest Poster, with on  read more »

The hosting team was in the groan zone...

we stayed a little too heady...

were we talking about the real thing?

 

We had intended this day to be with some silence, as we are entering the bottom of the U. Our hearts and senses were opened in this community with lots of friendship, deep relationships and trust. And we were challenged in our assumptions, which opened our minds a little bit more. To deepen all this we decided to open the circle and speak and share around the question: What is brewing?

I give some of the highlights as perceived by me:  read more »

The sound of drops....
Clear water falling
Into itself

What a joy it brings
To my heart
Made of simplicity

Listening to
the inner call
of beauty
I loose myself
In who I am

First day, afternoon: Becoming community

 

We went into Open Space with the questions: What do you need to feel at home here? What do we need to make this our home this week? Sessions were posted from preparing the kitchen work, to help restore the road, to walking to the beach while exploring interesting conversation topics...

 

Maria said that people are 'ready to start' and I learned that the original meaning of Community in Greek means: to be in unity while in action. I love this so much! This is really our learning edge, how to be aligned with oneself and also - at the same time - aligned with the rhythm of the group and the wave beneath the waves... Good learning seems to be going on...

Monday morning, our real check-in around the question: What called you to come here?

 

We spend the whole morning sharing our stories and heard many connections between people and networks. Some were holding this gathering for more than a year, others only decided a few days or weeks ago to come.

Here are the threads that we could hear throughout the morning:

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We are already 15 people today and the same number will arrive this evening. Tonight, at dinner, will be the official opening of our gathering. I am really curious what will happen and what new meaning and actions will emerge.  read more »

Axladtisa - Today was our first preparation day for the intergeneration gathering. A day of physical preparation and also process design. Before it became too hot, we all arranged different practical jobs: fixed a shower on the camping ground, cleaned and fixed the eco-toilets, arranged a space for 'stuff' of alsmost 30 people, worked on the damaged road, made some food... Thisi took us to lunch and then to the beach. After some swiming and play we gathered in the local taverna - with beer or wine - and looked at the design of the five days.  read more »

Message received from Chris Corrigan: 

The Open Space community, through the editing efforts of Rafi Atendelian has produced a lovely ebook on the practice of living in Open Space. 

You can download it here:
http://www.archive.org/details/LivingPeaceTheOpenSpaceOfOurLives

It has wonderful stories, and lots to learn from!

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