Seeds for a happy planet

I recently came across many, many good links and interesting video’s that make for a good reading and listening in free hours.

First of all I want to make a link to Blessed Unrest, which is also the title of a book written by Paul Hawken. I didn’t read the book, but I find the video, where you hear his introduction inspiring. The subtitle is: How the largest movement in the world came into being and nobody saw it coming. One of the reasons that nobody saw it coming is because it was not planned, but it is the sum of all individuals and local groups that decide to do something and then do it!

That is exactly what you can see in other video’s on the site of Social Edge; a site dedicated to the work of Social Entrepreneurs. Besides the video’s there are also a couple of interesting blog conversations.

Other inspiring video’s – and a great way of harvest a conference! – are the daily video’s made from the Tällberg Forum. It is a yearly conference held in a small town in Sweden, but it seems to me that very important conversations are held there. These video’s are made by a professional company, of course you note the difference.

Finally I want to inform you about the Global Oneness Project. They seem to travel to different areas in the world, and report on the good projects that they come across. I didn’t see everything, but the ones that I can recommend are: the Seva Café, We are servants, not owners – about being guardians of the Earth, and an interview with Tenzin Palmo – author and Tibetan Buddhist nun.

I just like to see good ‘TV’ before going to bed…

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.“

Sitting outside in my garden on this summerlike Spring evening, the fragrance of a special apple three fills my nose. How abundant nature is! The three is full, full of uncountable little white flowers, spreading its smell with no holding back.

I just finished reading the book Artful Leadership by Michael Jones. The subtitle is: Awakening the Commons of the Imagination. The first chapter is called: A Walk in the Park; The Personal and Social Artistry of Leadership. It says:

In times of uncertainty
we need to look to the spaces between
for order and coherence -
to gifts, beauty, grace, voice and wholeness -
what may be called the commons of the imagination.
Awakening to the presence of the commons
in both the personal and the public imagination
is our new art form.
It is also the leader’s new work.

For me it is a book of great inspiration. I made notes on almost every page! You have to read if you are more or less interested in Leadership for the future. It holds equal value as the book Presence, by Otto Scharmer and his colleagues. Michael, being a musician, and knowing a lot about writers, poets etc. can give beautiful words, poems and quotes to what will be essential qualities for all of us, and leaders in particular.I enjoyed reading it, as much as enjoying the smell and the view of my neighbour’s apple three.

We started our third day again with some music, movement and dancing: to become present in our bodies, to be able to receive precious information from that source of wisdom and knowing. Actually the start was earlier. We all arrived more or less on the scheduled time, some were lightning the candles, clearing away stuff from yesterday that we didn’t need anymore; putting the flipcharts on the wall etc. Only then we were invited in to the dance and at the end we let the words in of Sheila Chandra:

Women, I’m calling you!
Yourr wisdom can not be lost,
your spirit can not be broken!
Your wisdom is in dreams.

(more…)

Yesterday, in a conversation with Claudia – let’s call her a spiritual business woman – it became clearer to me what is actually one of the driving questions for me to initiate this gathering of Women Moving the Edge. This gathering will take place in a few days here in Belgium, in a very special and nice place De Heerlijckyt van Elsmeren.

The question is: As women, do we really take the full leadership of what we are able to? For myself I translate it to: Do I really live to my highest potential?

Claudia mentioned that she sees many women who don’t take real responsibility for their lives; they don’t make things happen. And I’m wondering: why is that? I know a lot of women do take responsibility for their lives, their families, their neighbourhoods and lots more; but it is a more deeper level that I’m looking at here. I am holding the question: Is there something like a collective, women’s ego that is holding us back from doing the real thing, to make something happen that only we can do?

A few days ago I received an email pointing to a new project Standing Women. It seems nice, and can be very powerful, but I’m wondering is that really all that we have to do? Standing in silence for peace? Is that feminine leadership? I know, I have a lot of questions here, and I really don’t have answers… only a sense that there is more – at least for me – to do. Standing still for peace, even for hours on end, is not the real challenge for me… but then what is it? The only thing I do know is that I need others in a deep conversation to go beyond the not-knowing and into a new inner knowing…

Just came across this beautiful verse on Leadership:

Go in search of your people:
Love Them;
Learn from Them;
Plan with Them;
Serve Them;
Begin with what They have;
Build on what They know.
But of the best leaders
when their task is accomplished,
their work is done,
The people all remark:
“We have done it ourselves.”