How did you learn about Art of Hosting (please add the date and place) and what attracted you to it?
I first heard about the Art of Hosting from other facilitators and then read about Toke in Christina Baldwin's book "StoryCatcher". I contacted him to work on a facilitator's conference with me in 2007, and my first AoH training was 2008 in Melbourne.
What attracts me to it is how it creates a container for powerful work and that it is a practice, not a methodology. I also love that it is hosting, not facilitating, creating a space where everyone can step in, step up and do wise work together. And I'm really grateful hosting happens in teams. I was so ready to be part of team and work with the wisdom of the circle!
Tell us about your experience with Art of Hosting as part of your life and work. What would you say your competence in it is? (new, starting practitioner, experienced practitioner, steward)
My first AoH training was in September 2008 and I immediately joined another in October. We've had two AoH trainings in New Zealand, the first with 92 present. Since then I've been on many hosting teams for trainings and strategic meetings and also stepped into the stewarding circle. I'm keen to support teams wherever they are to do great work and bring forward their brilliance.
What is the primary field/topic/focus in your hosting work?
What I'm bringing to AoH is my love of story and narrative practice, as well as a passion for hosting and harvesting conversations that matter and creating containers where people can step in, step up and co-create wise action together.
Where do you live/work?
I live and work wherever my bag is! Right now I live in Copenhagen.
Are there interests/passions that you'd like to share?
I've spent half my lifetime in the Northern Hemisphere and half in the Southern. Now I see myself as a wanderer helping to weave the world together with each conversation. I've had a go at six languages, but English and German are the ones I can work in. I'm passionate about questions, stories, metaphor, vision, and deep listening. If you've got a great movie, I'll bring the popcorn!
Your profile is really inspirational. It communicates to me clearly what type of info to present in order to "open" my world to the community. Nice invitation. I will accept it.
Hi Mary Alice. Thank you so much for your warm welcome. As you suggested I did post a photo. We had a great day planning for the AoH in Halifax. It was so amazing meeting the hosting team. I feel really blessed to be a part of this event. It would be so lovely to meet you in person for so many reasons... I hope you can drop in this week. Warmly, Michelle
Thank you for the warm welcome to the Art of Hosting community. My picture is added and there is a cloud to be seen - a few of my thoughts, as I am working in the field of structuring them.
I will participate in the workshop on "graphic recording" (Oct. 20th and 21st - organized by AoH), which is exactly what I was searching for here in Vienna / Austria, as I started my business as graphic facilitator last June.
I am looking forward to fruitful discussions, meetings and other social events within this community.
Fantastic! Call us when you need a pick up. What is your dinner pleasure? Feather, leather (very good leather), fowl? Looking forward to treating you to some R and R and such.
Thank your welcome Mary Alice and for your great teaching and leadership this week! I appreciate the generosity of time and spirit that you and Toke bring to our communities.
What a personal touch, I guess its true, never under estimate the power of a personla invite.
I am just beginning my AoH journey officially, as many others, I believe I have been living it before I could name it. At this moment, I feel I call to see how AoH can be used to heal. I would like to explore how the methods, and practices can be used to heal team, organizations, communities. I feel great power to do so, but am not sure how others feel or if it has been tried.
Thanks for the warm personal welcome. I look forward to participating in the group. Thanks, too, for the heads up on peeps in Madison - that makes me happy!
Thank you for the welcome! I am very excited about joining, participating and most of all learning! I am very humbled to be apart - quite frankly knowing this is just the beginning of the beginning...warmly, Michelle
Thanks Mary-Ann! Your warm welcome and the chance to share with the AoH community, are inspiring. Looking forward to interact witht the whole community, to learn and to offer my own experience to others. Warm hug from hot Summer in Buenos Aires, Patricia
A stream of thanks, and adding mine too! Thank you Mary Alice. Finding and joining the Art of Hosting feels like coming home. Now to find and learn my way around ... Best wishes Isobel
Mary Alice, thank you for your welcome and I am glad to be here! Although struggling a little as I'm new to ning - can you tell me how to join the Burren group as I'm not appearing as a group member and wish to continue the conversation from our time together in the Burren earlier this month.
Hi Mary Alice, thank you for welcoming me - you are indeed a warm host.
The Art of Hosting might be the answer of my dreams; to join in a group with playmates, no university degree but people who are able to create room for communication.
I am used to work alone, as the lonely wolf, because my way of leading groups of people is strange and new.
In my work with people with mental problems my way of working seems to be like water in a desert.
Looking forward to meet people and think out loud together.
Thank you for the welcome Mary, I will add a profile picture as soon as I can. Sadly I will not be able to attend in Karlskrona this year. I was already booked on those dates when I first heard about it and I can't really cancel :(
I do hope to attend a Art of Hosting sooner or later though because i heard so much good things about them
Thank you for your welcome. I have to tell you that New Zealand is one of my favorite countries and I hope to visit your wonderful country again in June.
Hi Marie Alice - thanks for your warm welcom. Our paths crossed some weeks/months ago during an AoH lunchtime session at the EC. I am happy to connect with you and others in a more global context.
thanks so much for your warm welcome. I have not met the Berlin group yet. Frauke is sharing a lot of events in the facebook group, so I hope I'll get to meet her sometime very soon.
