I particularly like entering into the exploratory phase of the design web. The patterns, ideas and principles can all generate new insights. Sometimes we enter into a design process and it can almost be like we are going through the motions because we think we know the answers already. When we enter into the exploratory Read More
On the design immersion weeks this summer participants had a day for each of the phases of the design web. We worked through the growth phase (vision, helps and limits), the exploratory phase (patterns, ideas and principles), the productive phase (integration, action and momentum) and the reflective phase (appreciation, reflection and pause). The first phase Read More
The course ended yesterday with a strengthening closing circle, that helps us to move forward. There was a real sense of the ripples from here moving us forward and continuing for a long time. We gave each other envelopes with messages of appreciation for our time together. We also included and read out a message Read More
Tonight a collective poem from the group after a day of the Work That Reconnects in the Elder phase of the design web; appreciation, reflection and pause. We see with new eyes As a child embracing the world Looking for the warmth of the womb in which we once lied curled So like that we Read More
Last night we took a rest from our design work and had a group creativity evening. We created a felt panel and did some hand casting. For a few hours we worked on a wall panel together. The spontaneity and creativity was a joy and a release. It really demonstrated the importance of the pause Read More
Today we were exploring our patterns. We started the day with a subtle change of patterns with being in silence. The first way of becoming being able to influence our inner ecology is to observe ourselves. We can do this through journalling, biotime diaries, and simply taking time to do this. We can also ask Read More
Today has been a rich day of learning and discovery. We have been focusing on the growth phase of the design web, and working on our vision, limits and helps. With vision we imagine where we would like to be, with helps we uncover resources that will help us to grow in that direction and Read More
We started today with exploring culture. I liked the analogy from family therapy that one participant shared, of our culture being the water in the goldfish bowl we swim around in. We accept this as the way things are. It is only when we either stick our heads out of the bowl and get to Read More
We started the course this evening with a sharing of our ‘rivers of life’. Before the course people spent some time preparing a visual representation of their journey through life, showing significant events and turning points. For my river I found lots of old photos and was reminded of significant people, friends and family who Read More
The going forth stage of the spiral is about planting seeds of action in our lives. Chris Johnstone talked about our lives as stories and like all good adventure stories they can start with what seems an impossible task. But along the way we come across helping factors that assist us on our journey. My Read More