Amanda Fenton's Posts - The Art of Hosting2024-03-29T02:20:05ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFentonhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2795053890?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://artofhosting.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=0br2gqsgj8b19&xn_auth=noInvitation to Transformative Meetings Workshop - New York and Vancouvertag:artofhosting.ning.com,2014-08-20:4134568:BlogPost:938922014-08-20T07:55:20.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
<div class="gmail_default">Wanted to share this invitation with you all as the <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/transformative-meetings-tickets-12171097079?utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=eventurl_text" target="_blank">early bird pricing for New York</a> is ending this Friday August 22nd and the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transformative-meetings-tickets-12591855579" target="_blank">registration for Vancouver</a> is now open for…</div>
<div class="gmail_default">Wanted to share this invitation with you all as the <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/transformative-meetings-tickets-12171097079?utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=eventurl_text" target="_blank">early bird pricing for New York</a> is ending this Friday August 22nd and the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transformative-meetings-tickets-12591855579" target="_blank">registration for Vancouver</a> is now open for this new two-day workshop on leading collaborative and transformative meetings. </div>
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<div class="gmail_default"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Nancy Fritsche Eagan and I are both very excited to offer this training on circle - as a core practice in the Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter and in leadingtransformative meetings- based on <a href="http://www.peerspirit.com/books-thecircleway.html" target="_blank">The Circle Way - A Leader in Every Chair</a>. In fact, we were so excited we wanted to put together</font> a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVVz3lxJYTs" target="_blank">short invitation video you can watch here</a>. </div>
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<div class="gmail_default">The New York invitation is <a href="http://amandafenton.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Leading-Transformative-Meetings-New-York1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> and the Vancouver invitation <a href="http://amandafenton.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Leading-Transformative-Meetings-Vancouver.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. More information below......</div>
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<div class="gmail_default">Cheers,</div>
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<div class="gmail_default">Amanda & Nancy</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_default">_________________________________________________________</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><p> </p>
<p><b>Leading Transformative and Collaborative Meetings</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>In today's world we live with the paradox that meetings are the most important tool for working together and yet they can be the most unproductive and expensive strategy we use. Instead of "death by meeting", we can create a structure that encourages candor, courage and straightforward discussions that are inspiring, motivational and stirring. Imagine meetings that welcome diverse opinions, promote mutual understanding, discover inclusive solutions and shared responsibility. Using circle process encourages genuine contribution, creativity, inclusion and co-creation of a future in which there is more possibility than limitation, resulting in better outcomes in our work. We develop the capacity to work with complexity, conflict, hurt and trauma. </p>
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<p><b>You Are Invited</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>We welcome Art of Hosting practitioners as well as those who are curious about participatory leadership. This workshop is for leaders, managers, supervisors, project leaders, community groups, youth workers, educators, church leader, board members, consultants, and those working in fields such as health care, government, education, the social sector, organizations, healing and trauma work, parent groups, restorative justice and social innovation. And you!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Over this two-day workshop we will explore how circle process can establish conditions for better listening and intentional speaking, increase participation and collaboration in meetings, reconcile difficult dynamics and more. Learn more about the workshop, the team and inspiration on the web at <a href="http://www.transformativemeetings.com/" target="_blank">Transformative Meetings</a>. </p>
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<p><b>Dates</b></p>
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<p>New York: September 16 & 17, 2014 @ Center for Social Innovation, New York</p>
<p>Vancouver: November 6 & 7, 2014 @ Tides Canada, Vancouver</p>
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<blockquote class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><p>More info available on the web at <a href="http://www.transformativemeetings.com/" target="_blank">Transformative Meetings</a><font face="Tahoma"> </font></p>
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<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>Nancy & Amanda</p>
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</div>Designing a Smarter Conclavetag:artofhosting.ning.com,2013-03-25:4134568:BlogPost:761512013-03-25T04:59:38.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
<p>From the email list March 2013...</p>
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<p>I don’t know if the woman who wrote this article is part of Art of Hosting. But I found this article from Zocalo Public Square hilarious. What a brilliant way of using a current event to spread awareness of good group process! It’s not about AoH per se. But she does suggest the cardinals start by building relationships and ask new, provocative questions. She has them tell stories and think together in world café. My favorite line is how…</p>
