From Harrison Owen’s: Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance in a Self-organizing World

Eight Essential Steps for the Care and Feeding of

Self-Organizing Systems

1. Do Your Homework Before You Start.

2. Extend an Invitation.

3. Come to the Circle.

4. Welcome Passion, Responsibility, and

Authentic Leadership.

5. Remember the Four Principles.

-Whoever Comes is the Right People.
-Whatever Happens is the Only Thing That Could Have.
-Whenever it Starts is the Right Time.
-When it’s Over, it’s Over.

6. Observe the Law of Two Feet.

7. Keep Grief Working.

8. Formalize the System.

In my recent studies of OST (Open Space Technology) , I am struck by one of the simple key elements that is integral in the Heart Circle Model, of which I am a practitioner and a facilitator.

What I began to ponder was the fundamental pattern for achieving coherent resonance.  In my recent self-evolution work through the Heart Circle model I have found a key in the practice of keeping the heart open even when we are not getting or experiencing what we want.  This could seem either basic or impossible depending on the depth of your spiritual practice.  Either way, it is no small matter.

As I carried this thread further I came to the awareness of the 4th Step In the Care and Feeding of Self-Organizing Systems; Welcome Passion, Responsibility and Authentic Leadership.  This synergy of passion and responsibility is what in Owen’s words creates the Nexus of Caring.

In my studies and fascination with the power and simplicity of circle technologies, I am inspired for the complementarity of the many modalities, ancient and modern.  As we prepare to bring the Heart Circle model forward in the world more, I am finding this a helpful weave of identifying the value of these steps as they apply to the process of Opening the Heart Space at the group, community and organizational scale.

Just as many of us have been tuning into the deeper context of our interdependence with all of life on this planet, we are simultaneously identifying unsustainable patterns of codependence in the world of human relations.

For those of us genuinely seeking to evolve consciously, as well as stay awake in this very special time at hand, these are some keys to support the journey.  They may seem pretty basic at first, they were inspired last winter by Pia Melody’s  Facing Codependence, and are offered here as affirmations for inner landscape patterning.

Fundamental Transformations from Codependence to InterDependence:

~ I exercise self-loving practices to cultivate appropriate levels of self-esteem.
~ With a dynamic perspective I take regular pauses to set and maintain functional boundaries, spacially, psychically, physically, and emotionally.
~ On a daily basis I take time to own my reality and honor the context of my existence with Gratitude.
~ I acknowledge and meet my own needs and wants, and with clear and direct communication I practice being inter-dependent with others.
~ I regularly practice experiencing and expressing my reality moderately, and I quickly notice when this is out of sync as a flag to slow down and cultivate Love in my Being.

As a further integration point I have been reminded to draw my power from the deep peace within.  It is a significant worldview shift when we seek to get the pulse of the world, and the guidance for our destiny, from deep within ourselves; acting rather than reacting, and doing our personal work in order to show up Holon!

In these transformative times it so important for us to identify the networks of support that we need, and to align ourselves in balance and right relation, here in this Living and Forgiving Universe ~

True to form, evolutionarypathwavyes.org is evolving . .  stay tuned and stay connected!

]]> http://evolutionarypathwayves.org/blog/2009/07/interdependence-day/feed/ http://evolutionarypathwayves.org/blog/2009/05/making-artful-decisions/ http://evolutionarypathwayves.org/blog/2009/05/making-artful-decisions/#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 21:14:15 +0000 admin http://evolutionarypathwayves.org/blog/?p=197 Recently I had the opportunity to design a decision making method for a group that I am working with.

I have really enjoyed the process and look forward to practicing it and inviting a level of coherence which draws on the wisdom of the whole to more groups and organizations.

The process itself has the working title, Heart Centric Consensus, and it is based largely on the standard consensus model, and in fact I took inspiration for the flow chart that I created from one that I found in the wikimedia library.

The flow of the process is anchored on a few key points which distinguish it from the standard model.

* Attunement to the context of the proposal is essential

* Proposals require a clear champion to carry them all the way through the process

* Modifications to a proposal create an iterative spiral which continues until full support is reached

* Utilizing circle technologies for valuing the wisdom of all parts within the whole

Within the techniques identified as “circle technologies” are the small group work of Heart Circles, as well as other communication techniques like the Zegg Forum, which helps to bring up and celebrate the personal intentions and motivations behind our choices thus distinguishing them information and factual based discussions; and fishbowl discussions which provide the advantage of small scale discussion within the presence of an entire larger group while also keeping a circulation of the oppurtunity to speak.

The role of assisting with the wisdom of the whole being heard in decision processes is a passion of mine so feel free to contact me and stay tuned for the evolution of this service and facilitation art.

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Will all of the mention in my previous posts on the triple and even quadruple bottom line, let’s shift focus again for another stunning innovative conception of the Cradle to Cradle team, how about the Triple Top Line?

