Stewarding the AoH Fellowship

Art of Hosting Stewards Gathering – Call 2
(May 19, 2008)

Check-in: What or how is the AoH bubbling up in you now?

Tim
•    relaxing into the work – to enter into the dance
•    not feeling like work
•    may not be AoH – it’s really beyond definition or name
•    what is it when the art of hosting dissolves and this becomes who we are?
•    AoH is one way, there are lots of others – drawn to working with people who are in different practices
•    AoH is drawn by desire to get to what is beneath the methodologies
•    what is underneath all these different patterns – AoH, U-theory, deep democracy, etc.

Bob
•    it’s not a ‘thing’ for me – I get to play with like minded people – serious play
•    “like-minded people” means – we all know when it’s right and when it’s not – doesn’t  happen in other contexts so much
•    AoH is not the techniques, not the name, not where it’s going – it’s the people I feel really connected to – can have any name, can do any particular techniques as long have sense of expansiveness to it with mates

Kathy
•    what Bob said resonates a lot for me
•    when people are talking about work they achieve, I automatically go to AoH in thinking about how to approach that work
•    there is greater readiness and willingness to move until ‘get it’ to ‘right place’
•    field we do design work naturally lets us go to the edges, and not settle for ‘good enough’, even when not working with a seasoned hosting team as long as they’re ready to go to the edges
•    where we’re going/working people are receptive to this field
•    what’s bubbling up for me is frequency with which it’s showing up
•    my more deeply held intentions to be doing more of this work and want people doing this work with me to be risking that as well
•    it’s the one field I practice in where authenticity comes easily and people are willing to take risks they don’t take elsewhere

Ravi
•    Shambhalla 2007 in Thomas Hurley’s module – How to grow AoH into a steward-full org?
•    Axladitsa in November – immersion in presencing for each other, for AoH
•    we are looking at how AoH can grow to its next level – growth includes looking at the shadow
•    there seems to be a reluctance to look at shadow in AoH

Ria
•    shadow is not only a bad thing – it can also be a potential that we don’t take up as a whole web of practitioners
•    I decided recently that I do want to start a program in Flanders to start meaningful conversations to get people ready for what is knocking at the door
•    there isn’t much harvest about these kind of big processes – so powerful if we know the story from Columbus, etc.
•    knowledge that’s in the web is not available to everyone – is part of the shadow, too – taking this full potential and what is really, really possible

What are the patterns that we heard here and in other conversations that could inform us to form a question that is magnetic for others to join us?

•    stopping, tuning in and listening to what the AoH is becoming – listening to blind spots as well as successes (blind spots and bright spots)
•    work is evolving and we’re not sure what it’s evolving into
•    connecting with like-minded people
•    shadow could take the network to next level
•    is there also something about entering the world in an active way – set up projects like the Shire – different energy than facilitating a process – active offering/stepping forward
•    until now, mostly AoH meaningful conversations – seem to be two ways of actively offering – AoH meaningful places/spaces and AoH meaningful communities (like Columbus and Halifax)
•    is there something about AoH meaningful battles
•    have some mistrust of structures, and also know how useful structures are – wouldn’t want structure for protection, but maybe structure for activity
•    really AoH is a field – recognized immediately – structures emerge from field to do a certain thing – when need is over, structure disappears
•    what is wanting to be born out of the field at this particular time/place – may be needed for a time, then discarded
•    evolution is about adapting to circumstances, not about getting better
•    the field wants to get better, not evolve
•    I’m very dedicated to the field, and to the structure at a particular time
•    my stewardship defines the field
Invitation
Join friends to explore the Art of Hosting and what it is becoming. This is an opportunity to become consciously engaged with our field so we can ride with it - we will sense into the bright spots and blind spots as fuel for our conversations and time together.

What is the call from the world to the Art of Hosting field?
What do we need to answer that call?
What structures are emerging now to serve the Art of Hosting?
What is wanting to be born out of the field to serve the Art of Hosting at this time?
What type of beer do you want around the campfire?

