Dead Moose SocietyBeware all of you in the world of Open Space. Another entity has formed and we are extending an invitation to all of you to participate. At an Opening the Space event in February 1997 in Ontario, Canada, we discussed the importance of living our truth, with good heads, good hearts, and extending care and compassion out into the world. We then talked about the hazards associated with living this way. What happens when collusion (co-illusion) is named? What happens when a truth that everyone knows about but no one ever talks about (except for parking lot gossip) is named? What happens when Space is Opened and truth surfaces? At first glance, the answer would seem that the air gets cleared and life goes on better that before. Our collective experience has told us that this is not so. It is more common that the truth teller comes to harm, is targeted for harm somehow. Or Open Space itself is called into question, with people being so angry about the truth having come out, that they end up being angry at the Open Space process that they say “it didn’t work, look at what resulted.” So . . . we identified that all of this was like having a dead moose under the table. Everyone knows it’s there, it smells, maybe has gathered flies, is sickening, but no one wants to say the obvious. And we decided that Open Space is to be honored for putting “the dead moose on the table” so that it can be identified and appropriately dealt with. And thus we formed the Dead Moose Society as an adjunct to the Open Space Institutes and all good Open Space work everywhere. The purpose of the Dead Moose Society is to get the Dead Moose on the table wherever we can, and to support each other in efforts to do so. The principles that will govern our Society are: Harrison Owen’s four principles for Open Space:
As well as Angeles Arrien’s four laws of Spirit:
Please form your own Dead Moose Society when needed (NOW isn’t such
a bad time) with whomever you can interest in this very important work.
They must be people who are willing to take risks, have courage, have vision,
and enjoy community. And be committed to living by the principles
as above that encourage us to be about our own truth also.
The first meeting of this first group took place in a pub in Unionville,
Ontario on April 16th, 1997. That sets a possible tone for where
other Society meetings should be located - a good pub.
We would like to say there are none, but for those of you who try
to live your truth, and who have tried to name truth in an organization,
you know the price can be very high - nothing less than your soul sometimes.
Whatever happens, playfulness is certainly essential. We all
need to come forward with the abundance mentality of giving and sharing.
For us, some of the agenda items of our first meeting included:
We brought fun items along – a moose caller, a moose puppet, a moose statue - the list goes on and on. We formally signed a register and pretended like “Roberts Rules of Order.” To sign the register, we each took on a moose name. So much hilarity happened that poor Robert’s Rules fell to the wayside, and we actually got a lot done. As you might guess, with the help of humor, the real Dead Moose stories
came out - very painful, very serious. We support one another to
carry on with bringing truth into the workplace. And because we are
able to laugh, amidst the tears, we are able to hold on to the space that
Open Space and truth need, to bring healing into the organization.
If you have a Dead Moose story to share or if you start your own “chapter” of the Dead Moose Society, please let us know. Just for the record. Contact Birgitt Bolton and Diane Brown at birgitt@worldchat.com or Fax to (905) 648-2262. P.S. We’ve made up some T-shirts ($20 - proceeds go to Open Space Institute of Canada) or just feel free to make your own.
We are playfully collecting Dead Moose stories and messages from anyone who chooses to be a Dead Moose Society Member and will share these with you. Members of the Dead Moose Society are tending to take “moose” names, for the fun of it. The following message is from Moosalini a.k.a. Peter C. Thiss The wisdom and spirit of Moose comes from the west. It is a sign of strength, integrity, truth and independence. Moose tells us how to speak our truth, how to stand on our own two feet and how to feel strong about our heart felt intention. Moose as a guide says in a dry playful voice, if at the end of the day, you have followed your dreams, put your heart into every event of the day and regardless of outcome, you can feel good about who you are, where you’ve been, what you’ve done. Strength: Moose is the strongest and most independent of the deer clan. A clan of leadership, of brotherhood and truth. A moose does not lean on fellow moose – giving each moose their sacred space, to create, and to find their own path. Strength is balanced with playful spirit. Moose lips
Moose Management – the essence to true leadership. Moosettes
You figure it out for yourself! Is all part of moosdom. This wisdom bubbles deep from within like the crystal clear water moose enjoys best. Through this stream moose knows all. A connection to the spirit of laughter a part of play we forget to take with us on our daily quest.
The following message is from MooseInMidAir a.k.a. Michael Herman, Chicago Moose are Different Moose really are a different breed…willing to walk in the dark without lights, to step off edges with questions but no guarantees. They fall fast and land hard, bruising like everyone else. But they pay attention on the way down, see flashes when they hit bottom, and usually walk away under their own power. Then they call on other moose, who give them steak, beds, boatrides, and other good things. Later on they sit together in circles, telling stories of edges, falls, and landings past. And always, then, they go back out
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