A community growing itself…
Although days and weeks have past since we held the Art of Hosting on Art of Hosting early June, it is only now that I have the time to harvest some more of it. During some of the sessions I made notes, which I will now share.
After the Open Space sessions of the second day we came together in the big circle, and were asked to share the learnings of this day within the little groups formed in the morning, in honouring of this collective, emerging pattern.
I found myself in the morning immediately in the space that was named as that what is not yet visible in the pattern and the pain in the community, the world. Other words that were named: Seeing the whole, holding the field; seeing, naming what is not whole yet. Love and trust. Invitation from the field. Silent witness. Witnessing the pain.
Tom Hurley asked: In what ways is the shadow holding the field? I never thought of it in this way! That what is in the shadow is actually holding the field… maybe… embracing our own shadow is necessary to host other people in it… certainly…
One question was offered: What did you see, what have you learned today?
One session was on Creating an Art of Hosting field book. How would a book look like, when read, it would invite more hosting? It would need to be an example of the Art of Hosting, it would hold space…
Another session was on new tools or practices to use within Art of Hosting: How to express – and experience – its essence without words? The main message was, whenever we are hosting: use more senses and trust that there are people in the group so that you can start co-hosting…
But this sharing was not a mere reporting back of what was the content of the Open Space sessions, it was also giving words to some deeper patterns.
Tom, as an outsider of this community was privileged to reflect back to us: “I really appreciate and honour there was simultaneously a continuing sensing into and inquiry in to the essence of the Art of Hosting and at the same time, also probing the edge: where this work is evolving. Art of Hosting as a dojo… as something we need to develop… actually – in each of the conversations – the pattern of this morning was present – all the elements… It is a testimony to you all: each person is fully welcomed and being listened too. A real honouring of relationship. I want to bear witness, it is not just a nice set of words; it is a practice that is tangible. The invitation to live in the next level, it was embodied. I saw a community growing itself, by practicing its own patterns.”
Toke said: “When life is at stake – the big turning, the future – and we are ready to be learners and teachers, then de dojo arises. It can happen in the car, in a retreat, but it has certain boundaries. The next level of the Chaordic pattern is: practice generosity, share freely what we learn as quickly as possible; be a student; be a teacher, and practice relationships/friendship/trust. Maybe that’s all. This is a code of ethics for an Art of Hosting practitioner. I have experienced the generosity – when people hold big work – “It was enough that you took the time to come.” That is the service we can offer. This happened here: we showed up for each other. That is my mate: to whom I can speak of my fear, and he will not shy away…”
In that moment in the circle I saw lines coming together… George talked at different times about an Evolutionary Guidance System. Suddenly I saw how it is comprised of different arts:
the art of calling
the art of convening
the art of hosting
the art of harvesting
the art of governance
the art of wise acting
And who said this, I don’t remember… “I have just sat with a circle of grandmothers, on the third day in listening to the guidance. There was a pattern that wanted to come through the pipe. On the fourth day we surrendered, and it came. We saw the four paradigms of governance, and then the fifth paradigm. The intelligent, wise collective use – the sphere – this is a structure in which the spiritual, the social, the business, the public sector, can live together in reasonable harmony. To bring it into place takes time, takes conversations…”
Tom: “Some of what I’ve been hearing, I hear in other circles as well. Different circles see the same thing, connected to the same deeper source.
But how do organizations and networks relate to other groups? What form might conversations and partnerships with related circles, related organization take? We clearly need each other; we need all the circles to co-operate that will support the re-invention of all these sectors. Art of Hosting has some real thing to offer it. By standing in the circle you get to know the essence, but somebody from outside can see it different. Fascinating to explore….”
Toke: “Duri and I have this dream to call the founders of all these lineages…
it might not be the founders… I feel most at home here, if the dojo is to practice friendship…The gathering need to be of people… not attached to one form…. they will only really ‘produce’ when ‘what really matters’ is in the center.“
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:24 am
Hi Ria,
Thank you for culling and sharing these essential nuggets of nourishing insight and wonderings from your time together. I respond with an immediate of recognition and appreciation, as well as with the realization that it will be necessary to allow myself to digest further what you offer here before a fuller response is possible.
with gratitude for your dedication to sharing your learnings with the wide world,
Christy
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Hi Ria,
These notes have been sitting around in my diary some time. It’s a personal reflection about what happened during the Tarot constellation and the blindspot it illuminated.
I found myself in the morning immediately in the space that was named as that what is already visible in the pattern, the King of Wands, the light. Unlike most others who were constantly moving to find their place, I was standing firmly and I noticed you were also standing firmly directly opposite to me, in the shadow. I stayed a long time alone in that place. To my right Tom was drawn to a place between past, center and light. To my left, Augusto and Mark were placed in a similar situation between future, center and light. But at that moment I did not feel any connection to anyone. It was a deep feeling of loneliness.
Forming groups, Toke drew Tom into the past and I joined those closest to me, Augusto and Mark. It immediately became clear that there was a lot of common ground between us and the feeling of loneliness went away. But it came back when the group discussed the constellation and someone spoke of the void in the light. It was as if no-one had seen me standing there.
It made me feel invisible, transparant, ready to drift way into the light…
Erik
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this, Erik.
What comes to mind is the question asked several times; what do we need to let go off? And the pattern of us in the constellation with so many of us near the pain or in the pain and indeed so few in the light that it was hardly noticeable. And I remember Piret’s words in the opening circle “where or what is the art of play in all this? Sometimes I feel so burdened, there is sadness in the circle. We shouldn’t feel that.”
I don’t want to start speculating, but maybe you and Tom were in a space that the others (including me) could not be in yet and therefor not see.
Anita