Chaos, learning, Open Space and other goodies

Trying out some raw stuff on you again...
My friend Chris Corrigan has been wondering about the wonderful mystery that is Open Space and the depth that he feels functioning there. He has asked his community to think about it...so here I go...pulling some threads...

I am currently reading Harrison Owen's, The Power of Spirit. In it he pulls out this interesting tidbit from Gregory Bateson, "the perception of difference is the essence of learning...learning occurs when we notice 'differences that make a difference'." I guess I'd probably say differences that matter--assuming there is a quality of attention here. Harrison then spins it out by combining it with the attributes of chaos..."chaos creates the differences that make a difference, through which we learn."

Chaos draws the attention of the soul (rather than merely mind). Mattering is the quality of attention that drives the self-organising principle. So what is 'mattering'? The recognition/mirroring of the soul's purpose?/passion? in another being/object/idea...from which connection, the chain of action/arising unfolds...thought, action, and so on...

Add to that this interesting quote from Dave Pollard's site yesterday (talking about John Livingston's 1994, Rogue Primate)...

He argues that, far from being less conscious than civilized man, wild animals and wild human cultures actually have a greater 'participatory collective' consciousness beyond...our primitive individual consciousness, that extends to their ecological community and to the entire Gaia organism of
the planet, an interconnectedness to which we, and other domesticates, have become numb, have lost from disuse or ideological counter-programming.

So, maybe, Open Space with its manifest chaos acts to un-numb us, as it were, and reconnect us with our wild soul-mind...

I am also pulling in thinking from Eric Maisel (Fearless Creating), who talks about the necessity within the creative process of feeding and nurturing the "wild mind" (chaotic, original, deep) versus the "tame mind" (structured, known, prosaic).

Phew...that's enough of that...

Some more goodies...

Bryan Alexander at infocult posted a link to this great resource for Non-Profits wanting to enter the blogging world. (Thanks Brian L. and Keira for pointing me there too!)

Bryan has also just started a very cool project blogging Dracula in 'real time'.

Jeremy at lifestylism pointed folks to a recent post by Stephen Downes about leadership, power, and people. More good, gutsy thinking--Thanks, Stephen--you contribute so much to our community!