Collective Inquiry: How can we best host the emergence of the next level of the AoH fellowship?
initiated by Toke Møller;
invited: Donna Alvorado, Tom Hurley, Ria Baeck (and Tim Merry couldn’t make it)
October 9, ’07.

Opening by Toke: How can we best host the emergence of the next level of AoH fellowship? Special thank you to Tom as our 'uncle' and bringing his experience in from the TWC. A silver welcoming bowl, 'a cup' as talking piece.

Check-in:
Donna: coming out of a WE of Aikido with Bob Wing. In my heart: a sense of quiet peace, consciousness that we can access - everything that we need is available - it is there for us. That emerging consciousness is the heart of my engagement with AoH. Not about the glamour!

Tom: Good to settle in into the silence of our circle. In my heart an awareness of how stretched I have been recently. Not enough time to "be with”... coming back deeply to myself here. Also a deep compassion I have been (working) with... the people are very stressed or on the verge of taking a huge next step... what is this calling forth from us? How can our web be knit together more powerful, and what does the web need?

Ria: Holding the question of: " When I'm holding space, what am I actually doing?" What does this mean at macro level when more and more people are doing systemic level of work; who and how are we holding space for these people? What is asked of this kind of leadership? Feels like two poles: one is going out in the world and the other is holding space in the background. So what is actually holding space for this leadership?

Toke: Grateful for many things: we can rest in the circle, with ease and no struggle. What does it mean to be at home in the circle? In my head I don't know it, but in my being I know. This presence that moves... if feels really wonderful... an ever changing kaleidoscope... I know that newness can arise... Do you remember a time in your life, when you didn't know what was the purpose in your life? This asking is a long time ago for me... we are living it! It feels good that we take our lives and the work we are in... call each other in... I was invited to the European gathering of the network of facilitators: I brought the question in: What is the next level of this kind of work? ... the loneliness of the people doing this fun and difficult work. Part of our network: to feel connected, alone but not lonely! Tickling feeling - surrendering into, the fierceness of the spark of life within... flows in one direction... enjoy the feeling when we start to speak about it. It is not a time to feel lonely or exhausted!!

Question in the center: How to host the next level forth? What are we seeing? What are we not seeing? What could we invite, and what forms could it take - how do we host each other... the difference between the streams - they have the same source... it is spreading into the world; into places we could never imagine.

Donna: Picking up the line AoH consciousness is touching people who are not aware; beyond people in the trainings or in the learning centers, beyond the methodology... Who is the practitioner that we are seeking to support? create connection with? I really resonated with: Who or what is holding space for this level of leadership? How can we acknowledge and support the hosting of people that are not "jang" - out there in the world? Which may be in silence, and easily overlooked.

Ria: In my last conversation with Toke I spoke about my own ‘holding space’ and being aware of other holders - mostly women - Ann Dosher, Ann Linnea and others I don’t know. I guess we need some language to make the invisible visible – or maybe more conscious - for the outside world. For the future it will be important to know that holding space from a silent place is part of ‘the work’.

Toke: I want to honor and add another holding: the callers, like Phil Cass etc. Sometimes we played the role of callers too. The uncertainty of the big question. which delicacy and potential; also a risk - unknowingly to begin to create form that is maybe not needed later on... I am in the trembling of this question. The people who are stewarding, alongside with us, ... part of my trembling is I don't want to be part of another organisation or certification... this is not part of this DNA.. maybe can be born deeper questions... our systems are not wise and resilient enough to support us to a more human way.

Tom: What arises for me as I listen... holding space, what is this? Mostly women, a special kind of holding space: I name it: embodiment of grandmother consciousness. It is vital for this time. I see that this experience that we call 'holding space' is in itself a kind of guidance. In a sense of resting themselves in the heart of life; embracing all that they are holding with love that holds all they are holding ... in the heart... allow ourselves to be present with that. Quiet important to me. In a different way... minimal, elegant next step... memories of conversations with different groups... series of conversations... among those who are living into a question together... these are not task orientated, the group comes together around a deep question, we all live in day to day... in coming together around the question... what are we noticing? what are minimal, elegant next steps? collectively? One thought is, (same question in TWC community - global stewards; also in Berkana and in Shambala) might we invite at least one person of these other communities to meet in this way; on a regular basis; to hold this question about this intricate living whole?

