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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Yes, Karen – this is absolutely true – and it’s important.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On the Quakers, for example – I have studied and experienced their community decision-making process.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yes, it operates “in a circle” – and the decision-making process is “convergent” – but not only that – it is “resonantly convergent” –<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And more than this – it is guided under the common ground of “seeking the Will of God” – as you say, Karen – “seeking universal spirit”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Which means that every thought entered into the circle discussion is entered in the co-creative spirit of resonance – based on cocreative listening (or indeed, “sacred listening” – which in more secular contexts might mean “with respect to the Whole”)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is a lot of material out there on circles – we could compile a small encyclopedia – but I see it all as proceeding under the common principles of resonance, convergence, and collective guidance with respect to the whole.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This picture shows “circle” as it is commonly practiced in an informed setting – something at the center that acts as a “focus” – that that focus can have many meanings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And yes, Parker Palmer is another great resource. If we wanted to build an authoritative and highly credible international network, we would want him on board.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chief Phil Lane and his buddy Jon Ramer are absolutely about circles. Everybody should have this idea burned in:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>“Starting From Within, Working in a Circle, in a Sacred Manner, We Heal and Develop Ourselves, Our Relationships, and the World.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>They have a major PDF on this subject: <a href="https://www.fwii.net/profiles/blogs/sixteen-guiding-principles-for">https://www.fwii.net/profiles/blogs/sixteen-guiding-principles-for</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have been studying this subject for a long time. There are many groups that consider these issues, but an important one is the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation – <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://ncdd.org/">https://ncdd.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I also like Art of Hosting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.artofhosting.org/">https://www.artofhosting.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=635 height=473 style='width:6.6145in;height:4.927in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D6DDC8.D33BAEF0"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Phil Lane and Jon Ramer:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=713 height=123 style='width:7.427in;height:1.2812in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D6DDCA.6A020D60"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bruce Schuman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Santa Barbara CA USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:bruceschuman@cox.net">bruceschuman@cox.net</a> / 805-705-9174<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.origin.org">www.origin.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Karen Ball <bluebonnetkaren@gmail.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 29, 2020 9:31 AM<br><b>To:</b> bruceschuman@cox.net<br><b>Cc:</b> ChatAction List <chataction@communitymagic.org><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [ChatAction] Global scale study circles<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>As I read through this, I have a question regarding the "study circles". Does anyone see parallels to how indigenous communities and Quakers handle decision making? Perhaps, we should reach out to indigenous communities and the Quakers; they could guide us in discernment of how the Universal Spirit may be collectively calling us. I suggest Parker Palmer and the Center for Courage and Renewal would be great partners to our Chat Action efforts.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Karen<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Mon, Dec 28, 2020 at 5:00 PM Bruce Schuman via ChatAction <<a href="mailto:chataction@communitymagic.org">chataction@communitymagic.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Today, I’ve been working though the ideas and vision of Duane Elgin. His vision is so in-synch with everything I am doing. He was working with Jim Garrison in the 1990’s<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Right now, I am particularly excited about his ideas for “Study Circles”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>In this PDF, he outlines the basic principles behind Study Circles – which I tend to see as the most powerful organizing idea in the world, and probably the master-design for the emerging new world – if there is to be one and we survive our initiation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Take a look at this:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="https://duaneelgin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/global_consciousness.pdf" target="_blank">https://duaneelgin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/global_consciousness.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>This is not newbie stuff. This is master vision from the masters, written in simple and highly intuitive terms.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>And what is exciting for me is – the entire framework is written as a series of questionnaires – surveys. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Duane Elgin worked with “electronic town halls” for years. Maybe this is the new design for a vast electronic town hall. That would be my dream.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Malini – I actually think this meets all your standards. I think that is probably true for just about everybody on Chat Acton. This IS an “action path” – maybe the most powerful collective action path ever possible – and maybe the only way we human beings could possibly move forward together in a way that converges into wholeness and ONE.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Duane Elgin:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="https://duaneelgin.com/" target="_blank">https://duaneelgin.com/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="https://choosingearth.org/" target="_blank">https://choosingearth.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="https://greattransitionstories.org/" target="_blank">https://greattransitionstories.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Bruce Schuman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Santa Barbara CA USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="mailto:bruceschuman@cox.net" target="_blank">bruceschuman@cox.net</a> / 805-705-9174<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="http://www.origin.org" target="_blank">www.origin.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br>ChatAction mailing list<br><a href="mailto:ChatAction@communitymagic.org" target="_blank">ChatAction@communitymagic.org</a><br><a href="http://communitymagic.org/mailman/listinfo/chataction_communitymagic.org" target="_blank">http://communitymagic.org/mailman/listinfo/chataction_communitymagic.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div></div></body></html>