I just came back from a training in Bregenz, which Ria and Ursula have been hosted. This was areally precious experience and very much mirroring my own way of dealing with groups.
Bonjour Mary-Alice, how are you these days? It's a bit late for a response, but guess what, better late than never! Many thanks for your warm welcome! Looking forward to more aohy encounters; and I have a picture now! Bises & hugs
My first AoH experience in Karlskrona this year was so inspiring, also thanks to your input and energy. I'm looking forward to new experiences in Slovenia this summer.
Thanks everyone and I will keep you posted and exchange on the new activities here in Arnhem NL Its all very exciting all this wisdom and activity emerging. Simone
Hi Mary Alice - thank you so much for your welcome and your suggestions. I have just booked onto the course in West Lexham - very much looking forward to it!
Hi again Mary Alice - just read your call out for the event in Slovenia - sounds amazing and captures the mood of things I have been feeling here in London. How did it go?
Warm wishes
Mothiur
"Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel the artistry moving through, and be silent." Mevlana Rumi
Tana Paddock
Sep 9, 2011
Linda Braasch
Sep 20, 2011
Jasenka Gojšić
Thank you, Mary Alice, for your warm welcome!
Your profile is really inspirational. It communicates to me clearly what type of info to present in order to "open" my world to the community. Nice invitation. I will accept it.
Sep 20, 2011
Michelle Murton
Sep 25, 2011
Paul H. Tontur
Dear Mary Alice,
Thank you for the warm welcome to the Art of Hosting community. My picture is added and there is a cloud to be seen - a few of my thoughts, as I am working in the field of structuring them.
I will participate in the workshop on "graphic recording" (Oct. 20th and 21st - organized by AoH), which is exactly what I was searching for here in Vienna / Austria, as I started my business as graphic facilitator last June.
I am looking forward to fruitful discussions, meetings and other social events within this community.
Very best regards,
Paul
Oct 4, 2011
Paul H. Tontur
Oct 6, 2011
Michelle Murton
Oct 6, 2011
Kristin Bodiford
Oct 15, 2011
Cora Cole
Hello Mary Alice,
What a personal touch, I guess its true, never under estimate the power of a personla invite.
I am just beginning my AoH journey officially, as many others, I believe I have been living it before I could name it. At this moment, I feel I call to see how AoH can be used to heal. I would like to explore how the methods, and practices can be used to heal team, organizations, communities. I feel great power to do so, but am not sure how others feel or if it has been tried.
Thanks again for the note.
Cora
Oct 24, 2011
Alena Emilova Sokolova
Thank Mary Alice for the warm welcome ! Please, do say whenever I could be of any help from Madrid !
Kindest regards and best wishes for many more inspiring initiatives to come !
Alena
Oct 25, 2011
Edie meissner
I havent received the details for upcoming storytelling and harvesting. Glad to hear more.
Edie
Oct 27, 2011
Victoria
Thanks for the feedback and lovely welcome!
Nov 14, 2011
Jodi Sandfort
Will do. Hope you had a great weekend! I wish that I could have joined in but was teaching all day Saturday and was a single mom yesterday.
Some day our paths will cross.
Nov 14, 2011
angela chang
Thanks Mary Alice for your welcome message, I will put a photo up asap
Looking forward to participating
Angela
Dec 5, 2011
angela chang
Hi Mary Alice I added a photo, but it doesn't appear on the left, could you please let me know how I move it there?
Dec 5, 2011
Trinnie Houghton
What a welcoming! Thank you, Mary Alice.
Dec 9, 2011
Quanita Roberson
The santa is up and the kids can't wait! It is so good to know you. I look forward to seeing you again.
Dec 18, 2011
Michele Martin
Thanks, MaryAlice. Looking forward to browsing and joining the conversations!
Dec 20, 2011
Sanne Roemen
Thank you Mary Alice, done. Nice to be welcomed personally!
Jan 15, 2012
Linda K.
Mary Alice:
Thanks for the warm personal welcome. I look forward to participating in the group. Thanks, too, for the heads up on peeps in Madison - that makes me happy!
~Linda
Jan 19, 2012
Michelle Archuleta
Hi Mary Alice,
Thank you for the welcome! I am very excited about joining, participating and most of all learning! I am very humbled to be apart - quite frankly knowing this is just the beginning of the beginning...warmly, Michelle
Jan 21, 2012
Patricia Kistenmacher
Thanks Mary-Ann! Your warm welcome and the chance to share with the AoH community, are inspiring. Looking forward to interact witht the whole community, to learn and to offer my own experience to others. Warm hug from hot Summer in Buenos Aires, Patricia
Jan 22, 2012
Isobel McConnan
A stream of thanks, and adding mine too! Thank you Mary Alice. Finding and joining the Art of Hosting feels like coming home. Now to find and learn my way around ... Best wishes Isobel
Jan 24, 2012
Rose Murphy
Mary Alice, thank you for your welcome and I am glad to be here! Although struggling a little as I'm new to ning - can you tell me how to join the Burren group as I'm not appearing as a group member and wish to continue the conversation from our time together in the Burren earlier this month.