Toke: Thank you Tom. I was feeling this alignment between what I am seeing emerging and this feeling of holding what is emerging; and also being held by it. There is a certain quality of listening, of speech and questioning. We find our lives to be shaked... it is an elegant next step...   ………….

Tom: Your mindfulness about not creating forms that are not needed is very wise. The form about being in conversations about questions that matter is ... we can trust this form; it is light and resilient. We don't create another form until it is wise to do so.

Donna: I really appreciate the question: what is stewardship at this time, regardless of the forms that we are engaged in, or teach... new ways of engaging... dialogue... I like that a lot, it is at the heart of hosting: being as radically focused and open and compassionate and discerning of what is happening in the moment. That is for me stewardship: how can we be a practitioner, unless we are doing it from the ground of stewardship? ... aoh is part of the larger pattern of stewardship... of that what is needed in the word now.

Toke: Maybe a way forward is that we would each sense into who we would call into this conversation. I would love to call it and host it; with you all.

Tom: I'm happy and honoured to be a caller with you. In the notes that you and Ria send out... about castle Borl... we could consider framing a gathering of those of different networks.

Toke: That makes perfect sense to me! Many reasons: we would like to invite many people into this conversation - and they would like to invite others too. Too many to be on a conference call.... It would give great purpose to a gathering in Castle Borl... aoh and learning centers were inseminated there... that would be a wonderful call! It is already in the air, and many people said they would come if we call it. What do we remember about stewardship from deep inside? 100-200 people??
 
Ria: deep sigh = this is the right thing to do

Toke: In Borl nobody can bring personal agendas. Miha said: "they will explode in your face". Neutral ground to go into creating, enjoyment, release; it holds incredible depth! Right into the middle of Europe.

Tom: We have expanded our circle into many networks - important for where I am living right now - and I want to honour the question from the AoH network - related to the global stewardship in TWC - my suggestion is that we look for opportunities or make it an intentional practice to invite people in from other networks. Intentional weaving, and recognising the essential, the contribution of each.

Toke: I really welcome to co-call and co-host the next conversation. Sandra Yanoff - one of the co-holders of Future Search - she completely belongs to this conversation, they have a big network too. There is a need for a conversation for stewarding AoH; we want to be in conversation around that too.

Tom: thanking for inviting me to this call – feel honoured to be invited for other calls.

Closing: Check-out from the heart:
Ria - smiling – body feels totally aligned. This means: we are spot on. Finally the gathering in Borl is becoming clearer. How do we go about setting a date?

Toke: Thank you for joining me, the big eye is opened... My celtic bowl will travel to Borl... 150 people... the time has come to bring all wisdom traditions to come together in one circle, one web in this great turning. For beauty and strengthening the work we are in.

Donna: I am very happy to continue the conversation. What kind of container might best be created to explore these questions around stewardship? How we begin to invite others, to serve the fellowship... define the next level... hold space individually and collectively... Also very intrigued by coming together at castle Borl, about the macro - global level... and looking forward to meet in person.

Tom: I remember a few years ago drawing a little thing: three different dimensions about the work we are doing: First: What is the heart, the essence of the work, the DNA? We will continue that also at castle Borl. Then there is the periphery of the circle, the leading edges, the creative forms, new ways of being of relating... an unfolding, dynamic edge. Last there is in between the networks, these get interwoven, connections are occurring. Mindful to work on the centre, and the periphery and on the connections. Holding space for these different spaces might look different... thank you for holding each other with love and co-presence.

Toke: Last invitation to all of us: Who do I feel is part of the interconnected circles... who do you feel is part of the AoH stewarding emergence. This harvest could be part of the invitation to send out. ENexus can be the online space for connecting these communities…

Ria: ENexus was envisioned by George exactly for that: for supporting the people and the communities who look further than there own; who are interested in sharing ideas and practices; interested in working together; discovering the patterns beneath it all…