” The concept of the triple top line moves accountability to the beginning of the design process, assigning value to a multiplicity of economic, ecological and social questions that enhance product value. When asked upfront, these questions can drive intelligent product development and lead to design decisions that yield positive effects rather than limited liabilities.”

Read more here: http://www.mcdonough.com/writings/design_for_triple.htm

As part of our ReGenerative Action Learning we will be working with innovative capacities among teams and creating the space to play together for creatively addressing and embodying a new world view that is appropriate for our time and our challenges.

We believe it will be through both reclaiming the knowledge of the past, and innovating in co-creation as a Living Universe which will lead to our success~

The Cradle to Cradle team uses a Fractal Triangle, based on Sierpinski’s Fractal Triangle;

Sierpinski Triangle Evolution

So McDonough’s version looks something like this;

Ecology - Equity - Economy

There is certainly much to integrate as we navigate the breakdown of the old systems, I always feel a powerful inspiration accessing the intelligence of fractals; pertaining to growth, design, and the patterns of organicity of the Living Universe.

Stay Lit!

It is more than coincidence that two books with the title Sacred Commerce have been released at nearly the same time, and also at the time of this emerging global financial recalibration.

I recommend both books,

Ayman Sawaf and Rowan Gabrielle’s, Sacred Commerce: The Rise of the Global Citizen can be further researched and purchased from their website; http://www.sacredcommerce.com.

Founders of Cafe Gratitude, Mathew and Terces Engelhart’s, Sacred Commerce: Business as a Path of Awakening can be purchased from their website; http://www.cafegratitudestore.com/sacredcommerce.html

Whether you purchase these books as gifts for friends, family, your own development or you merely read the descriptions; both of them speak to the currency of checking in with our deeper sense of value.

In the process of drafting a proposal for a revolving loan fund with a friend and colleague, we came across an amusing acronym in articulating the quadruple bottom line; FESS. Financial, Ecological, Social and Spirit, adding UP for Unlimited Potential, and thus we had FESS UP, a playful and sincere collective invitation. Shortly after that I came across PASS, in the text of Cafe Gratitude’s founders book, standing for; Profit, Awakening, Sustainability and Service.

With or without clever acronyms, we are onto something and it is a truly an emergent, intuitive Win-Win capacity.

To catch some other fresh perspective on these emerging potentials relating to micro-lending and more, visit this blog, http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/prosper-a-microlending-model-f-001760.php,

and have fun exploring and articulating the 4 Deep bottom line.

Do your voting everyday, with your dollars and sense.

.

As we continue to integrate the shift from the outdated, Cartesian/Newtonian thinking, towards a Holistic interconnected web of relationships, economic historian H. Thomas Johnson’s question seems a simple challenge point for a leap in consciousness:
“Why should accountants continue to believe that human organizations behave like machines if the scientists from whom they borrowed that mechanistic worldview now see the universe from a very different perspective?

It’s as if we are poised to collectively agree that it is not money, nor oil, nor any human achievement, however great, that turns our world.

As we apply the thinking of the Quadruple bottom line(more on the QBL, or 4 DEEP model soon), we are poised to integrate some of the concerns of Humanity’s champions.

In my recent study of chaordic organizational design I am reading Dee Hock’s book,
Birth of the Chaordic Age.

I am struck both by the relevance of his writing to this moment in human emergence as well as the integrity of his offerings.

To quote Dee Hock from Birth of the Chaordic Age;
“There can be no doubt that the people who control corporations should lead this odyssey [examining how corporations are and ought to be] in the most profound way. If they profess to be leaders they should, “go before and show the way”. Our challenge is to foster a regenerative model for transforming, “the tendency of corporations to increase the capitalization of gain on one hand and the socialization of cost on the other”.

A 4 Deep bottom line has cause for balancing it within the operating principles with measures for feedback and accountability. Another step on the quest is to research existing models and examples of success and willingness to implement regenerative principles.

The evolution of the corporate model itself seems a likely step, from the sort of “tribal identity” into that of a more fully networked open-system of mutual support and intersection.
Sounds a bit like Win-Win, doesn’t it?

Brent Cameron founder and author of SelfDesign suggests that “Family is the smallest unit of Humanity”, is it possible that an evolving Corporate model can serve as a unit of measure for Humanity on the Global scale?

Another reading resource on this topic is the book,
Sacred Commerce, by Ayman Sawaf & Rowan Gabrielle.

From the introduction;
“The central principle and “engine” of culture is no longer religion or politics, as was the case in the past. Like it or not, commerce has become the primary force propelling our species and human society forward. We are witnessing a commerce-centric (r)evolution, a whole new form of ‘conscious capitalism’, wherein business transactions the world over will become the main conduit of social and cultural evolution.”

infuse that with Bright Green, and we’re ready to live the Dream, albeit with an Honoring of All Beings, starting right here in the *gardens of Gaia.

* A deliberate play on words referencing Toby Hemenway’s highly recommended home-scale permaculture guide,
Gaia’s Garden.

