Posted on by Tenneson Woolf

What is the Art of Hosting?

I’ve been in many of these conversations. Lately, I’ve liked the shift into the work — hosting conversations that matter — that sometimes shows up in the form of an event that is referenced as The Art of Hosting.

Also, from an Art of Hosting conference at Whidbey Island (January 2008), Chris Corrigan laughed in one of his teachings. “We will define the art of hosting in 80 ways over the next few days.” That feels about right.

Here is a bit of definition that has life for me. It came from a conversation with Teresa Posakony and Sharon Joy Kleitsch as we were exploring how Sharon Joy might speak of this to people in her Tampa, FL community.

AoH is…
– an experience of learning in living systems
– being in big imagination as community
– broader practice beyond method in deep, lasting, sustainable change
– framework for transformation
– a learning and operating pattern for full stakeholder engagement and action
– a way to build community leadership capacity
– fielding, working with energy fields in groups

The shift in understanding for me is helpful when I think of these as emergent outcomes. Because we come into relationship with one another, around purpose or identity, all or some of the above occur as outcomes. They don’t come from design. The emerge from interaction. Hmm…

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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