<p>From the email list March 2013...</p>
<p></p>
<p>I don’t know if the woman who wrote this article is part of Art of Hosting. But I found this article from Zocalo Public Square hilarious. What a brilliant way of using a current event to spread awareness of good group process! It’s not about AoH per se. But she does suggest the cardinals start by building relationships and ask new, provocative questions. She has them tell stories and think together in world café. My favorite line is how this would be a great audition for the new pope: <i>“The cardinals would get to see who’s a good listener, who’s a good communicator, who tries to dominate, and who’s the more sophisticated thinker, able to dance with paradox and uncertainty.”</i> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The article is below. Here’s the original link: <a href="http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2013/03/12/cardinals-dont-squander-this-conclave/ideas/nexus/" target="_blank">http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2013/03/12/cardinals-dont-squander-this-conclave/ideas/nexus/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>Janice</p>
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<p></p>
<p><span>Hi Janice...</span></p>
<div><br/><div>Kristin Cobble is a long time friend from San Francisco and has participated in and hosted many different processes, including women's circles, World Cafe and others. I'm not sure if she's ever attended an Art of Hosting, but she certainly shares the values that underpin all of our mutual work.</div>
<div>Thanks for sending this....it will be great to connect with her around these ideas.</div>
<div>Warm regards,</div>
<div>Juanita</div>
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<p></p>Invitation to WOSONOStag:artofhosting.ning.com,2013-03-24:4134568:BlogPost:760162013-03-24T21:15:14.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
<p>As shared on the email list February 2013....</p>
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<div>Hello Everyone,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It's been a month since Suzanne sent out the first invitation.</div>
<div>On behalf of the global host team, I would like to again invite all OS participants and practitioners around the world to come to Florida this May to co-create a unique World Open Space on Open Space experience. Yes everyWOSonOS is unique to those who attended it, and so we want to make the…</div>
<p>As shared on the email list February 2013....</p>
<p></p>
<div>Hello Everyone,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It's been a month since Suzanne sent out the first invitation.</div>
<div>On behalf of the global host team, I would like to again invite all OS participants and practitioners around the world to come to Florida this May to co-create a unique World Open Space on Open Space experience. Yes everyWOSonOS is unique to those who attended it, and so we want to make the 2013 WOSonOS a unique experience to as many people as possible.</div>
<div><div><div><div><div><div><div>I have booked my flight and will arrive on May 15th to help with the set-up. However, since our mantra for this year's preparation is "One Less Thing to Do," I am really looking forward to finding that one thing which I don't have to do. Instead, I am hoping to get a jump start on meeting people that I have heard about, read about, talked to on the phone, or exchanged email with, as well as those whom I met in London last year.</div>
<div>I wanted to make a special appeal to those who are relatively new to Open Space Technology - those who just read about OST, were recently trained, or had attended one or two events. I think WOSonOS is the best way to learn and appreciate the magic and wonder of Open Space Technology. You will be among many people who have facilitated the magic and wonder in so many different ways and so many different contexts.</div>
<div>I'd like to share a story about invitation; a story I was told in my youthful years. It's about a salt boy who wants to know what the ocean is like. He stands on the beach asking the ocean, "you look so vast. How can I begin to know you? What is it like to be an ocean?" The ocean whispers to the salt boy: "come my boy and join me." The boy inches his way into the ocean, one step at a time, until he completely immerses and dissolves himself in the ocean...then he says to the ocean: "now I know what you are like."</div>
<div>You won't know what WOSonOS can mean to you until you live it.</div>
<div>So, won't you join us?</div>
<div>Click here to register: <a href="http://wosonos2013.crowdvine.com/" target="_blank">http://wosonos2013.crowdvine.com/</a></div>
<div>And see you in May!</div>
<div>Sincerely,</div>
<div>Chuni Li</div>
<div>----------------------</div>
<div><span>I welcome the opportunity to step further into stewarding participative approaches to community and leadership internationally and am thrilled to see this arise on our little island this year via the WOsonOS. Our MN AoH cohort was blessed with a deeper dive into OS guided by the skilled hands of Diane Gibeault in January 2013. (Thanks again Jerry:-)) She broadened our scope of harvest ability with the news room and taught us the client/consultant waltz (It's not enough to be passionate about the work). </span><div>To be sure, whoever shows up is/are the right people to show up and I hope that many of us diving deep into AoH will take the opportunity to unite in St Petersburg this spring and reciprocate the open arms!</div>
<div><br/><div><div><div><div>Peace and Love on Valentines Day:-)</div>
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<div><div><div>Dawn Ellison</div>
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</div>Laboratories for Societal Innovationtag:artofhosting.ning.com,2013-03-24:4134568:BlogPost:758172013-03-24T20:43:11.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