I decided to do a little web research on the meme of Bright Green in order to feel out the field that I am emerging with, and also to ascertain if it is indeed the right tag.

I found some interesting links:

On Bright Green Leadership I found this site, http://www.brightgreenleadership.com/, with this set of five principles;
Bright Green Principles
” * A passion for solving environmental problems
* A positive vision of the future
* The conviction that business and technology can provide practical solutions
* The determination to use leadership to promote sustainability
* Increased profitability and employee engagement combined with a decreased carbon footprint ”

I really resonate with the role of leadership. I was thinking about this in regards to global politics and the idea of modeling peace and a regenerative economy. Clearly in the United States we have a powerful opportunity, and some would say a responsibility to model a peaceful planetary solution. I am clearly called to participate in and promote cultivating the Culture of Peace.

In the process of fleshing out the idea for creating a repository for Bright Green start-ups as a Citizens Solution offering, I came up with this basic list of design priorities;
Bright Green Business
* Creates Jobs
* Regenerates Ecology
* Improves social conditions, quality of life
* Meets and helps to shape market demands
* Supports transition for existing infrastructure and business
* Is Education in Action

As far as taking on urban scale in China, this Wired article covers some of the depth of the challenges and opportunities in Bright Green design for the urban scale.

I would also like to see more retrofit designs and DIY (do it yourself) scale solutions, perhaps they would land in the same repository.

It probably was about four years ago when I first got turned on to Worldchanging, their tagline, “Another World is Here”, was and is music to my ears. I actually stopped tracking that site regularly before they printed the book and made major changes on the site. After a recent visit, seems like a powerful resource and growing, or should I say glowing, Bright Green.

The last stop on this brief tour of Bright Green potentials is an article written for What is Enlightenment? A Brighter Shade of Green Rebooting Environmentalism for the 21st Century
by Ross Robertson

That’s a great intro the Bright Green Meme, now let’s take it to the next level!

I’m inspired to be hearing the buzz around Liberty Gardens again. For those new to the term here is a little historical and emergent context check the blog link from the photo borrowed above, and more herehttp://www.libertygardens.com/.

There are many emergent expressions of this Bright Green, common sense approach. In our modern age something like Green City Growers model would serve a fair number more of our urban and suburban populations who might enjoy having another responsible steward care for their gardens. See what they’re up to in this Boston Globe article, Nourishing more than minds.

Another area for Liberty Gardens 2.0 which I need to do more research is the cultivation of indoor gardens for winter and cold climate regions. Other methods such as sprouting beans and seeds helps to keep the supply of fresh greens and enzymes on the table.

Whichever way we look at it, it seems like a bright idea to build more food security in our homes and communities, and to reward those with the initiative and the know how to make it happen by creating more jobs and programs to support them.

Making way for Generation Next.

I have been hearing something on the breeze for a while now, I have a syncing feeling.

It is time for us to make the shift to a Bright Green economy, this is the shift away from a debt based economy into a value-based, regenerative economy.

I am inspired to promote and participate in this in many ways, one among them is to promote the efforts of others who inspire me, and one of those individuals is Barbara Marx Hubbard who is a champion of the Citizens Solutions Council. My offering to the council is encouraging the creation of a space for sharing relevant tools and methods for Bright Green economics.

Some of the generative ideas that can be shared and discussed:
* Creating Bright Green business ideas and start-ups at every scale, welcoming the support and expertise of transitioning industries.
* Video and slideshow demonstrations of permaculture and regenerative design for home and community.
* Current and upcoming events like this upcoming Financial Permaculture and Green Business Summit.
and today’s National Day of Action for Green Jobs.

From here it is exciting for me to consider how to further participate in the spirit of co-creation and collaboration that is rising in all sectors of our global village.

I am launching this blog with the intent of helping to string together and cross-polenate some of these emergent projects, and also to step further into my CoCreative Vocation as a conscious evolver and evolutionary guide. To learn more, stay tuned and check out evolve.org.

I will be sharing more ideas on these topics in the coming months and look forward to co:lab as the order of the day in Regenerative culture.

Meditation exercise:
For a visceral experience of Regenerative economy I recommend a very simple exercise. This could take five minutes or less and is simple yet profound. The ideal way to carry this out is to go outdoors, to a favorite spot, in your garden, a park, or anywhere that you feel at ease, and perhaps connected to nature.
Bring your attention to your breath and imagine the oxygen that is flooding into your lungs, making it’s way into your bloodstream and feeding your cells. Now as you exhale imagine the CO2 that you exhale feeding the plants, trees algae and all oxygen creators that consume CO2.
You may find a rising sense of gratitude for the simplicity of this exchange, for the plants and trees, and if you have that feeling rising up feel free to express that gratitude in your exhalations and inhalations . . . that is the most basic experience of the Bright Green Economy.

p.s. as a note of chaordic synergy I did a quick search for a seed-sprout image and this was the first one to come up, props to co-inspiration!
mindpetals.com/blog/category/preneur-petals/life/