The day before
Wosonos2013 starts, Christy Lee-Engel shares a great gift on the Oslist.
Harrison walking the circle, Connecting for Community Day 3, April 2013 from
christy lee-engel on
Vimeo.
Some days later, Harrison wrote those interesting words about the dance on the OsList:
Christy – You caught me! What did I learn? (“But, wait - you didn't say: what did you learn??”)
–
Well I guess it was more re-learn, or better… remember. It was all
about the dance. There is a dance in our opening moments, and I rather
suspect it may communicate more than whatever words may be spoken. It is
a simple but elegant dance beginning with a full slow sweep of the
circle, a cut to the center, followed by random crossings of the circle,
and ending at rest somewhere between the center and the edge. Early on,
there was no conscious intent on my part to do or create a dance, it
just seemed to happen as a natural expression of my relationship to the
circle and the people who create it. In truth it took more than a few
years before I even realized that it was a dance, repeated at every
opening – and even more years until its primal forms and meanings became
apparent to me. The interesting thing to me is that as I have watched
my friends and colleagues over the years, seems like we all do pretty
much the same things, which speaks, I think to the natural and emergent
quality. At some level it is without intention. It is simply called
forth as an organic expression of the moment, and our (as facilitators)
place in that moment.
Interpreting
a dance is always a dangerous thing, but in this case the forms are so
archetypical and manifest that it seems less about interpretation than a
naming of the obvious. Part I (The circle sweep) is perhaps the oldest
shamanic act going, which travels under various names, but is often
called “bounding the circle.” It is all about defining and claiming a
safe space. In West African bush villages the shamans actually bound the
whole village with a vine rope that they weave in the night and
encircle the village. Nobody sees them, but in the morning the villagers
arise to see the village defined. It is always interesting to see what
is “inside” and what is excluded – so it is often the case that the
school house (a western/modern addition) is often on the “outs.” What is
safe, and what is questionable? Who, what, where are WE?
Part
II (Cut to the Center) takes a little more explanation. I have always
thought of it as a ritual re-enactment of The Hero’s Journey. Joseph
Campbell, whose epic works on global mythology re-introduced the power
of myth to the modern world, wrote a book of the same name. In the book
he argues that all major traditions have a common theme story which he
calls, The Hero’s Journey. In it a common man rises up one morning and
departs on a far journey through many dangerous places and situations.
He is essentially transformed by the experience and his common
consciousness is expanded in ways he could never have imagined. But he
is not a hero yet – not until he returns to his fellows and shares his
expanded insight with his fellows(offers a boon). Think: Jesus in the
wilderness, Moses in the desert, etc. If Campbell is right, and I think
he is, this story is part of the tradition and consciousness of
virtually all the peoples of the earth. In short it doesn’t have to be
told again (but that is always nice) – it is part of who and what we
are. Now back to Open Space and The Cut to the Center.
The physical open space in the center of the circle we create is a
dangerous place. Even worse, it is pure Chaos. Nobody goes there
willingly. Who knows, there might be dragons! Sounds a little weird and
far out, I guess, but the next time you have an opportunity watch how
the people (participants) treat that space, particularly if it is a
large group, with a large circle, and a LOT of space. People will walk
all the way around it rather than crossing. And if they do cross, they
often do it in pairs (safety, you know). Watch how they treat the edge
of the circle. They will come right up to it, and then back away. No
sane person would willingly go to the center of such a circle! You can
prove this to yourself just by remembering the first time you ever
facilitated an Open Space. OMG!
So the Cut to the Center is a journey to hell – and guess what? The
Facilitator survives! At this point, the circle has been bounded and the
space claimed – but the story is not over. The boon (gift) has yet to
be given. We come to Part III – Random Crossings.
From
the center of the circle, the facilitator moves to the edges in a
random pattern, making contact with the people on the edge and then
crossing again to make contact with others on the opposite side. Back
and forth, back and forth – weaving a pattern of meaning and safety.
Trails in the desert wilderness, so to speak.
And
then it is over. The facilitator moves to a resting position part way
between the center and the edge – and invites the people to come (with
their issues). Under usual circumstances (read just about every time) –
the people show up with alacrity, “following the trails in the desert.”
And the Hero (facilitator) essentially disappears. The boon has been
given and the people have claimed it as their own. Time for a nap!
Oh yes, a few words have been spoken, but I really think the dance says it all.
So
that is my story, and doubtless more than you anticipated, Christy. Who
knows if it is true, but it works for me. And if it works for you –
consider it yours.
Harrison
"...Getting to watch Harrison Owen open the space
on the last day of the Connecting for Community gathering in Cincinnati
was a treat, and a kind of master class." Christy Lee-Engel
Dear Open Spaceniks,
On the eve of the lush
and delightful-sounding Florida WOsonOs, below is the link to a video I
took on my phone of Harrison walking the opening circle of the last day
of a different lively gathering, which was called "Connecting for Community" and took place in Cincinnati a few weeks ago.
"We work together sharpening our tools, learning, challenging and
encouraging each other, and in the diversity of our backgrounds,
creating our own community. It is inspiring and invigorating work for
each and every participant. At Connecting for Community we find our own
voice weaving with the experience and grace of other creating a whole
fabric of relationships that goes with us out into our own communities
to continue our work changing the world."
Here's the link: https://vimeo.com/65488850
Although it's rough, I think it's still fun to watch at least a moment
or two of what it looks like to walk that opening circle with more than
25 years of it in your bones. It is also pretty great to see how people leaped up to write their sessions, as soon as he invited us to!
(please note - I've found that the echo-y sound is best understood if you can listen through earphones ;-))
Sending warm wishes for a rich and deep and surprising time to
everyone at the international WOSonOs, and to the rest of us, too!
love from Seattle, Christy
May we on a few days get to watch Suzanne Daigle walking the circle on the
virtual space of Wosonos2013 in Florida?
@Eleder_BuM
www.burumapak.blogspot.com (Basque) www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (Sp.) www.flowandshow.blogspot.com (En)
http://www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz (radio interviews)