<p>Shared on the email list February 2013</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Dear friends and colleagues,</span><br></br><br></br><span>I've started a new collaborative research blog on 'laboratories for societal innovation' to share my ongoing Phd research on the same topic. It is still under development but I wanted to open it up for a broader audience.</span><br></br><br></br><span>The blog aims to bring together together the knowledge that is emerging across a diverse community of practitioners that are engaged in…</span></p>
<p>Shared on the email list February 2013</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Dear friends and colleagues,</span><br/><br/><span>I've started a new collaborative research blog on 'laboratories for societal innovation' to share my ongoing Phd research on the same topic. It is still under development but I wanted to open it up for a broader audience.</span><br/><br/><span>The blog aims to bring together together the knowledge that is emerging across a diverse community of practitioners that are engaged in developing projects that could be described as 'societal innovation labs'. The goal is for this blog to be a platform for live, uncut ongoing research that can immediately enrich a community of practice and be enriched by it. A repository for case-studies, projects, research articles, field-notes and reflections. </span><br/><br/><span>If you are a practitioner or researcher in this field, feel free send in questions, stories, case-studies, reflections and projects that you would like to share with the wider community. If you are interested in being a regular contributor or blogger please get in touch.</span><br/><br/><span>You can find it here: </span><a href="http://www.societal-innovation.org/" target="_blank">www.societal-innovation.org</a><br/><br/><span>Looking forward to learn together! </span><br/><br/><span>Hendrik Tiesinga</span><br/><br/><span>Natural Innovation</span><br/><span>Warwick Business School</span><br/><a href="mailto:hendrik@natural-innovation.net" target="_blank">hendrik@natural-innovation.net</a></p>What the Business Innovation Factory has in common with AoHtag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-10-10:4134568:BlogPost:401262011-10-10T02:17:48.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
<p>Hello community,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In September I was fortunate to attend the Business Innovation Factory's Story Summit, where 30 innovators gathered to share their stories on innovation from all sectors. I carried with me questions connected to hosting and harvested insights in the scaffold of the 5 Breaths/Chaordic Stepping Stones. My notes are posted on <a href="http://amandafenton.com/2011/10/golden-threads-from-bif-7/" target="_blank">my blog</a> should any nuggets be useful to…</p>
<p>Hello community,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In September I was fortunate to attend the Business Innovation Factory's Story Summit, where 30 innovators gathered to share their stories on innovation from all sectors. I carried with me questions connected to hosting and harvested insights in the scaffold of the 5 Breaths/Chaordic Stepping Stones. My notes are posted on <a href="http://amandafenton.com/2011/10/golden-threads-from-bif-7/" target="_blank">my blog</a> should any nuggets be useful to this generous community. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>Amanda</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Art of Hosting Harvest - Bowen Islandtag:artofhosting.ning.com,2010-10-14:4134568:BlogPost:32042010-10-14T04:46:30.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
I had the incredible, incredible opportunity to attend the Art of Hosting retreat on Bowen Island last week. And as part of the Harvest team I’d like to offer a summary to our group: <a href="http://prezi.com/rykxupxwxlyc/art-of-hosting-bowen-island/">http://prezi.com/rykxupxwxlyc/art-of-hosting-bowen-island/</a> (for best viewing, click Fullscreen under the More menu then navigate with your -> arrow).<div><br></br></div>
<div>Thank you to Caitlin, Teresa, Tenneson and Chris for designing and…</div>
I had the incredible, incredible opportunity to attend the Art of Hosting retreat on Bowen Island last week. And as part of the Harvest team I’d like to offer a summary to our group: <a href="http://prezi.com/rykxupxwxlyc/art-of-hosting-bowen-island/">http://prezi.com/rykxupxwxlyc/art-of-hosting-bowen-island/</a> (for best viewing, click Fullscreen under the More menu then navigate with your -> arrow).<div><br/></div>
<div>Thank you to Caitlin, Teresa, Tenneson and Chris for designing and hosting a fantastic experience.<br/> <br/>
I’ll be blogging more on my personal harvests and reflections from the AoH – look forward to sharing with you.<br/>
<br/>
(Also posted on my blog: <a href="http://amandafenton.com/2010/10/art-of-hosting-harvest/">http://amandafenton.com/2010/10/art-of-hosting-harvest/</a>)</div>On Eldership and Leadership: Me at 100tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2010-10-14:4134568:BlogPost:32082010-10-14T04:30:00.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
<p></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“We are the ones we have been waiting for.”</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tenneson Woolf posted a harvest of a conversation he recently hosted on</span> <a href="http://web.me.com/tennesonwoolf/Tenneson_Woolf/Blog/Entries/2010/10/8_Intuitive_Knowing.html" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Intuitive Knowing</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, and during that conversation I shared a unique encounter I had earlier this year with my 100 year old self.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was during a training on</span> <a href="http://www.processwork.org/" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Process Work</span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">with</span> <a href="http://www.processconsulting.org/home" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dr Stephen Schuitevoerder</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, where we were invited to explore leadership and eldership. He described, “Having access to a space within ourselves which is big is critical both for ourselves and the world around us.” He talked about how we often project our wisdom onto others and are disappointed by them. But we can take this back by accessing our own eldership. One path is the 100 year old self exercise.