Letter to friends about Moving the Edge

Moving the Edge Thoughts

Moving the Edge, the conference on collective intelligence, for me, was an amazing event.  There were 21 people participating over the four days.

It was organized along “organic development” lines.  In other words, after the hosting team welcomed people and provided a basic orientation in the context of the time.  Then they let go of the reins in order to let the event organically unfold in an “open space” trusting that those present would contribute his or her skills and talents in service to the purpose.  That purpose was stated as “an adventurous exploration in the role of collective intelligence in moving forward the edge of evolution.”

Some underlying beliefs pointed to but not explicitly articulated were:
·        That there was a (collective) field of consciousness that when listened to contained the wisdom and information needed for any question that was in focus.
·        That there was an organizing principle—a collective intelligence--which brought people together and, if honored, organized people into an organic whole.

It also carried the dynamics of spiritual/energetic government in that the organic nature of the format and process allowed various human dynamics (which represented an aspect of the current human condition) to arise which when attended to with respect, inclusion and deep listening would release energy and elements of consciousness trapped in the dynamic.  This resulted in an expansion of the heart and compassionate understanding and integration of the pain that was present.

Another familiar dynamic was the hesitancy of the individuals in the circle to move out of the “we are all in this together” dynamic of the circle into a differentiation of purpose where those in the circle moved into small groups for specialized functions.  This urge to move came over and over through the collective atmosphere in increasingly intensifying ways.  This was interesting because on some occasions the circle would simply move together like a flock of birds in flight when an acceptable suggestion was made.  The shift in direction sometimes was remarkable and spontaneous.  And, yet the hesitancy to shift into smaller groups as a next stage of exploration and development was curious—and often frustrating!

On the afternoon of the third day, the frustration had reached a point where a number of us simply said we are going into small groups anyway.  And it happened.  Three small groups forms—four actually if you count those manning the computers used to document the event.  And a couple of people went to prepare a teepee for a more social gathering in the evening.  Two of the groups explored the same question and then, cross-pollinated á la the world café format.  Then during some conversation of one of the two small cross-pollinated groups more and more people joined the conversation until the most of the whole grouping again forming a circle. 

Someone gave the name “CircleBeing” to this formation since it had been mentioned that “groups” don’t really exist.  They are simply an association of individuals organized around an impulse of purpose. More accurately they would be organisms.  So “CircleBeing” seemed accurate because this new circle functioned differently than before the differentiation.  There was a deeper quality of stillness and listening. There was the conscious awareness on the part of some of the reality of the “field in the middle” which contained the wisdom.  There was the ability to tune into that field enough—attunement—to give it a voice (something that was done earlier as a circle by individuals but this was different).  The next step of evolution was acknowledged as the presence of the CircleBeing functioning.  In other words, practicing doing this.  This function was new to most if not all and there was an awe and wonder present in our experience---and an experience of Presence.

Some distinctions of process and dynamic emerged for me during this time brought about through the comments by others or through my perception:
·        The collective field of consciousness is one; therefore, it is more accurately described as “consciousness”.
·        The field needs to be held by some in the circle.  Those holding the field are not holding the circle per se, but are holding the wholeness of which the circle is a part.  Out of the wholeness also comes what happens which is also held in an attitude of acceptance without value judgment. 
·        While there is no judgment, there is discernment.
·        The discernment relates to what is true to the tone of the field.
·        The field transmits its awareness to the individuals through the process of attunement—responsive deep listening to the focus of the field.