Thank you!
Jan 24, 2012
Rose Murphy
Mary Alice, thank you - gradually finding my way around!
Jan 27, 2012
Maria Steffensen
Hi Mary Alice, thank you for welcoming me - you are indeed a warm host.
The Art of Hosting might be the answer of my dreams; to join in a group with playmates, no university degree but people who are able to create room for communication.
I am used to work alone, as the lonely wolf, because my way of leading groups of people is strange and new.
In my work with people with mental problems my way of working seems to be like water in a desert.
Looking forward to meet people and think out loud together.
I am living partly in Norway partly i Denmark.
Feb 1, 2012
Niklas Eklund
Thank you for the welcome Mary, I will add a profile picture as soon as I can. Sadly I will not be able to attend in Karlskrona this year. I was already booked on those dates when I first heard about it and I can't really cancel :(
I do hope to attend a Art of Hosting sooner or later though because i heard so much good things about them
Cheers
/niklas
Feb 7, 2012
Ana Lima
Hi Mary Alice! Thank you for the welcome.
Feb 7, 2012
Ragnar Ahlstroem Soederling
Hi Mary Alice,
Thank you for your welcome. I have to tell you that New Zealand is one of my favorite countries and I hope to visit your wonderful country again in June.
Yours In Peace
Ragnar
Feb 7, 2012
Karen Fabbri
Hi Marie Alice - thanks for your warm welcom. Our paths crossed some weeks/months ago during an AoH lunchtime session at the EC. I am happy to connect with you and others in a more global context.
Feb 22, 2012
Carol Clark
Dear Mary Alice,
thanks so much for your warm welcome. I have not met the Berlin group yet. Frauke is sharing a lot of events in the facebook group, so I hope I'll get to meet her sometime very soon.
Warm Regards -
Carol
Feb 25, 2012
Mira Czutka
I just came back from a training in Bregenz, which Ria and Ursula have been hosted. This was areally precious experience and very much mirroring my own way of dealing with groups.
Have a wonderful sunday,
Mira
Mar 4, 2012
Gilles Asselin
Bonjour Mary-Alice, how are you these days? It's a bit late for a response, but guess what, better late than never! Many thanks for your warm welcome! Looking forward to more aohy encounters; and I have a picture now! Bises & hugs
Mar 7, 2012
Gilles Asselin
Yes, dear Mary Alice,
just like Nancy, I live on the other side of the (Hudson) river, and a bit further south!
We New Jerseyans are a different species!!
Bises,
Gilles
Apr 9, 2012
Amber Vriends
Dear Mary Alice,
Thank you for the warm welcome! :)
My first AoH experience in Karlskrona this year was so inspiring, also thanks to your input and energy. I'm looking forward to new experiences in Slovenia this summer.
Amber :)
May 18, 2012
Markus Wittwer
Thanks Mary Alice, will do that right away.
May 29, 2012
Simone G.J.Holstege
Thanks everyone and I will keep you posted and exchange on the new activities here in Arnhem NL Its all very exciting all this wisdom and activity emerging. Simone
May 30, 2012
Aviva Shemesh
Thank you for the warm welcome Mary Alice.
Jun 6, 2012
Mothiur
Hi Mary Alice - thank you so much for your welcome and your suggestions. I have just booked onto the course in West Lexham - very much looking forward to it!
Warm wishes
Mothiur
Jun 6, 2012
Mothiur
Hi again Mary Alice - just read your call out for the event in Slovenia - sounds amazing and captures the mood of things I have been feeling here in London. How did it go?
Warm wishes
Mothiur
"Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel the artistry moving through, and be silent." Mevlana Rumi
Jun 6, 2012
Nina Thompson Williams
Hi Mary Alice! Better late than never ;-) And it's like walking into a roomful of familiar faces
Jun 20, 2012
Patricia Neal
thanks, Mary Alice. It is good to be in touch.
Jun 20, 2012
Paige Marie Reeves
thanks mary alice! i'm very happy to be here! and happy to be in touch. hugs from madrid :-)
Jul 5, 2012
Shane Hopkinson
Thanks Mary Alice
I missed your reply the first time and its been a lot longer than I realised now I am back here.
Interested to explore further - will update my profile.
Cheers
Shane
Aug 8, 2012
mark j fraire
MAA,
Maybe i should visit this site more often as i am just now reading your note- thanks!
Mark
Aug 8, 2012
Jan Ungerer
Aug 8, 2012
Salwa Abdel Tawab
Thanks a lot. I am glad to become a member and hope i ll be of help as much as i am sure i ll benefit as well.
Aug 15, 2012
Stéphane Béguin
Thx Marie Alice!
Happy to become a member.
Aug 22, 2012
Fedor Ovchinnikov
Thank you Mary Alice! I am very excited to become a member of this vibrant community!
Sep 3, 2012
Juliane Martina Röll
Thank you very much! I am happy to be here. All the best!
Sep 6, 2012