WARM RAIN

 Michael Pannwitz shares on the Oslist a way to close space with lots of people

1) Everyone stands up and, if you have up to 60 people or so, forms one circle, people standing close to each other, if you have several hundred, you just stand in a crowd but the inner circle should be a circle with the others standing behind the folks in the inner circle.
2) Everybody raises their arms, keeps them pointing to the ceiling/sky and lets just the hands and fingers drop down so they are pointing to the floor/earth.
3) People move their fingers imagining that raindrops come out of their fingertips.
4) The facilitator asks people to be absolutely quiet so everyone can hear the raindrops falling (its stupendous: as the group falls into silence and listens you can actually hear the raindrops...).
5) The rain may go on 15 or 20 seconds, folks will follow the facilitator as she/he lowers the arms.
6) After that people can say goodbye to each other or, as I have often done following Harrisons lead, ask the people to have a final look around telling them that this is the last time they will see this group stand together in this mix...and after a little while (I look at everyone, yes everyone and then continue) I suggest that everyone turns looking away from the center of the circle, remain that way a few seconds feeling the presence of the group behind them and then step away from the circle in all directions of the compass... after that people still remain and hug and say goodbye...

The rain drop ceremony is also called "warm rain" and often used by people sitting in a circle when something is said that she/he appreciates or wants to honor, its a nice/silent variation on "clapping the hands" ... as far as I know its one of the North American Indian ways of communicating.

Have a great day in Iceland
mmp

WOSONOS 2012, LONDON, ARE YOU READY?

Berlin 2010 was my first Wosonos just after a few small facilitating experiences. I met there sage, fun and loving people that I feel now somehow as my "world family". I came back to Bilbao with the clear determination to "do more open space".

Last 2 years have made this dream come true and  now, after several OS experiences, I can say that "I can facilitate" open space. Now I'd love to go farer in the no-end way to become a "good" facilitator. And I know that London will be a key milestone on the way.

And I know, too, that beyond the walls and schedules of the official settings, we will continue enjoying this learning adventure all over the open space of life. Yes, we also will still gather, relax, eat, walk, drink, chat, sing and dance together in the pubs and parks,... as far as our two feet take us there.

Are you prepared to be surprised?

@Eleder_BuM  (Twitter) www.burumapak.blogspot.com (Basque)   

www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (sp.) www.flowandshow.blogspot.com (en)

http://www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz (radio interviews)

DOG, CAT & RAT

Take time to read the comments on the video here.

Who said we are supposed/designed to "eat each other"?

Enjoy life,

Eleder BuM31    Buru-mapak-Espazio Irekia-Sormena  

www.burumapak.blogspot.com   @Eleder_BuM  (Twitter)

We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For

Exploring possibilities for 8-15 Oct in London, where I´m travelling for Wosonos 2012, I visited London Permaculturalists and found this beautiful poem. Enjoy it, enjoy yourselves!

You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.

Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.

Here are the things that must be considered:

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know our garden.

It is time to speak your Truth.

Create your community.

Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.

It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.

They will try to hold on to the shore.

They will feel like they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off toward the middle of

the river,

keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

See who is there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all

ourselves!

For the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lonely wolf is over.

Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

@Eleder_BuM 
www.burumapak.blogspot.com (eu)  

www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (es) www.flowandshow.blogspot.com (en)

http://www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz (irratikoak)

Another way of ending

Brendan McKeague shares on the OSLIST a great way for the closing of an Open Space event.If you are a practitioner, you'll find it very useful, sure,...

So here is what I usually do at the Closing Circle, after everyone has spoken and the Sponsor, being the last one to speak in the group, hands the talking stick/mic back to me...

I rise and slowly walk the circle with some words of description around what people came to do and what they actually did during the meeting (number of topics, action plans...) and then I invite folks to reflect on how the principles showed up for them during the meeting experience - usually beginning with a question, followed by a pause, like:

"Did you notice the right people came here here today?" - pausing while I walk another few steps, then
"How did whatever happened...appear for you today?"...pause...
"Did you start at the right time?"...pause...
"Did you recognise when it was over - or not over?"...pause..
"Did you use the Law of Mobility at all...or notice others using it?"...pause..
"Did you butterfly a bit?"...pause...
"Did you buzz a bit?"...pause...
"Did you need a billabong space for yourself at any time during the meeting?"  (billabong being an Australian word referring to a 'watering hole/oasis')...pause...
"And finally, were you surprised at all about what happened here today, in yourself, observing others, topics raised, anything?"...pause...


In the tradition of the OS Closing Circle, I then invite the group to stand, look around the circle and acknowledge what has been given and received to/from each other, and the work that has been done here today, and when you're ready, take a 180deg turn and step out of the circle...and we're done.

That's it...until the next one!

Cheers
Brendan