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were to start with a big challenge. Mine was biiiiiiiiiiiiiig. I didn’t want to tackle it. I pouted. My partner convinced me to step into it (thanks Pam!). After giving her the context of my challenge, she suggested that I continue the exercise in a guided visualization. I started by picturing what I was like at 100, close to death and pleased with my life. I had a great life. I began to shapeshift in my mind (and in my chair with my eyes closed). I was me at 100. (Well, at first I was my Grandma, then a quick lightbulb moment that I was supposed to be me and it clicked.) I could see it so clearly – my little apartment on the ground floor, in the heart of a community, children’s laughter coming through the windows, picture after picture on the wall of people I had met on my many journeys. And me making tea for my younger self as I arrived.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My younger self first asked for a tip about something I was noodling on. I was moved to tears at the unexpected wisdom and clarity in the conversation. Then I asked myself about my big challenge, and my feedback was just as intense. I came out of the exercise feeling both heavy and light; deep emotion that also had a calming peacefulness to it. Writing about it takes me back to that chair on that afternoon.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I</span> <em style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">was</span></em> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the one I was waiting for. The answers were already inside me. Then the big question: how do I need to live in order to cultivate this elder in the future?</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How would you answer that question?</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><em style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you to Benjamin Aaron Degenhart for linking me to</span> <a href="http://benjaminaaron.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/time-perceptions/" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a similar practice he had with Joanna Macy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></em></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Also posted on my blog</span> <a href="http://amandafenton.com/2010/10/on-eldership-and-leadership-me-at-100/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.)</span></span></span></p>Bowen Island AoH: Reflection on Hosting Ourselvestag:artofhosting.ning.com,2010-10-14:4134568:BlogPost:32062010-10-14T04:30:00.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
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<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was a common refrain through two trainings I’ve participated in this year:</span> <a href="http://www.processwork.org/" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Process Work</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, where our lovely teacher eloquently decreed that we have to work on ourselves first: “Cause our shit is going to come out when we’re working with a group, whether we want it to or not.” Then last week during the</span> <a href="http://www.artofhosting.org/home/" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Art of Hosting</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, with the similar mantra that in order to host others, we must first be able to host ourselves.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And unlike the first learning experience, where there were varying degrees of comfort in embracing the work we could do on ourselves, I felt our Art of Hosting group more readily and more deeply embodied that approach. I can’t offer a true meta harvest on this but I will share shades of my own experience and hope that others will contribute.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As I reflect back, the space to go deep began when reading the logistics of our retreat. Held at a spot conducive to introspection,</span> <a href="http://www.rivendellretreat.org/" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rivendell on Bowen Island</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, we were encouraged to unplug for our four days and observe the daily sacred silent hour. These logistics segued into shared accommodations, communal eating and hosted morning/evening practices, which facilitated an intimacy amongst our group. With these foundations in place we were readied to host ourselves.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Through everything we did, from Circle to Open Space to exploring</span> <a href="http://www.berkana.org/pdf/emergence_web.pdf" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Berkana’s two loops</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, we danced along that continuum of hosting ourselves and hosting others. We could go from looking outside-in at a system as it changed to plotting ourselves on that very same system, asking why we were there and what the system’s change needed from us.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This culminated one morning as we delved into</span> <a href="http://www.thework.com/thework.php" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Byron Katie’s The Work</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. After we observed an inspiring and vulnerable example it was time for us to tackle one of our own fears or beliefs. Working with my partner revealed insights and old demons thought long banished. And when I returned to eat lunch with the others similar experiences were shared- different demons, of course, but accompanied by a sense of freedom and unveiling, with new ah-has unlocking as the day continued. This was a group truly committed to exploring themselves so they could fully and completely host space for others. I’m honoured to have shared in that experience and hope others from that Bowen Island retreat will add their perspective.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What have you done to host yourself so that you may host others?</span></span></p>
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(also posted on my blog</span> <a href="http://amandafenton.com/2010/10/harvest-reflection-on-hosting-ourselves/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">)</span></span></p>