Date/ Time: sunday, October 14, 2007 with a potluck following.

Topic: The Co-creative Group Process: A New Paradigm in Communication

 

 A great way for a group to have a very engaging, inclusive, positive and efficient discussion or a very productive heart/brain storming session.  A new paradigm way to have a conversation. It is a minimal structure that can produce maximal results, and both the shy and extroverted really enjoy it.

Presentor:  Gayatri Erlandson

Psychologist, humorist, philosopher, social architect, spiritual activist and publisher of Spirit in the Smokies Magazine for 12 years in Asheville. Gayatri is passionate about co-creating with others and the unseen, has facilitated several Open Space gatherings, been a student of Appreciative Inquiry, NonViolent Communication, Sociocracy, conscious language and Perelandra processes, and has taught this Co-creative Group Process in various Intentional Communities and related conferences. She lives in a community of 10, enjoys exploring her own creative abilities—plus volley ball, badminton, hiking, singing, chanting and laughing.

 

Recap

About 30 folks attended the meeting help at our lovely location at Grace Episcopal Church. There were announcements by the group. They included:

 

      1.  The kickoff of the new yahoo group for use by our members

 

2. The moving of the members of the Intentional Communities of Asheville (ICOA) to merge with our Yahoo Group now that Sage Linden, the owner and moderator of that group has left the area. To be used for questions, announcements, sharing of information about community of all kinds.
3. Joshua Canter has come forward to assist with the group and make some new additions.
4. The group will expand to become a true community of communities
5. Susan E. announced that the Corazon group that had been meeting for about 9 months had disbanded after the prices for the units had been disclosed to the group. They are planning on a closure meeting.
6. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

Marianne introduced Gayatri, (see above)

Gayatri asked that we sit in a circle and then go around and introduce ourselves.

She then introduced her model of, called the Co-Creative Process (see her hand out under Resources)

To illustrate the process Gayatri led the group in an example of how to do the process using a question the pertained to the group.For the process there needs to be a question that the group is passionate/interested in.

 

QUESTION: Where do we see this group (Asheville Community Networks) or Sunday Group going?

 

Basics: Trust that it will unfold just the way it is supposed to.

 

Some of the information from the group on the subject that came out of the process was!

 

Meet bi-monthly

We are a safe place

Include song, closing, holding hands

Include celebration or success and failures, bumps and obstacles, and disappointment

Celebrate and welcome when a new group of people join

Networking

Welcoming new people

Interchange of community groups and satellites

Exchange wisdom

What we have learned, learn from each other

Share our information

Dancing, music, closing song

Share our stories

Join another group

Learn from those who already live in community

Help the forming groups

Experiential, not just read the book

Ritual so people feel included

Problem solving portion

Another meeting for more specific areas of interest

Include other networks

 

 

Thanks to all of those who participated in this. The suggestions are timely and insightful.

 THE FOLLOWING IS THE HANDOUT FROM THIS MEETING:

Co-Creative Group Process (CCGP): Mental FocUS Oct. 14, 2007

 

Is very Different – almost exact opposite of what were taught. Holding silence & trust is a powerful role.

May be uncomfortable at times, especially when disagree with speaker and need to hold silence.

Will learn to trust the process, however. Most, including introverts and very creative people, like it.

Facilitation is necessary to some degree, which means interruptions, redirections & teaching points.

Today you likely will get the hang of it.

After experiential part— we'll have some final teaching points, Q & A, & then we’ll complete.

 

 

Guidelines:

1)      Sit in a circle so everyone can see everyone else’s facial expressions.

2)      Have a general theme—a topic or questions—announced ahead of time, preferably, so self select.

3)      Select a facilitator—can shift during process, but that person is to remain neutral while facilitating.

4)      Begin in silence and allow the first specific topic/point of view to emerge. Initiate from the inside.

5)      Initiator tells their name and states their point of view briefly, offering a title—for the subgroup.

6)      When so moved, those who agree/can extend the perspective of the Initiator, state own name and joins the subgroup, offering expansion. Thus a subgroup conversation begins. The subgroup members look at each other during upwardly-spiraling, co-creative process, as if no one else there.

7)      The larger group holds the perfection, in silence and gratitude. Very important role. All participate.

8)      Subgroup continues until their energy winds down. Subgroup members indicate completion.

9)      The entire group goes silent, taking in what they heard, recalling the initial question/general topic.

10)  When so moved, someone else initiates the next perspective for a new subgroup discussion.

11)   Subgroups continue to emerge and dissolve, elevating the wisdom of the entire group.

12)   Whole group completes—telling what they learned and will take away with them.

 

 

Final Teaching Points:

Initially, a trained facilitator is necessary. Later, interacting in a co-creative way can become the group norm, with everyone as potential facilitators, although it is best if someone is designated as facilitator at any given time. Silently holding the space of perfection and possibility is key for all.

There are 3 kinds of CCGP, relating to the Mind, Body and Spirit. While they overlap, each is named according to its primary focus. Today we learned the Mental Focus CCGP. The Body Focus allows for the flow of emotional/body energy, including that which is very intense, and can be very transformational. A Spirit Focused session has the group listen within for an insight regarding a question posed. Inspirations are then shared as so moved, again using a variation of the Mental Focus CCGP, though different from the Body Focus.

Phases of Body/emotional energy Focus can be included intermittently, as needed, during a Mental Focus Co-creative session. I'd want folks to get really grounded in the basic Mental Focus process first, however, which has its own learning curve and personal challenge.

 

In a creative environment of equals, we celebrate differences and venture into deep

dialogues of the Soul, co-creating beyond what could have been imagined before.

 

Gayatri Erlandson, PhD, Psychologist, humorist, philosopher, social architect, spiritual activist and publisher of Spirit in the Smokies Magazine for 12 years in Asheville, NC, now online exclusively as a Forum for Living NEWStories. Based on the idea that we are powerful creators, it encourages people to claim their creative power as story/reality makers, and to connect with others to co-create a new world. She believes the evolution of consciousness and the condition of our world are one.

Gayatri is passionate about co-creating with others and the unseen, has facilitated several Open Space gatherings, been a student and/or teacher of NonViolent Communication, Sociocracy, Conscious Language, the Law of Attraction and Perelandra processes, and has taught her Co-creative Group Process in various Intentional Communities and related conferences. She lives in Lotus Lodge, a cohousing-like community of 9 and small conference center in Candler, NC—12 min. from downtown Asheville. There she enjoys exploring her creative and co-creative abilities—plus volley ball, badminton, hiking, singing, chanting and laughing. http://livingnewstories.com   Email: gayatri(at)livingnewstories.com   828-667-4343.